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CNN Live Saturday

Bush Defends Decision

Aired August 11, 2001 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Up to now, many Washington observers have considered President Bush the darling of the right wing. But a couple of his decisions on controversial issues have caught conservatives off-guard. Today in his weekly radio address the president again defended his compromise on stem cell research. And we go to CNN's White House correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The selling of President Bush's decision in full swing as top aides go before television cameras and reporters explaining why Mr. Bush chose to back federal funding of research on stem cells already extracted from human embryos.

KAREN HUGHES, COUNSELOR TO THE PRESIDENT: He feels he has arrived at a solution that both offers the hope of great scientific progress without crossing a threshold moral line.

WALLACE: But Catholics whom the president has been targeting to boost his reelection chances, accused Mr. Bush of crossing that line.

CARDINAL THEODORE MCCARRICK, WASHINGTON: The president's decision unfortunately allows the allotment of federal funding, the money we pay in our taxes, for something that many of us feel is morally wrong.

WALLACE: And angry conservatives said the president reneged on his campaign pledge.

KEN CONNOR, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: We believe it flies in the face of his promise not to engage in stem cell research that involves the destruction of live embryonic human beings.

WALLACE: Not true, says top aide Karen Hughes.

HUGHES: One of the things you learn as president is that you're not able to make all people happy all the time.

WALLACE: And that is also the case with some supporters of the research who argue Mr. Bush should have gone further in backing science they believe could lead to breakthroughs in fighting diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. (on camera): Aides say this decision was not based on politics. Still, Mr. Bush could end up scoring some points with moderates but could also alienate some conservatives and that is why senior Bush advisers have been reaching out to the right.

Kelly Wallace CNN Crawford, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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