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American Morning

President Bush's "Home to the Heartland"

Aired August 07, 2001 - 10:22   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in on President Bush's first presidential vacation. He's in Crawford, Texas at his ranch and our Kelly Wallace is standing by close to there -- Kelly, good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, Daryn, President Bush says he's getting a lot of work done on his vacation. He also says he has some decisions to make and aides say the toughest one is deciding whether or not to allow tax dollars to back research on stem cells obtained from human embryos.

Now, Mr. Bush talked a bit with reporters earlier this morning, the first time we've actually seen the president in person since he arrived here in Crawford on Saturday and, of course, this being the big issue, embryonic stem cell research, the president was asked if he's any closer to making this decision. The president saying that he will be making this decision. He said that he will make this announcement when he's ready to make it.

Aides say the president knows that this decision will have implications for 20 to 30 years and that is why he is taking his time. We do know that he has reviewed some briefing documents and he's also talked to people on both sides of the issue, supporters who say that this research could lead to breakthroughs when it comes to fighting diseases and treating spinal cord injuries. He's also heard from opponents, those who say that this research would lead to a destruction of these human embryos and that would lead to a destruction of human life, the biggest opponents including the Catholic Church and the pope.

Now, the president has said he is trying to balance the questions of science and scientific promise with questions of ethics and morality, but all he's saying, Daryn, is that he will have a decision before Congress returns in September -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So, Kelly, so today we see the president out playing golf and as we've mentioned before, this is a month long vacation. But the president plans to get out a bit and have contact with regular folk, as I understand it.

WALLACE: Absolutely. The White House billing this as the "Home To the Heartland Tour" and it kicks off with the president traveling to nearby Waco to build a home with the group Habitat for Humanity. Aides seem to want to get the president in informal settings, to have him mix with the American people and have him talk about issues that have sort of a broad appeal. He'll also be traveling to states like Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, again, to mix it up with the American people and talk about issues such as education reform and promoting character values.

So it's an opportunity for the president to sort of lay the groundwork for the fall -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Kelly Wallace in Crawford, Texas. Kelly, thank you.

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