Bush Addresses March for Life

Buoyed by the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the Federal partial-birth abortion ban, thousands of protesters gathered on the National Mall in Washington yesterday to mark the 35th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. President Bush addressed the marchers, as he has done every year of his presidency. The president did not appear at the protest, but spoke to the protesters by telephone after hosting a group of pro-life leaders in the East Room of the White House.

The president, considered by many to be the most pro-life president in memory, cited recent statistics showing that the number of abortions in the United States is declining and cheered the partial-birth abortion ban. But he told the marchers that there is a long way to go, saying that the same data that showed a decline in abortions also shows that one in five pregnancies in the U.S. still ends in one. "America is better than this," he said.

The president's remarks reflect a growing sentiment in the United States against abortion on demand with no restrictions. A recent poll from the Pew Center Religion Forum shows that a slim majority of Americans favor abortion rights, and an earlier Pew poll finds that a majority favors a middle ground on the issue. Currently, Roe allows all but late-term abortions, which are specifically banned by the Partial Birth Abortion Act. Any movement toward compromise would necessarily introduce new restrictions on the procedure.

The president referred to Americans' open minds on the issue and told the marchers that their appeal would eventually bring about an America, "where a woman with an unplanned pregnancy knows there are caring people who will support her; where a pregnant teen can carry her child and complete her education; where the dignity of both the mother and child is honored and cherished."

The president concluded his remarks to the marchers with a vision of America after Roe.

We aspire to build a society where each one of us is welcomed in life and protected in law. We haven't arrived, but we are making progress. Here in Washington we passed good laws that promote adoption and extend legal protection to children who are born despite abortion attempts. We came together to ban the cruel practice of partial birth abortion. And in the past year we have prevented that landmark law from being rolled back.

We've seen the dramatic breakthroughs in stem cell research that it is possible to advance medical science while respecting the sanctity of life. Building a culture of life requires more than law; it requires changing hearts. And as we reach out to others and find common ground, we can see the glimmerings of a new America on a far shore. This America is rooted in our belief that in a civilized society, the strong protect the weak. This America is nurtured by people like you, who speak up for the weak and the innocent. This America is the destiny of a people whose founding document speaks of the right to life that is a gift of our Creator, not a grant of the state.