Concerned Women for America was pleased to see the first lady stood on common ground with the organization’s stance on stem-cell research and women’s rights.
The first lady responded to reporters on the two issues while she is attending the G-8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia, along with President Bush, according to a recent article by the Concerned Women for America.
Janice Shaw Crouse, Ph.D., senior fellow of the Beverly LaHaye Institue, wrote that the first lady shared the same stance with CWA on two positions: “(1) The human rights of women should be encouraged and promoted, instead of supporting the “women’s rights” agenda of abortion, lesbianism and quotas; and (2) Embryonic stem-cell use has an important moral dimension, and the use of adult stem cells is much more advanced and far more promising both for use and for research.”
Mrs. Bush told an NBC reporter that she was in favor of adult-stem research but not embryonic stem-cell research. “There are stem cells that are available for research,” said the first lady. “But also we need to balance the interest of science with moral and ethical issues that have to do with embryonic stem-cell use. There is also adult stem-cell research that could be done and the research is going on.”
CWA said that Mrs. Bush could have been speaking from CWA talking points as she responded that the “human rights of women” are vitally important, and that efforts in both Afghanistan and Iraq emphasize providing opportunities for women –– especially to help them gain improved education, health and general well-being.
“One of the reasons these women are coming to talk with us is because we want to work within the traditions of their society and the culture of their society, and we respect their religion and their culture,” said Mrs. Bush. “We are working to have equality within the traditions of each one of these countries.”
Controversy over stem-cell research was rekindled after the death of President Ronald Regan who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists believe that stem-cell research, which would involve the destruction of the embryo, could lead to a cure. Mrs. Reagan also supports open stem-cell research despite President Reagan’s support of life from its conception to its death.
