Speeches of G. W. Bush (#1 in compendium): At Signing of 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act

BushCountry.org ^ | 12/11/03

[Wolfstar]

[WOLFSTAR'S INRO: As a kickoff to the 2004 presidential campaign, I plan to do a running compendium of most of President George W. Bush's most beautiful and/or significant speeches. To mark the season in which Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the Christ child, following is the first installment: An exerpt from the president's typically simple, yet powerful remarks prior to signing the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act on November 5, 2003]:

THE PRESIDENT: For years, a terrible form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the other way. Today, at last, the American people and our government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child.

The best case against partial birth abortion is a simple description of what happens and to whom it happens. It involves the partial delivery of a live boy or girl, and a sudden, violent end of that life. Our nation owes its children a different and better welcome.

The facts about partial birth abortion are troubling and tragic, and no lawyer's brief can make them seem otherwise. By acting to prevent this practice, the elected branches of our government have affirmed a basic standard of humanity, the duty of the strong to protect the weak…And the executive branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to overturn it in the courts.

America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness and for the unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life.

In the debate about the rights of the unborn, we are asked to broaden the circle of our moral concern. We're asked to live out our calling as Americans. We're asked to honor our own standards, announced on the day of our founding in the Declaration of Independence. We're asked by our convictions and tradition and compassion to build a culture of life, and make this a more just and welcoming society. And today, we welcome vulnerable children into the care and protection of Americans.

The late Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey once said that, when we look to the unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins, but when love begins. This is the generous and merciful spirit of our country at its best. This spirit is reflected in the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which I am now honored to sign into law. God bless.

[Wolfstar]

No human endeavor is without its flaws. This is certainly true of every presidency. The fair and wise voter will add up the positives and negatives of a president running for re-election so as to make an informed choice. Through this compendium I hope to both remind as many people as possible of the achievements of this president, and persuade doubters to vote for Bush/Cheney in November 2004.

[Huck]

The recent news regarding medicare, campaign finance and immigration make your endeavor all the more necessary--and all the more daunting.

[Wolfstar]

Ping...

[Wolfstar]

Daunting — perhaps. Dissuaded — never.

[jwalsh07]

Huck,

President Bush is off course. I consider him one of ours and when one of mine goes off course I do whatever it takes to get them back on the straight and narrow. In my personal life I am very tough about these course corrections but I do it out of love and kinship.

Our President needs a course correction and it needs to be served up with respect but in no uncertain terms. I would hope all of us have written and called him to let him know that he has strayed dangerously off the beaten path.

[Faramir]

How is he off course condemning murder?

[onyx]

[WOLFSTAR'S INRO: As a kickoff to the 2004 presidential campaign, I plan to do a running compendium of most of President George W. Bush's most beautiful and/or significant speeches. To mark the season in which Christians around the world celebrate the birth of the Christ child, following is the first installment: An exerpt from the president's typically simple, yet powerful remarks prior to signing the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act on November 5, 2003]

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I can't think of a more blessed or more thoughtful Christmas gift from you to all of us than this tribute to our Christian President, George Walker Bush.

Wolfstar, I am truly touched, and I am bookmarking all of them. Thank you for this special ping.

[jwalsh07]

How is he off course condemning murder?

He's not, he's off course regarding campaign finance reform, excessive spending and immigration. In fact he was so far off course when he signed BCRA of 2002 that it is scary.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting this -- what a breath of fresh air compared to the naysayers that are abounding on FR with some of the most nasty comments and threads I have witnessed on here in recent years.

[DrDeb]

Thank you for this effort!

We all need to be reminded of the DAUNTING problems confronting President Bush when he took office less than 3 years ago, problems only made more complex by the terrorist attack on 9/11/01!

Undoing the 'pro-death' agenda of the Clintons/leftists/secularists/radical feminists was one of the President's first and most important tasks. Signing the ban on partial birth abortion was a key 'pro-life' accomplishment, although certainly not the only one!!!!!

[Wolfstar]

While abortion is not one of my personal hot-button issues, those for whom it is should recognize, applaud — and reward — this most significant achievement. It is the first major roll-back of the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

As much as I love Ronald Reagan, it didn't happen under his administration, nor under that of GHW Bush. And most certainly not under the administrations of liberal Republicans Nixon and Ford, or under liberal Democrats, Carter and Clinton. It took George W. Bush, working with a Republican majority in congress, to accomplish this historic milestone.

[onyx]

Meek, please give your ping list a hit to this thread.

[MeekOneGOP]

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Ahban]

gracious words indeed from the President. Its a good step forward.

[onyx]

Thank you, Meek. I think Wolfstar's post is worth reading and bookmarking by everyone.