Posted on 08/21/2006 8:04:37 PM PDT by markomalley
WASHINGTON, D.C., AUG. 21, 2006 (Zenit.org).- President George Bush said he supports restricted access to the "morning-after" pill for minors, disturbing some pro-lifers who want the potentially abortion-causing drug banned altogether.
"I believe that Plan B ... ought to require a prescription for minors. That's what I believe," Bush said at a news conference today.
The president's comment was his first direct public statement on the issue that has delayed a Senate confirmation vote on his nominee to head the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Andrew von Eschenbach.
Von Eschenbach, as acting FDA commissioner, has supported non-prescription sales of the morning-after pill for adults. The pill is also known as "emergency contraception."
LifeSite, an online pro-life news service, quoted Father Thomas Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, as saying: "President Bush's implied support for the abortion-causing drug Plan B is completely inconsistent with his recent veto of the embryonic stem cell research [ESCR] funding bill. What the president apparently fails to realize is that Plan B kills the same innocent unborn children that the ESCR process does."
Bishops' opposition
In late July, Deirdre McQuade, a spokeswoman for the U.S. bishop's conference, reacted strongly to the FDA announcement moving toward over-the-counter availability of the Plan B pill for women aged 18 and older. "Making this powerful, abortifacient drug available without a doctor's oversight could place women and their newly conceived children at risk," McQuade said at the time.
The drug's maker, Barr Pharmaceuticals, has been unsuccessful in two attempts to win government approval to sell Plan B more widely without a prescription. The company said it has filed a revised application. The FDA is expected to act soon.
Pro-life groups are opposing the nomination of von Eschenbach to the FDA because he is moving forward on Plan B, as well as allowing the abortion pill RU-486 to remain on the market, the Reuters news service noted.
The U.S. bishops' conference opposes making Plan B available over-the-counter on several grounds, including its abortifacient potential and its implications for informed consent.
In a statement today, Judie Brown, president of American Life League, lamented Bush's comments.
"It is no secret that Plan B can and does take the lives of newly conceived babies in the days immediately following fertilization," said Brown. "The drug's own manufacturer recognizes this fact; so why can't the rest of the pro-life community and our self-professed pro-life president recognize it as well? President Bush is showing inconsistency in his support for life."
disappointed pro-life ping?
This is typical MSM spin. Don't believe it. Bush wants to restrict Plan B from being freely given to teens without parental notification.
Bush supports limits on morning-after pill
WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Monday he supports restricting access to emergency contraception for minors, as regulators weigh wider access to the "morning-after" pill.
So is he for it or against it?
No offense, but Zenit is HARDLY MSM.
Bush can't approve or disapprove any type of medication. That is the job of the FDA.
One of the most amusing things about this entire controversy is watching the moonbats wrestle their hatred of pharmaceuticals vs their desire for free abortion on demand.
That said, I don't have a particular problem with the sale of this pill.
bttt
Agreed.
"President Bush is showing inconsistency in his support for life."
Not a good move Dubya.
Remember, George Bush is a "compassionate conservative." Translation, "I support conservative causes when I feel like it."
That's what I was thinking ... Bush isn't banning Plan B, or calling for a ban on prescribing it to minors. That is tragic, but I think his comments are made in the context of the abortifacient being made available without a prescription. That means unfettered access for everyone, including minors. Bush is clearly opposing that. That is a significantly different meaning than the MSM is attaching to this. Stir that pot, media libs!
That's it, I'm voting for Hillary. /s
He still wants it out in the marketplace and available with a doctors prescription to minors.
That's what's wrong about the President's position although its not enough for Hillary who wants teenagers to pick it up over the counter.
Hmmm....second term lame-duck Republicans never fail to disappoint....
So how do you read that Bush wants minors to have prescription free access??????
Sorry, I read your post too fast. Please disregard my post #18.
There is weakness here in the President's position and I don't mind saying it although I'm no Hillary supporter.
What I do know is that one politician in my area who is now county chairman of the GOP here put it this way. "I oppose abortion but support birth control."
I think that's the game GOP politicians are playing because big-time money supports Planned Parenthood and they are getting around surgical abortions by pushing Plan B.
In some cases Plan B performs a chemical abortion that's less visibly offensive (no body parts) than surgical abortion. Its something that rich RINO contributors to the GOP want in my town and everywhere else.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.