Posted on 08/21/2006 1:50:58 PM PDT by Pyro7480
President Bush Approves Over the Counter Early Abortion Pill, Pro-Life Base Decries Move
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, August 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - For his pro-life supporter base, President George W. Bush stepped into one of the biggest political landmines of his Presidential career today with his approval of over the counter status for the abortion-causing morning after pill Plan B.
A press release by Human Life International underscored the seriousness of the move as it was titled, "President Bush Files for Divorce with Catholic Base." Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International commented, "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."
At a White House press conference this morning, the President was asked by Bill Sammon a reporter from the Washington Examiner about Plan B and his new FDA commissioner who supports its over the counter status. "Mr. President, some pro-life groups are worried that your choice of FDA Commissioner will approve over the counter sales of Plan B, a pill that, they say, essentially can cause early-term abortions," said the reporter. "Do you stand by this choice, and how do you feel about Plan B in general?"
The President replied, "I believe that Plan B ought to be -- ought to require a prescription for minors, is what I believe. And I support Andy's decision."
Andy, as the President referred to him, is the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. Pro-life groups last week called for von Eschenbach's resignation over his deal with a drug company to make a high-dose of a drug (Plan B, a morning-after pill) available without a prescription to women 18 year of age and older.
Concerned Women for America (CWA) blasted the decision noting that it is ludicrous to allow Plan B without medical supervision when a low-dose of the same drug (birth control pills) requires medical oversight to protect women from serious health complications.
"It is deplorable that the head of the FDA would put his career ambitions and a drug company's interests above women's health," said Wendy Wright, CWA's President. "CWA provided legal and regulatory evidence that the FDA does not have the authority to do what it is proposing and medical evidence that any dose of the drug requires medical oversight to protect women's health. The drug is known to cause serious complications such as blood clots and stroke."
Rev. Euteneuer added, "The president must demonstrate a consistent respect for the sanctity of all human life or he risks provoking a great divorce with the conservative Catholics that compromise a large part of his support base. Human beings in the embryonic stage of development deserve equal protection under the law and the president's position falls far short of that mark."
Catholic and pro-life ping!
And what is wrong with that position? It's 100% more than you'd get from a Democrat.
This president gets criticized by the left and the far right and I'm pretty sick of it. The Republican party is a big tent party but there seems to be a small faction within the party that tries to alienate the middle voter every chance they get.
I hope they're happy with their whining when they get a Democrat Congress and White House.
Don`t vote for Bush in 08!
Sounds like he's reading the Wshington papers and NY MSM, not the real world.
Again.
I am speechless over this one. What was he thinking? I kept looking for a link to the Onion but sadly did not find it.
He's being completely inconsistent. If killing an embryo for stem cell research is not allowed, neither should killing a baby a few hours after conception- no matter how old the mother is. Bad bad decision.
Yes, here is another slap in the face of the Religious Right.
The GOP will be lucky to get them to the polls this November, not to even mention in 2008.
I, as a Catholic, am speechless and discusted.
Not so much a slap for the so called "religious right", but Bush’s own salvation.
It's worthless window-dressing for starters, because any minor who wants it will just pay an adult to buy it for her.
Not to mention that adult male molesters of young girls can buy it OTC.
It ought to be called the "statutory rape enabler pill," because that's what it is.
Hyperbole.......
And young girls who are raped, which happens every day in this country, should what? Be forced to have the baby? I don't think so. And neither does the president so I'm glad to say my position agrees with his.
Both, and if it hasn't happened yet, it prevents ovulation.
It essentially prevents pregnancy by preventing implantation during a specific time frame, as I understand the science.
Yes, I could see how it could prevent the need for some, possibly many abortions.
Compassionate Conservatism Bump!
"7. Can Plan B terminate pregnancy?
Plan B is used to stop the pregnancy before it actually happens. It cannot terminate an already established pregnancy and so don't take this medication if you are pregnant."
This is from the makers website.
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