By Dave Andrusko

On occasion over the next couple of weeks I'll have the privilege of writing about pro-life President George W. Bush's new book, "Decision Points." It's already being hammered by the usual suspects, but as I alluded to yesterday the book promises to tell us a lot about a man who I believe has been as misunderstood as he has been underrated (http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Nov10/nv111010.html).

President George W. Bush

I started "Decision Points" last night, stole a few minutes before I left for work this morning, and then squeezed in another half-hour early this afternoon. I jumped around and then focused on the section in which the former President explained his policy on embryonic stem cell research--and how he reached his conclusion.

As I wrote at the time (August 9,2001), I thought the President's handling of a tremendously controversial topic was impeccable. We have to remember that as limited as the public's understanding is now of stem cell research--which includes stem cells not taken from human embryos--it was even less sophisticated back in 2001. And the propaganda train was barreling down the tracks, engine wide-open.

The President was under siege. There majorities in both houses to expend hundreds of millions on "embryonic stem cell research" (ESCR). Popular entertainment figures, such as actor Christopher Reeve (himself paralyzed), painted a picture of a medical nirvana if only "medical science" were unleashed.

In a word, how could ANYONE not care about saving people from horrific diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's?

(Three years later, the ante had been raised considerably. John Edwards, the pro-abortion running mate of pro-abortion Senator John Kerry, promised that if Kerry were elected P resident "people like Christopher Reeve will get up out of that wheelchair and walk again.")

We learn in "Decision Points" that ESCR came up in domestic policy discussion nine days after Bush was elected. We know the rest of the story--how in his first nationally television speech in August 2001 President Bush announced that would not allow federal funding of stem cell research that would cause human embryos to be destroyed.

As he mentioned in his book, Bush's decision nullified the guidelines approved by former President Clinton that would have provided taxpayer funding for embryonic stem cell search that allowed the continual destruction of human embryos. Federal funding would only fund research on existing stem cell lines from embryos that had already been destroyed.

But what we have forgotten is that in addition, Bush made an absolutely pivotal decision. He writes, "I would ask Congress to increase federal funding for alternative sources of stem cells that brought no ethical controversy." This two-part strategy prodded researchers to investigate areas free of ethical baggage, and paved the way for the many advancements made using so-called "adult stem cells" and later induced pluripotent stem cells.

What impresses the reader--this reader--is how carefully, how systematically Bush prepared for his decision. He gave both opponents and supporters of Clinton's policy a chance to make their case--inviting "a series of distinguished scientists, ethicists, religious thinkers, and advocates to discuss embryonic stem cell research." Among those President Bush met with were representatives from National Right to Life.

It is important to know that Mr. Bush came to the right decision even though he was under tremendous political pressure to cave, and had important friends who had persuaded themselves that a cure for serious diseases was around the corner--if only the federal tap was opened wide to fund ESCR without restriction.

As I said at the beginning, I'll be coming back to talk about this on this blog and in the November issue of National Right to Life News. If you are not a subscriber to the "pro-life newspaper of record," call us at 202-626-8828 or go to http://www.nrlc.org/news/subscribe.html where you can download a subscription form.

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