    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 22, 2002]
    [Pages 96-97]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Telephone Remarks to Participants in the March for Life
    January 22, 2002

        Nellie, thank you very much. I want to
    thank you very much, and I want to wish everybody a good afternoon. I'm
    calling from the State of West Virginia.
        I want to begin, Nellie, by praising you
    and your dedication to the cause of human life. For almost 30 years,
    Americans from every State in the Union have gathered on the Washington
    Mall in order to march for life. This march is an example of an
    inspiring commitment and of deep human compassion.
        Everyone there believes, as I do, that every life is valuable, that
    our society has a responsibility to defend the vulnerable and weak, the
    imperfect, and even the unwanted, and that our Nation should set a great
    goal that unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in
    law.
        Abortion is an issue that deeply divides our country, and we need to
    treat those with whom we disagree with respect and civility. We must
    overcome bitterness and rancor where we find it and seek common ground
    where we can. But we will continue to speak out on behalf of the most
    vulnerable members of our society.
        We do so because we believe the promises of the Declaration of
    Independence are the common code of American life. They should apply to
    everyone, not just the healthy or the strong or the powerful. A generous
    society values all human life. A merciful society seeks to expand legal
    protection to every life, including early life, and a compassionate
    society will defend a simple, moral proposition: Life should never be
    used as a tool or a means to an end.
        These are bedrock principles, and that is why my administration
    opposes partial-birth abortion and public funding for abortion, why we
    support teen abstinence and crisis pregnancy programs, adoption and
    parental notification laws, and why we are against all forms of human
    cloning.
        And that is why I urge the United States Senate to support a
    comprehensive and effective ban on human cloning, a ban that was passed
    by an overwhelming and bipartisan vote of the House of Representatives
    last July.
        We are a society with enough compassion and wealth and love to care
    for both mothers and their children and to seek the promise and
    potential of every single life. You're working and marching on behalf of
    a noble cause and affirming a culture of life. Thank you for your
    persistence, for defending human dignity, and for caring for every
    member of the human family.
        May God continue to bless America. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:08 p.m. from Charleston, WV, to march
    participants on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In his remarks, he
    referred to Nellie J. Gray, president, March for Life Education and
    Defense Fund. The related proclamation of January 18 on National
    Sanctity of Human Life Day is listed in Appendix D at the end of this
    volume.

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