THE
PRESIDENT: 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. (Applause.)
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 in 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. (Applause.)
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; --
(applause) -- why we support teen abstinence and crisis pregnancy
programs; adoption and parental notification laws; and why we are
against all forms of human cloning. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.)
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. (Applause.)