Redoubling Efforts to Change Hearts and Minds.(George W. Bush)(Transcript)

Editor's note. The following are President George W. Bush's remarks delivered by telephone January 22 to the March for Life.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much, Nellie [Gray, president of March for Life]. I appreciate your kind introduction, and thank you for including me in this celebration of life. I'm calling you today from Roswell, New Mexico. (Applause.) And it sounds like you've got some people who know where Roswell is here in the audience. (Applause.)

I know that good folks have gathered there on the Mall from every corner of America to take part in the 31st March for Life. And I want you to pass on my best to each one of them in person, please, and tell them how much I appreciate their devotion to such a noble cause. (Applause.)

You believe, as I do, that every person, however frail or vulnerable, is a blessing. (Applause.) Each of us has a special dignity, a place and purpose in this world. And in the Declaration of Independence, our founders stated this self-evident truth: The right to life does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life. (Applause.)

During the past three years we've made real progress toward building a culture of life in America. As President, I've signed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. (Applause.) I have signed legislation supporting maternity group homes. (Applause.)

Working with the Congress, we have refused to spend taxpayers' money on international programs that promote abortion overseas. (Applause.) We're opposed to the destruction of embryos for stem cell research. (Applause.) And last November, it was my honor to sign into law a ban on the brutal procedure of partial-birth abortion. (Applause.)

Nellie, I want you to know that our administration is vigorously defending this law against those who would seek to ...