Rep. Bart Stupak, whose support for President Obama’s health bill ensured it was passed into law Sunday, \accused the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and pro-life groups of “hypocrisy” for condemning the executive order that sealed the deal. “The [National] Right to Life and the bishops, in 2007 when George Bush signed the executive order on embryonic stem cell research, they all applauded the executive order. So now President Obama’s going to sign an executive order protecting life and everyone’s condemning it. The hypocrisy is great.”
Not so fast. Pro-life groups said their criticism had to do specifically with Obama’s executive order, which they say can do nothing to override provisions in the health bill. “We haven’t said anything to suggest we think executive orders are never of value,” said Douglas Johnson, NRLC’s legislative director. Bush’s 2007 executive order, which followed his veto of legislation that would have expanded embryonic stem cell research, did not contravene existing law, but instead supported it, making it more “airtight.” In addition, Bush’s 2001 executive order banning the use of most embryonic stem cell research simply undid authorization that had been put in place by federal regulations, not legislative action. The problem with Obama’s executive order is “it basically just recites what’s in the Senate bill.” Daily Caller
No comments:
Post a Comment