Bush to Announce Stem Cell Decision Tonight
President Bush will announce tonight in a nationally televised address his decision on whether to allow federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the AP/Washington Post reports in a late-breaking story. According to White House spokesperson Ari Fleischer, Bush will make an eight- to 10-minute speech beginning at 9 p.m. ET from his Texas ranch, where he is on a month-long working vacation. Declining to reveal Bush's decision to reporters, Fleischer said, "The president wants to share the decision with the American people himself so they can see and hear why he came to the decision he came to" (AP/Washington Post, 8/9). Speculating on ABC's Good Morning America today about Bush's decision, ABC news political analyst George Stephanopolous said, "I have spoken with Health and Human Services Secretary Thompson, and he sounds pleased with the decision. And you know, he supports stem cell research" (ABC, "Good Morning America," 8/9).
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