First lady says husband pushed stem-cell research

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004 | 9:16 a.m.

RENO -- First lady Laura Bush said Tuesday that her husband is the only president to authorize federal money for embryonic stem cell research.

She told a crowd of about 2,000 supporters that many are trying to distort the record of President Bush on medical research. The president has invested $25 million in embryonic stem cell research and nearly $191 million in other stem cell research projects, Mrs. Bush said in a campaign visit to Reno.

Her remarks came after Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry criticized the president Monday, accusing him of restricting potential lifesaving stem cell research because of his "extreme right-wing ideology."

Mrs. Bush said her father died of Alzheimer's disease "and I share the president's eagerness to find a cure for this devastating disease." She said she hoped the present research yields cures and therapies for a myriad of illnesses.

But she added that stem cell research was not at the present time a cure-all and she said it was irresponsible for others to suggest that.

The first lady said the president is "fully committed" to advancing medical research. "He (Bush) has doubled the budget of the National Institutes of Health," she said. There is more money next year in the budget for research on heart disease, cancer and other illnesses, she said.

Kerry, in a speech in New Hampshire, said, "I will stop at nothing to get stem cell research moving forward in this country. He said the president has dismissed the judgment of scientists who say embryonic stem cell research could eventually lead to disease cures."

Mrs. Bush spoke earlier Tuesday in Milwaukee and left Reno for Orange County, Calif. A spokeswoman said she would be on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" tonight. She will be with the president Friday night at his debate with Kerry.

The first lady stumbled first pronouncing the state "Nev-ah-da" but then quickly corrected herself in later references to the state.

She promised "The president will be back again before Nov. 2." He has already made one visit to Reno.

At the rally for Mrs. Bush, only one state office holder -- Treasurer Brian Krolicki -- showed up. Dema Guinn, wife of Gov. Kenny Guinn, was also on the stage with Mrs. Bush.

The crowd was loud and toward the end of her speech, interrupted Mrs. Bush's remarks with chants of "Four More Years."

The first lady was introduced by her daughter Jenna, who described her as a "powerful voice around the world for women." Jenna Bush said her mother has raised the issue of women's health.

Mrs. Bush said the economy was growing, and 10 million women own their own business. President Bush signed the bill extending the tax cuts that will mean 94 million Americans will have a lower tax bill next year, including 38 million women, she said.

She said the president wants medical liability reform to stop frivolous lawsuits that raise the cost of malpractice insurance and drive good doctors out of practice.

"He wants to make sure the patient and doctors are in charge of medical care, not the bureaucrats in Washington," she said.