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Sun July 15th 01 Bush faces rumpus over Nancy's cell research plea A MAJOR ROW looms in the US as Nancy Reagan says she wants President Bush to authorise public funds for stem-cell research on living human embryos created during fertilisation treatments. The intervention of the former First Lady, whose husband, Ronald Reagan, suffers from Alzheimer's, has increased the pressure on Mr Bush to defy his supporters in the anti-abortion lobby on an issue that is now of critical political importance. Mrs Reagan's views were communicated to the White House by Ken Duberstein and Michael Deaver, two of the former president's most trusted aides. Scientists argue that research on foetal stem cells that can develop into muscles, nerves and blood could help find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But Republican leaders say Mr Bush should not give in to "an industry of death." But some strongly anti-abortion Republicans, such as Senator Orrin Hatch, have come out in favour of the research. Mr Hatch has said: "Stem-cell research facilitates life. Abortion destroys life. This is about saving lives." The reverence with which Republicans view 90-year-old Mr Reagan could offer Mr Bush a possible escape from his dilemma. By citing Mr Reagan, who strongly opposed abortion, in announcing a change of mind he could limit the political damage to him. But leading conservatives have said any compromise on the issue would be untenable. "There should be a non-negotiable principle that says innocent human life is sacrosanct," said Ken Connor, president of the Family Research Council. Mr Bush has appeared uncharacteristically indecisive on the issue, and delaying his announcement has allowed the issue to rise to the top of the political agenda. Aides fear that if he bars funding for the research he will be portrayed by his opponents as a right-wing fundamentalist, yet if he allows it he will appear weak and malleable. One senior conservative said a volte-face on stem-cell research could be Mr Bush's equivalent of his father George Bush Snr's infamous back-down on his "no new taxes" pledge. Mr Bush supports research using stem cells from adult tissue but not cells from living embryos discarded during fertilisation treatments, which recent studies have found are much more versatile and medically valuable. The Catholic Church and most anti-abortion activists share this stance. Karl Rove, Mr Bush's chief strategist, believes the president should not change his mind for political, as well as moral, reasons the Catholic vote could help win him re-election in 2004. Mr Bush, at Mr Rove's insistence, has been aggressively courting Catholic groups. This month, he is due to travel to Rome to meet Pope John Paul II, whom he recently described as being "never more eloquent than when he speaks for a culture of life." (Daily Telegraph, London) Toby Harnden in Washington SOURCE: Unison - Irish Independent Online http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=30&si=472218 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn