Veto of the Destruction of Human Life. (May 6, 2007)

    The American Physical Society's, Bob Park, can exhibit a grim sense of humour on not infrequent occasions.  In this week's What's New he quotes the following item.

 PROMISES, PROMISES: HAS THE PRESIDENT AGREED TO END THE WAR?
What a turnaround! According to a tiny story in this morning’s NY Times, Bush told Congressional leaders yesterday in a 2-page letter that he would veto any measures that “allow taxpayer dollars to be used for the destruction of human life.”

Taken out of context. Well, yes, but the point's cogently well made.

The first two paragraphs of the NYT article reads:

President Bush told Congressional leaders Thursday that he would veto any legislation that weakened federal policies or laws on abortion.

In a two-page letter sent to the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Mr. Bush said his veto threat would apply to any measures that “allow taxpayer dollars to be used for the destruction of human life.”

But the Times also tells us in its last paragraph: Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said: “The president felt that it was important to remind Congress of his position on these issues. It’s not about vetoing, it’s about standing firm on his core beliefs.”