Mea Culpa Over ‘Murder’ Comments on Stem Cells

Tony Snow, President Bush’s chief spokesman, apologized Monday for saying Bush believed embryonic stem cell research amounted to “murder,” saying he had overstated the president’s position.

Snow created a stir in defending Bush’s veto Wednesday of legislation that would have expanded embryonic stem cell research.

“The president believes strongly that for the purpose of research it’s inappropriate for the federal government to finance something that many people consider murder. He’s one of them,” Snow had said.

Asked about that comment Monday, Snow told reporters: “I overstepped my brief there.”

Bush himself said, in casting the veto, the legislation “crosses a moral boundary.”

Asked if Bush considered it murder, Snow said: “He would not use that term.”