Michael J. Fox To Attend State of the Union for Stem Cell Research 
Email this article
Printer friendly page
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 18, 2007
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A member of Congress has invited actor Michael J. Fox, one of the leading spokesman for embryonic stem cell research, to attend President Bush’s State of the Union address next week.
Fox said he was "honored" that Rep. Jim Langevin, a Rhode Island Democrat who opposes abortion, asked him to be his guest in the audience. Members of Congress routinely invite guests to attend the speech.
"I have often said diseases and disorders are a non-partisan issue that requires a bipartisan solution," Fox said in response, according to a UPI report.
Langevin said he invited Fox, who was criticized during the elections for recording misleading television commercials falsely accusing pro-life lawmakers of opposing stem cell research in general, to "highlight the importance of pushing embryonic stem cell research forward."
The Democrat is wheelchair bound because of an accidental shooting when he was a police officer and has called embryonic stem cell research a hope for patients.
That’s despite the research, which involves the destruction of human life, not having cured or been tried on humans because of problems in animal testing.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said President Bush has no response to the invitation.
"It’s the first I’ve heard about it, so there’s no official response," he said.
"I’m not going to try to give lectures on etiquette," Snow replied to a follow up question. "Members may invite whomever they wish."
Snow ultimately defended President Bush’s position in a heated exchange with reporters.
