GEORGE W. BUSH Courts and Civil Liberties
Bush is pro-life but says the country is not ready to reverse Roe v. Wade so, for now, he will strive to promote "a culture of life." He did sign a law banning so-called partial birth abortions, but he insists he does not give potential judicial nominees a litmus test to determine their views on abortion. He has said he wants judges who do not "legislate from the bench." He supports the Patriot Act and wants Congress to renew all its provisions. He has defended the Administration's detainment of terrorism suspects at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay and his proposal to try such suspects — even U.S. citizens — before military tribunals. The President has said he believes in tolerance for homosexuals, but believes marriage should be limited to heterosexual couples and he backs a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. He thinks states should decide on their own whether to allow civil unions. He supports universities working to achieve racially diverse student bodies, but opposes them using race as a direct factor in admissions.
