Fort Worth Star-Telegram

D/FW AIRPORT _ Former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes took some Republicans by surprise Saturday by criticizing President Bush's decision to allow limited stem cell research.

Keyes said Bush betrayed conservatives by supporting a policy based on politics.

"I cannot support leadership that sits in the backroom trying to figure out how much harm can be done without opposition," he said before almost 400 people at Hyatt Regency DFW hotel.

Keyes was keynote speaker at a luncheon as part of a three-day "boot camp for conservatives," sponsored by the National Federation of Republican Assemblies and the Leadership Institute.

Bush announced Aug. 9 that he supports federal funding for medical research on embryonic stem cells, a move that some scientists believe could cure a host of diseases. But the research will be limited to 60 lines of existing stem cells.

Bush said his decision puts him at the crossroads between protecting and enhancing human life.

Keyes said Bush's decision was more damaging than anything that Bill Clinton, often called the villain of the right, could have done.

"The evil that you know, the evil that inspires you to fight again is not the worst evil," Keyes said.

"The worst evil creeps behind your lines and dominates your leadership."

Keyes said Bush has opened himself up to criticism from abortion-rights supporters.

"They will come back and say it's hypocritical to not support abortion but to support stem cell research," he said.

Keyes received two standing ovations during his remarks, but a representative of the assemblies distanced his group from the speech. At least one audience member followed Keyes outside to express displeasure with his comments about the president.

"He accused Bush of being evil," said Chuck Lutz, president of the Tarrant County Republican Assembly. "I don't think anyone in that room would say George W. Bush is trying to see how much evil he can get away with."

"I have heard him go off the deep end before. I can't say I was surprised, but I did not expect it."

Some at the assembly applauded Keyes' remarks.

Carolyn Cosby, a delegate from Georgia, said the president is a disappointment to the conservative movement.

"He's a traitor to the conservatives who elected him, and the stem cell research is just one example of a litany of public policy moves he has made that are betraying the conservative agenda in this country," she said.

She said she campaigned for Bush during the election but applauds Keyes' words.

"We need conservative voices to rise and challenge a president who is acting like a traitor to those he promised to represent."

Lutz said Keyes has a unique position in the Republican Party.

"I think Alan Keyes has set a role for himself as a conservative conscience," he said. "He sees his role as the conscience of conservatism, and he doesn't feel constrained by policy decisions. So he can speak his mind."