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August 31, 2004
Four years ago, then-Gov. George Bush painted a picture of himself as a "compassionate conservative" who would unite the country and take steps to help the poor and expand opportunity for all Americans. Four years later, the compassionate conservative agenda has emerged as little more than campaign fluff designed to hide extremist tax and budget policies geared to the wealthy, social policies that seek to write discrimination into our Constitution, and the use of churches and other houses of worship for partisan purposes.
- Giving large tax breaks to the wealthy before helping the poor and providing basic health care to millions of uninsured children is not compassionate. President Bush came into office with the largest budget surpluses in U.S. history. He could have used the bounty to overcome deeply ingrained inequities and provide hope to millions of struggling Americans. Instead, he gave the surplus away to those who needed it the least and created a fiscal crisis that will force major cuts in important domestic programs.
- Using the U.S. Constitution to discriminate against an entire class of Americans is not compassionate. The Constitution has been amended to eliminate slavery, to give women the right to vote, and to secure for every person the equal protection of the laws. It has never been amended to mandate discrimination. Now President Bush wants to reinstate the era of legalized discrimination by using the legal foundation of our government to bash gay Americans.
- Seeking to divide religious groups along ideological lines and use religion for partisan gain is not compassionate. President Bush has made no secret of his desire to use religious groups for his own partisan needs. Rather than focusing on common religious values that unite us, President Bush and his allies focus solely on divisive issues like gay marriage, abortion, and stem cells while inappropriately using churches as vehicles for get-out-the-vote efforts for his re-election campaign.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund.
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Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
