Opinion: Bush Waffles On What Ideals He Actually Believes

365 Gay
(http://www.365gay.com/opinion/Releases/Releases.htm)

Bush Waffles On What Ideals He Actually Believes
by John Marble

After four years in office, President Bush seems to have not yet settled on
exactly what it is that he believes.

The Bush Presidency is a duel between his rhetoric and his record. The
President's rhetoric claims the compassionate mantle, while his record
champions discrimination against millions of American families. Bush
prefers to talk like a conservative, although he has actively presided over
the greatest expanse of the federal government in a generation.

President Bush accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination this
week with a speech that reemphasized his flip-flopping vision. Bush
promised to reduce the size of government, but then detailed how he would
expand federal programs. He vowed to personally increase government
spending, but then attacked John Kerry as the "tax-and-spend" candidate.
Bush talked of simplifying the tax code, but then touched on how he would
further complicate the code through additional loopholes.

President Bush's greatest flip-flop comes when he talks about his desire to
expand personal liberty to every American.

Excerpts from his acceptance speech include the following waffles:

Flip: "The story of America is the story of expanding liberty: an
ever-widening circle, constantly growing to reach further and include more."
Flop: "Because the union of a man and woman deserves an honored place in our
society, I support the protection of marriage against activist judges."

Flip: "I am running with a compassionate conservative philosophy: that
government should help people improve their lives, not try to run their
lives."
Flop: "I will continue to appoint federal judges who know the difference
between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law."

Flip: "I believe in the transformational power of liberty: The wisest use of
American strength is to advance freedom."
Flop: "If you voted against the bipartisan Defense of Marriage Act, which
President Clinton signed, you are not the candidate of conservative values."

President Bush still seems confused as to whether he wants to expand liberty
and freedom, or whether he wants to expand the role of government in
people's lives. America is worthy of a President who understands that the
reduction of liberty can never bring forth freedom. We deserve a president
other than George W. Bush.

John Marble is Communications Director for the National Stonewall Democrats