Bush, GOP Congressional Leaders, RNC Chairman Mehlman To Christian/Conservative Values Voters: Drop Dead

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Bush, GOP Congressional Leaders, RNC Chairman Mehlman To Christian/Conservative Values Voters: Drop Dead


Printer friendly E-Mail this page In 1975, when President Gerald Ford denied any Federal aid to bailout New York City, the “New York Daily News” ran a famous front-page headline saying: “FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD.” Today, so far, a variation of this headline, regarding President Bush and the Christian/conservatives who helped re-elect him, would read: “BUSH TO VALUES VOTERS: DROP DEAD.”In his first press conference since his re-election, Mr. Bush said his victory meant he’s earned “political capital” and he intends to spend this capital on his “agenda.”

Good idea. Strike while the iron is hot, as they say.So, what about the so-called “moral mandate?” What did Mr. Bush have on his agenda that addresses the concerns of the so-called “value voters,” the millions of evangelical Christians who many are saying are responsible for his re-election? What, for example, if anything, did he plan to do to stop abortion which still snuffs out annually the lives of more than one million innocent unborn babies? What did he want to do to defend traditional man/woman only marriage?Well, evidently, nothing. Because Mr. Bush said not one word about either of these issues being on his agenda.In his opening, prepared statement, Mr. Bush mentioned: His war in Iraq; the need for Congress to pass some appropriations bills; intelligence reform; the economy; frivolous lawsuits; health care; education reform; the tax code; Social Security.A little later, when asked if his re-election made him feel a little more free, Mr. Bush mentioned, again, that he plans to work on:

Social Security; tax reform; the economy; and education. He also said he would “press forward” on: his HIV/AIDS initiative; the Millennium Challenge Account; and feeding the hungry.When Mr. Bush was asked about his strong support by Christian evangelicals in particular, he said he will be president of everybody “regardless of your faith.” He said no President should ever try to impose his religion on society. He said the “great tradition of America” is that anybody can worship anyway they want to worship — or not worship — those choosing not to worship being “just as patriotic as your neighbor.”The “great thing that unites us,”

Mr. Bush reiterated, is that people can worship or not worship as they please. He said “you’re equally American” whether you are Jewish, Christian or a Muslim and this is “a wonderful aspect of our society.”But, of course, from a Christian/Biblical perspective, such assertions are pernicious, incoherent nonsense. What possible “unity” could there be where everybody worships who or whatever they choose, or doesn’t worship anyone or anything at all? None. And Mr. Bush’s mindless ecumenism is NOT in the “great American tradition.” Our country was founded as a Christian nation by Christians. And it is a Christian/Biblical view upon which our government and system of laws is based.In his press conference, when asked if he would seek a “consensus candidate” for the Supreme Court if there is an opening, Mr. Bush said only that he would “pick somebody that knows the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law.”

He noted that the judges he has already appointed were “well qualified people who know the law, who represent a judicial temperament that I agree with and who are qualified to hold the bench.”Does “well qualified” people mean people who are for or against abortion? Does “well qualified” people mean people who are for or against homosexual marriage? Mr. Bush said nothing at all about these issues.Finally, in his press conference, Mr. Bush said he wants to “reach out to everyone who shares our goals.” But, if what he says is true, why, in speaking about his agenda, did he totally ignore some important concerns of the millions of evangelical Christians who voted for him?

— In remarks to newly elected members of Congress and their spouses (1/3/05), Mr. Bush mentioned the need for disaster aid for millions devastated by the tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. He talked about winning the war in Iraq, simplifying the tax code, health care, reforming our legal system, education, the Federal budget, Social Security. Again, no mention of any issues of concern to Christian/conservative “values voters.”

— In his second press conference since his re-election, Mr. Bush talked about: The economy, our outdated tax code, health care, our legal system, education, the budget, improving our intelligence operations, the presidential election in Afghanistan, Iraq, Medicare, immigration reform. One more time, no mention of any “values voters” issues.— In a third press conference, discussing the “great goals” for his second term, Mr. Bush mentioned: Social Security; the deficit; his wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; making the world free; immigration. Nothing was said about “values voters” issues.— In an interview in “USA Today” (1/14/05), Mr. Bush mentioned his “big goals” which include: Reforming Social Security; keeping the economy growing; overhauling medical liability laws; simplifying the tax code; immigration; asbestos reform; energy. Notice anything missing? Right. No issues of concern to those “values voters.”

— An article in “Newsweek” magazine (1/24/05) about President Bush’s second term agenda reports, regarding social conservatives: “They may be surprised to find that the social issues which figured so prominently in the 2004 campaign are absent from Bush’s list of Big Things. In private, Bush rarely talks about abortion rights and gay marriage.” A family friend is quoted as saying that Mr. Bush “doesn’t even carry his family on abortion. He’d probably lose a vote 3-to-1. And I bet he doesn’t make one phone call on the Constitutional [gay marriage] amendment.”

— Another “Washington Post” story (1/19/05), this one about the so-called social issues, says: “Privately, some Bush advisors say the President is uncomfortable picking divisive political fights over abortion and same-sex marriage that cannot be won.” Such political fights, of course, can never be won if these fights are never fought.

— A “Washington Post” story (1/16/05), based on an interview with the President, says: “On the domestic front, Bush said he would not lobby the Senate to pass a Constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriage.”And the Christian/conservative “values voters” are getting no more attention from GOP leaders than they are from President Bush.

— An article in the “New York Times” (1/2/05), about how the GOP plans to use its greater strength in Congress, quotes House Majority Leader Tom DeLay as mentioning: Social Security; tax reform; tort reform; the budget and spending; regulatory reform. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is reported as indicating he might try to cut off Democrat filibusters of Mr. Bush’s judicial nominees. For the umpteenth time, not even a bone is thrown here to the “values voters” — nothing.

— And the “Washington Post” (1/20/05) quotes the new head of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, as saying the GOP must identify and turn out Americans who agree with, among other things, “our work on behalf of a culture of life.” Mehlman’s advocacy of “a culture of life” might have more credibility if he had not picked as RNC co-chairman former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson who is pro-abortion.So, the message here is clear: “BUSH TO VALUES VOTERS: DROP DEAD.” Ditto, Congressional GOP leaders and RNC Chairman Mehlman to “values voters.”

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