Contact: Karen Finney of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148
WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- With the White House engulfed in scandal and the American public increasingly skeptical of his failed leadership, President Bush's strategy for reviving his sinking presidency has been to focus exclusively on shoring up his extreme right-wing political base. On issue after issue, the Bush Administration has failed to focus on the priorities of America's working families, choosing instead to cater to extremist activists in his party, according to the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Josh Earnest today issued the following statement calling on President Bush to put his right-wing partisan agenda aside and focus on the interests of working Americans:
"Apparently, the President is more worried about shoring up his political base than focusing on the issues facing Americans, like out of control energy costs and the escalating violence in Iraq. From hurricane reconstruction to Supreme Court nominations, President Bush has put his partisan ideological interests ahead of the country's interests by pushing a narrow, radical agenda. Americans deserve better. Democrats believe that the President should lead the entire country and put the government back to work for the American people."
The following fact sheet was produced by DNC Research:
NEVER BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU? Bush Continues to Cave to His Conservative Base
Over the past several months, the American people have witnessed Bush repeatedly cave to his conservative base. The withdrawal of the Miers nomination -- and subsequent nomination of Samuel Alito -- is only the latest example. In fact, Bush has catered to the right-wing on a host of issues, including stem cells, affirmative action, prevailing wage rules, and school vouchers. When will Bush finally stand up to the extremists in his party?
SUPREME COURT NOMINEES
Bush Nominated Samuel Alito to Appease the Right Wing After Conservatives Torpedoed the Nomination of Harriet Miers. According to the Washington Times, "Placating conservatives who torpedoed his nomination of White House counsel Harriet Miers, the president used his third opportunity in less than four months to select a bona fide conservative -- a judge with three decades of legal experience." The Dallas Morning News reported that Alito's "nomination came less than a week after White House counsel Harriet Miers withdrew from high court consideration, amid a storm of opposition from conservatives who said they did not know her philosophy and questioned her qualifications ... Conservatives just as quickly applauded the nomination, saying Justice Alito could help rein in a court that has exceeded its authority by striking down abortion restrictions and certain forms of religious expression." (Dallas Morning News, 11/1/05)
SCHOOL VOUCHERS
After Katrina, Bush Pushed Plan to Force Vouchers on Displaced School Children—Including Those Who Were Already Enrolled in Private Schools. Under Bush's plan to cover most of the cost of educating students displaced by Hurricane Katrina, parents could enroll their children in a private or religious school this year at federal expense, even if they had gone to public schools back home. The administration's proposal contained a slight-of-hand. In proposing $1.9 billion in aid for K-12 students whose schools were ruined by the storm, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings originally said the administration was setting aside $488 million for private-school tuition and other help for the large segment of children from New Orleans who had been attending Catholic schools when Katrina hit. On Sept. 19, however, as new fine print of the proposal emerged, the administration confirmed that the government payment -- as much as $7,500 per child -- would be given for a year to any displaced family for private schools. (Washington Post, 9/20/05; Wall Street Journal, 9/15/05)
FAIR WAGES
Bush Suspended Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Rules, Allowing Contractors to Hire Employees at Depressed Wages. Bush issued a proclamation for parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida that suspends the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 -- which requires employers to pay locally prevailing wages to construction workers on federally financed projects -- for Katrina-related work. While touted as a method to save taxpayers money, Bush's proclamation does not require contractors to pass on savings they accrue as a result of cutting wages. According to a Denver Post editorial, "Bush is now using Hurricane Katrina as an excuse to trash more than seven decades of labor law, allowing Katrina contractors to hire employees at whatever wages the depressed local conditions might warrant." Bush finally repealed the suspension effective on Nov. 8 -- after they were in effect for more than two months. (San Francisco Chronicle, 9/20/05; Columbus Dispatch, 9/19/05; Denver Post, editorial, 9/19/05; Washington Post, 10/27/05)
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Bush Suspended Requirement for Katrina Contractors to Have an Affirmative Action Plan for Veterans, Minorities, Women, and Disabled Persons. Bush's Labor Department has suspended requirements that government contractors have a written affirmative action plan addressing the employment of women, minorities, Vietnam veterans, and the disabled if the companies are first-time government contractors working on post-Katrina reconstruction. According to the New York Times, "the move comes as President Bush has tried to address the perception of unfairness in the government's response to the hurricane." According to Shirley J. Wilcher, the interim executive director of the American Association for Affirmative Action and former deputy assistant secretary for federal contract compliance, "It is not simply a paperwork exercise. It is the basis for companies to be mindful of their obligation not to discriminate." (New York Times, 9/20/05)
STEM CELLS
Bush Imposed Funding Restrictions on Stem Cell Research And Threatened to Veto Bill that Would Provide Federal Funding for Stem-Cell Research. While the Senate considered a bill that would extend federal funding to stem cell research with newly created embryos, the Bush Administration signaled that the measure would not be signed into law. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, "Polls show that about two-thirds of Americans favor stem cell research. But important conservative interest groups are adamantly opposed," including James Dobson's Focus on the Family and the Christian Medical Association. In 2001, Bush imposed funding restrictions on such stem cell research in the U.S. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan reiterated Bush's veto threat, saying that "Nothing has changed in terms of his (Bush's) position." (BioWorld Week, 8/10/05; Economist, 8/27/05; Lincoln Journal Star, 8/8/05; Gazette (Montreal), 8/23/04)
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Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, http://www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
posted
Yeah, he hears us, but he ain't decipherin or parsin things.
He just today "renominated" that mental miget he installed in the UN while the Senate was "out" after his own republican Senate refused to accept the guy's nomination before.
But, then, come to think about it and noting the great depth of intellect of "our president", dumbo dubya probably thinks the guy's a real brain.
IP: Logged |
posted
Now we just need the Democrats to grow a spine and impeach these criminals. I can't believe how quickly Dean and Pelosi both dismissed the idea.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
posted
I agree that it shouldn't be issue number one, but I just hope they don't give Bush and Co. a permanent pass. History (and justice) demands a real investigation.
-------------------- "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
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