State of the Union Focuses on Iraq, Economy, Path Ahead
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
WASHINGTON — President Bush (search) asked Americans Tuesday night to continue to rise to meet "great responsibilities" in a State of the Union address that also focused on progress in Iraq, increasing security at home and the effect of tax cuts.
After launching the war on terrorism and laying the groundwork for the war in Iraq in the last two State of the Union (search) addresses, Bush asked Americans to stay the course as the economy continues its comeback and the war begins to show peace dividends.
"America this evening is a nation called to great responsibilities. And we are rising to meet them," Bush said. "We have not come all this way through tragedy and trial and war only to falter and leave our work unfinished. Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same of us.
"In their efforts, their enterprise, and their character, the American people are showing that the state of our union is confident and strong," Bush said.
Bush kicked off the 50-minute long speech to both chambers of Congress and a national audience of 60 million people by focusing on an area often criticized by his detractors though frequently cited as his strong suit — national security and the war on terrorism (search).
"America is on the offensive against the terrorists ... Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people," Bush said in the address that had been designated a national special security event worthy of heightened security measures dictated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Bush said that despite the extra vigilance at home, Americans should not be deluded into a false sense of security.
"Twenty-eight months have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, over two years without an attack on American soil, and it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting and false," he said.
Bush discussed the progress being made in both Afghanistan and Iraq, noting that the United States is working with the Iraqis and the United Nations to help Iraq transition to full sovereignty by the end of June.
He repeated that U.S. forces and allies are hunting down terrorists, wherever they may hide, and that "after the chaos and carnage of Sept. 11, is it not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers."
He said U.S.-led troops have taken the fight to Iraq and Afghanistan where "killers, joined by foreign terrorists, are a serious, continuing danger." Despite those dangers, "The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, and proud, and fighting terror," "The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right. And America has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right."
Even before the president's speech, Democrats prepared their criticism of the president. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said Bush should explain what happened to the weapons of mass destruction that were a primary reason to go to war in Iraq.
"The credibility gap was exacerbated by statements about weapons of mass destruction last year, and I think it's imperative if he's going to rebuild his own credibility, he needs to understand and rectify the misstatements made in the past," Daschle, of South Dakota, said.
The president read directly from what's known as the Kay report, which includes tens of thousands of documents showing there were weapons program activities going on in Iraq that were in violation of U.N. rules. He also responded to criticism from people who say the United States should have stayed out of Iraq by citing non-military progress elsewhere in the world. Specifically, he pointed to Libya to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction programs and insisting that North Korea eliminate its nuclear program.
"Different threats require different strategies," the president said. "America is committed to keeping the world's most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the world's most dangerous regimes."
Bush said he will send Congress a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy, and focus on free elections, free markets, free press and free labor unions in the Middle East, as well.
As for homeland security, Bush said homeland security and law enforcement personnel should have "every tool they need to defend us," including the USA Patriot Act, which calls for increased information sharing and seizing terrorist assets, among other things.
"If these methods are good for hunting criminals, they are even more important for hunting terrorists," Bush said, calling on Congress to renew the legislation.
But Democrats argue they can do a better job protecting the home front than the Bush administration and will focus more on protecting ports and waterways, improving real-time communication among first responders and securing nuclear and other fissile material around the world.
"On the issue of homeland security, we know what we need to do to protect America, and we aren't doing it," House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said before the speech. "In our response to the president tonight, will put forth a better way to the protect the American people."
A Nation Challenged
One of the overriding themes of Tuesday night's address was the nation's response to extraordinary challenges.
"We've had recession and stock market difficulties and corporate scandals and terror attacks and the war in Iraq and the war against terror," said former Bush political adviser Karen Hughes, "and so it's been an amazing three years and despite all those challenges, we're rising to the occasion."
Hughes said that the president's message is one of keeping on the current path or heading down another trail.
"The president will talk about the progress we're making and the challenges we face together and the fact that now, we really face a fundamental choice - do we go forward with these policies that have been so successful or do we turn back?" Hughes said.
Economy, Education and Health Care
Saying the U.S. economy is getting stronger every day, Bush pointed out that, under his watch, taxes have been lowered, the child-tax credit has doubled, the marriage penalty has been reduced, the death tax is being phased out and taxes on capital gains and stock dividends have been reduced, among other things.
Home construction is up, as is home ownership rates, productivity and manufacturing activity, while inflation and interest rates are low.
"The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years," Bush said.
But Bush acknowledged that the key to productivity is building a skilled workforce, a complaint that Democrats say has not been done under this president. Bush called on Congress to help train Americans through his "Jobs of the 21st Century" program, which aims to give extra help to middle and high-school students who fall behind in reading and math, will expand advanced placement programs in low-income schools and invite math and science professionals to teach part time in schools, among other things.
"America's growing economy is also a changing economy," Bush said. "As technology transforms the way almost every job is done, America becomes more productive, and workers need new skills. We must respond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good jobs in our new economy."
Although Bush's No Child Left Behind Act has its critics, Bush said it's working to get results via testing and raising accountability.
"This nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics," Bush said. "I refuse to give up on any child and the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the door of opportunity to all of America's Children."
On health care, Bush proposed a basket of tax credits and incentives to make insurance more affordable. The Democrats have made clear they will make health care a major issue this year, noting that some 43 million Americans are without health insurance.
"Our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs," Bush said. "To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs."
Bush warned that any attempt to limit the prescription drug choices he has proposed "will meet me veto."
Congress has already approved a 10-year, $400 billion prescription drug addition to Medicare, the health care entitlement to seniors.
He also called on Congress to finish up tax bills still lying around and urged lawmakers to pass legislation to modernize the country's electricity systems, promote conservation and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
Bush also called on lawmakers to reform immigration laws "so they reflect our values and benefit our economy."
He recently proposed a new temporary worker program he said will help protect the homeland and boost border control efforts. It will "preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law, while bringing millions of hardworking men and women out of the shadows of American life," Bush said.
Social Issues Address Conservative Base
Touching on a hot potato as of late — gay marriage and domestic partner benefits — Bush said, "A strong America must also value the institution of marriage."
Bush noted that Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman and prohibits one state from defining marriage for another state. He said "activist judges" continue to try to alter the law by court order and are "forcing their arbitrary will upon the people."
"The only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage," he said.
Critics Turn Up the Heat
The Consumers Union issued a statement saying many "critical" health care issues such as prescription drugs, the uninsured, the underinsured and victims of medical malpractice, likely will be overlooked.
Prior to the speech, Bush proposed revamping NASA's mission and provided specific details to land a manned flight to Mars by 2030. Democrats have already assailed the costly mission and Bush's desire to boost NASA spending by $1 billion a year to send man to places he has never traveled before.
"He's already done that, by blasting off into the outer reaches of fiscal space with budget deficits from another galaxy," said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. "Who needs to go to the Red Planet when we're already in the red here on Earth?"
Among those in attendance Tuesday night were several soldiers who have been invited as guest of Lynn Cheney and Jean Hastert, wife of House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois. Guests of Laura Bush's will include: David Hobbs, assistant to the president for legislative affairs; several members of the military; Julio Medina, executive director of the Exodus Transitional Community in New York; Rend Rahim Francke, Iraq's diplomatic representative to the United States; Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams; and Michelle Rhee, president of the New Teacher Project.
Other guests will include Ambassador Roble Olhaye from the Republic of Djibouti, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady. Mrs. Bush has also invited several unnamed "special" guests.
Fox News' Jim Angle and Wendell Goler contributed to this report. |
