War on Terror, Economy to Dominate Bush Speech
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
PIERCE CITY, Mo. — President Bush has frequently mentioned the war on terror during his speeches to promote his tax cut package, but comments at a Tuesday speech were also expected to refer to the car bombings in Saudi Arabia Monday, believed to be the work of Al Qaeda (search).
Up to 10 Americans were killed in the bombings as well as other foreign visitors. Many others were injured. The White House condemned the bombings as cowardly acts.
Aides say the president was notified of the bombings last night by National Security Council (search) representatives traveling with him to Indianapolis, where he will continue to push his economic stimulus package. The president is attempting to appeal to voters to put pressure on Democratic senators to increase the limit they have placed on tax cuts this year.
U.S. officials say two compounds housing several Westerners were bombed. A third suffered damage from one of the attacks. The FBI is sending a team to the desert nation to investigate the bombing.
Officials say they do not believe the bombings were aimed to coincide with Secretary of State Colin Powell's (search) trip to Saudi Arabia Tuesday. They added they are pleased with the Saudi crackdown on terrorism, which has forced Al Qaeda to focus on soft targets like apartment buildings rather than embassies and military bases.
As usual, during his speeches to push his tax cuts on Monday, the president spent nearly as much time talking about Iraq and the war on terror as he did about the economy. In Omaha, Neb., the president seemed to presage the Saudi attacks.
"There's still Al Qaeda operatives moving around. And we're going to stay on the hunt until we bring them to justice. We have a duty in this country to defend our freedoms. We have a responsibility to future generations of America to uphold our responsibility to make this country secure. And we assume those duties, and we accept that responsibility," he said.
Bush's appearance Tuesday at Indiana's state fairgrounds -- site of many historic events, including a Beatles concert, will mark one of the larger crowds Bush has addressed as president.
People were lined up for the equivalent of about 20 blocks Tuesday morning.
As he did in two stops in Albuquerque, N.M., and Omaha on Monday, the president is using his wartime popularity to try to persuade audience members to pressure their members of Congress to approve a tax cut package of the size he wants.
The Senate Finance Committee has endorsed a 10-year, $350 billion package, the House a $550 billion, both fall short of the $726 billion the president wanted, though he has since said he would prefer the House package.
At all his appearances, the president has responded to criticism from Democrats and some Republicans that the tax cuts impose too high a price in the form of a ballooning federal deficit.
Speaking Monday, he said he saw only two such solutions for the growing deficit.
"You can raise the taxes in order to make up the deficit, which doesn't make any sense to me. It'll hurt the economy. If giving people more of their money means more jobs, taking away their money means fewer jobs. Or, you can do our plan, which is hold the line on spending in Washington, D.C., which is being realistic with the people's money," he said.
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., one of the senators in the president's sights, has said he may support larger tax cuts, especially if Medicare aid is given to cash-strapped states.
"The pressure isn't coming from the White House," Nelson said. "It's coming from doing what's right."
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., also hasn't set his decision in stone.
"I think he has an open mind to going over $350 billion," said Bayh spokesman Mark Kornblau. "But he would prefer to see any increase above $350 billion offset by spending cuts so as not to grow the deficit even further and not raid the Social Security trust fund."
On Monday night, Bush met with about 25 Republicans from the Hoosier state, home to retiring White House budget chief Mitchell Daniels (search). Daniels, who is joining Bush at the fairgrounds, announced his resignation earlier this month and set up a likely run for Indiana governor.
Waiting for the president to arrive, one local college instructor and lifelong Democrat said she would support the president's cuts if they helped everyone, not just the wealthy.
"If they work, I'm for them -- if they work at all levels, not just for wealthy people," said Rebecca Shacklett. "I'm for what works in life, not for what's Democrat or Republican."
After his speech in Indianapolis, Bush heads to Pierce City, Mo., one of the locations hardest hit by severe tornadoes over the last week. About 100 homes were damaged or destroyed in the Southwest Missouri town of 1,400. One church lost its steeple and another saw its cross bent over the top of it.
Bush has declared a disaster area in Missouri and three other states. He will get a helicopter tour and a briefing on the ground followed by a walking tour of the devastation.
Fox News' Wendell Goler and James Rosen and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
URL:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,86750,00.html |
