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Commentary - Sep 8, 2004 - Printable Version
- Republican Convention 2004: A Hopefuller America
by Mark Faulk
Now that the cheering has subsided, now that the hyperboles have been tossed like so much confetti and the dust has settled on the vicious attacks on every Democrat in America, let's take a look at President Bush's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last week. The pundits, analysts, and commentators described it as brilliant, but this observer must have been viewing it through a different shade of glasses. Obviously, mine weren't rose-colored. Or maybe I was just picking up on the "subliminable" messages that he was sending through the airwaves. Anyway, that said, let's break down "our" President's speech into a few key phrases, and I'll add my thoughts afterwards:
"We are staying on the offensive striking terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And we are working to advance liberty in the broader Middle East, because freedom will bring a future of hope, and the peace we all want."
"As freedom advances heart by heart, and nation by nation America will be more secure and the world more peaceful."
"Generations will know if we seized this moment, and used it to build a future of safety and peace."
When President Bush laid out his plans to take over the Mideast, "nation by nation", and when he declared that "democracy is coming to the broader Middle East", and the thousands of supporters cheered as one, was I the only person in America who cringed at the thought of the US invading one country after another, and unilaterally imposing our values on every country that stands in our way, all in the name of freedom?
And one more thing: maybe it's just the sixties radical still lurking inside of me, but I cringe every time I hear anyone describe aggression and war as a legitimate means to achieve peace. War is war, peace is peace. Don't confuse the two.
"We have seen Americans in uniform storming mountain strongholds, and charging through sandstorms, and liberating millions, with acts of valor that would make the men of Normandy proud."
"America has done this kind of work before and there have always been doubters. In 1946, 18 months after the fall of Berlin to allied forces, a journalist wrote in the New York Times, "Germany is a land in an acute stage of economic, political and moral crisis. [European] capitals are frightened. In every [military] headquarters, one meets alarmed officials doing their utmost to deal with the consequences of the occupation policy that they admit has failed." End quote. Maybe that same person's still around, writing editorials. Fortunately, we had a resolute president named Truman, who with the American people persevered, knowing that a new democracy at the center of Europe would lead to stability and peace. And because that generation of Americans held firm in the cause of liberty, we live in a better and safer world today."
"We were honored to aid the rise of democracy in Germany and Japan and Nicaragua and Central Europe and the Baltics, and that noble story goes on."
When our President compared the war in Iraq (not once, but three times) to our involvement in World War Two, did anyone else's mouth drop open in disbelief? How could he compare a war against a country that had invaded nearly every country in Europe and systematically exterminated millions of Jews to the war in Iraq, a country that we invaded without provocation based on circumstantial information that they might possibly have WMDs? And even if they did (which they didn't), so do a dozen other countries. Did the likelihood that we will eventually go after every one of those countries as well enter anyone's mind, or was everyone else too caught up in the blind patriotism of the moment to even think about it?
"Our Nation's founding commitment is still our deepest commitment: In our world, and here at home, we will extend the frontiers of freedom."
"Extend the frontiers of freedom in our world"? Was I the only one who went straight to my computer and did a google search in an attempt to find one founding father who expressed a goal of spreading democracy to the rest of the world, by force if necessary? Had I misinterpreted every doctrine and every speech I had read where our forefathers time again warned against the dangers of entanglement in foreign affairs? Try President Washington's Declaration of Neutrality in 1793, or his farewell address three years later. In fact, I couldn't find one statement from one of our founding fathers expressing a desire to spread Democracy to the rest of the world, especially by force.
"I believe we have a moral responsibility to honor America's seniors so I brought Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen Medicare. Now seniors are getting immediate help buying medicine. Soon every senior will be able to get prescription drug coverage, and nothing will hold us back."
The day after the Republican Convention ended, the administration announced that seniors will be hit with a 17% increase in out of pocket expenses on Medicare next year, the largest increase in the forty year history of the program. And this was after increases of 13.5% in 2004 and 8.7% last year. Enough said.
"To create jobs, my plan will encourage investment and expansion by restraining federal spending, reducing regulation, and making tax relief permanent."
"Restraining federal spending"? Was that a joke, and if so, why did everyone at the Convention cheer instead of grabbing their sides and doubling over with laughter? And this was just one week before it was announced that the deficit will reach a record $422 billion this year, breaking the old record of $374 billion - set by Bush just last year. Both years, the administration said that it was good news, because they expected it to be even higher. Go figure. And if Bush "makes tax relief (for the rich) permanent"? The deficit will reach $4.3 trillion in the next ten years. That's $4,300,000,000,000.00. Ouch.
"To create jobs, we will make our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy."
Can you say "the highest prices on gasoline in history this year? How about $49 a barrel for oil from "foreign sources of energy"? Sure you can.
"Another drag on our economy is the current tax code, which is a complicated mess filled with special interest loopholes, saddling our people with more than six billion hours of paperwork and headache every year."
"Special interest loopholes"? Is this the same guy who at a campaign speech in Virginia just last month justified his tax breaks for the rich by saying that "the really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway." And again, was I the only one who got the subliminable message "rewrite the tax laws so that the rich get even richer yet again" from his promise to simplify the tax code?
"We seek to provide not just a government program, but a path, a path to greater opportunity, more freedom, and more control over your own life."
"This path begins with our youngest Americans. To build a more hopeful America, we must help our children reach as far as their vision and character can take them."
This path begins in poverty. A week before the Republican Convention kicked off, it was announced that there were 12.9 million children living in poverty last year, or 17.6 percent of the under-18 population. That was an increase of about 800,000 from 2002, when 16.7 percent of all children were in poverty. The poverty rate for children has risen every year since Bush became president. So much for "No Child Left Behind". For more on Bush's "education reform", read 13 Million Left Behind: http://www.faulkingtruth.com/Articles/Commentary/1010.html
"America's children must also have a healthy start in life."
Let's hope that America's children stay healthy, since it was also announced just before the convention that the number of children without health insurance went up for the third straight year. They can't afford to be sick.
"We knew Saddam Hussein's record of aggression and support for terror. We knew his long history of pursuing, even using, weapons of mass destruction. And we know that September 11th requires our country to think differently: We must, and we will, confront threats to America before it is too late."
"After more than a decade of diplomacy, we gave Saddam Hussein another chance, a final chance, to meet his responsibilities to the civilized world. He again refused, and I faced the kind of decision that comes only to the Oval Office ? a decision no president would ask for, but must be prepared to make. Do I forget the lessons of September 11th and take the word of a madman, or do I take action to defend our country? Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time."
To President Bush and every Republican in America: No matter how many times you try to connect Iraq to 9/11, it won't make it true. And no matter how times you say the phrase "weapons of mass destruction", they won't magically appear in the streets of Baghdad. Give it up, and admit that you were wrong. Even General Tommy Franks said in an interview last week, "We haven't found any weapons of mass destruction, and we may never find any." That's because there aren't any. The end.
"I believe all these things because freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world."
I believe all those things, too, I just don't believe that God wants us to declare war and kill people in his name. Sorry, but I see God and Jesus as compassionate and forgiving, not vengeful and aggressive. Call me too New Testament, but that's what I think.
"Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, which in Texas is called 'walking.'"
Redneck and proud of it. I don't know about anyone else, but that just scares the hell out of me. Of course, my encounters with swaggering redneck Texans as a teenager mainly consisted of hearing about their desires to beat the crap out of "coloreds, queers, and hippies", so maybe I'm a bit biased about that one. I'm just saying...
And finally, in the word count category, Bush used the "F" word sixteen times (no, not that "F" word, I meant "freedom"), beating out "liberty", which came in a respectable second with eleven times. As it has throughout the Bush Administration, "peace" once again took a beating, and was mentioned just five times. Sadly, every time was in reference to the war in Iraq.
"Mr. Chairman, delegates, fellow citizens: I am honored by your support, and I accept your nomination for President of the United States."
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