POLITICS
The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, January 21, 2004 - 5
Democrats: Bush's portrayal of
nation in address is inaccurate
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats challenged
the bright picture of America presented in President
Bush's State of the Union address yesterday, saying it
belied a darker reality of lost jobs, rising deficits and
mounting casualties in Iraq.
Coming exactly one week before New Hampshire's
presidential primary and the night after Iowa's caucus-
es, the speech gave Democratic presidential candidates
an opportunity to discuss how they would take on a
popular president whose campaign will highlight the
economic recovery and his leadership in fighting ter-
rorism - themes prominent in the address.
"The State of the Union may look rosy from the
White House balcony or the suites of George Bush's
wealthiest donors," said Democratic presidential can-
didate Howard Dean. "But hardworking Americans
will see through this president's effort to wrap his
radical agenda with a compassionate ribbon."
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark said Bush's promises
were "just smoke and mirrors" to hide that he "has
helped those who have most, hurt those who have
least, and ignored everyone in between."
Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said Bush "is
trying to camouflage his irresponsible, divisive, right-
wing agenda and repackage himself as a centrist com-
passionate conservative around election time."
Democrats pointed to deficits approaching $500
billion and a loss of 2.3 million jobs since he took
office. They also criticized Bush's failure to build a
broad international coalition in Iraq.
Fresh from his victory Monday in Iowa, Sen. John
Kerry of Massachusetts said Bush "still doesn't
understand what's happening in living rooms across
this country."
He said Bush "talked about how he wants to help
people find jobs, but for three years he stood by
while we lost more jobs than at any time since the
Great Depression."
In what he dubbed his own "state of the nation"
speech, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said Bush's
tax cuts, combined with the Iraq war, have weakened
the middle class. The administration "has spent $155
billion for an unnecessary war driven by fear,"
Kucinich said.
In the official Democratic response to Bush's
speech, the top two Democrats on Capitol Hill
said the president wasn't doing enough to protect
America from terrorists or to improve the econo-
my. Excerpts of the response were released in
advance.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of Cali-
fornia criticized Bush's "go-it-alone foreign policy
that leaves us isolated abroad and that steals the
resources we need for education and health care
"The State of the Union may
look rosy from the White
House balcony of the suites of
George Bush's wealthiest
donors.... But hardworking
Americans will see through
this president's effort to wrap
his radical agenda with a
compassionate ribbon.'
- Howard Dean
Democratic presidential candidate
here at home."
Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of
South Dakota said, "Instead of borrowing even
more money to give more tax breaks to companies
so that they can export even more jobs, we pro-
pose tax cuts and policies that will strengthen our
manufacturing sector and create good jobs at good
wages here at home."
President Bush gives the annual State of the Union address last night stressing
numerous issues Including the economy, teenage drug use and marriage.
ADDRESS
Continued from Page 1
Behind Act, which has been criticized
for imposing excessive standardized
testing.
"We expect third graders to read at
a third grade level," Bush said. "I
refuse to give up on any child."
Bush also proposed higher education
grants to high school students who take
a rigorous course load, as well as job
training for workers who are falling
behind the technology curve.
Speaking on marriage law, Bush
criticized "activist judges" for chang-
ing marriage definitions against the
will of the people. "A strong America
must also value the institution of mar-
riage. I believe we should respect
individuals as we take a principled
stand for one of the most fundamen-
tal, enduring institutions of our civi-
lization," he said.
Article Two of the Constitution
mandates that the President report
to Congress periodically on the
state of affairs in the nation as well
as "recommend measures as he
shall judge necessary and expedi-
ent."
Contrary to media predictions,
Bush did not speak about the expan-
sion of the space program. Last
week Bush publicly announced his
hopes for future manned missions to
the moon and Mars.
Last night's speech marked the
71st time a President has delivered
the address to Congress, CNN
reported.
STUDENTS
Continued from Page 1
the war on terrorism was indeed a
war and not a crime.
She said that as a war the meas-
ures against terrorism needed to be
more extreme.
As part of the effort to continue
the war on terrorism, College
Republican member Mike Vasall
said he supported the controversial
Patriot Act mentioned in the
address.
"I think the Patiot Act is definite-
ly necesssary because it will ensure
safety on the home turf of the U.S. I
think the clapping was dispresctful
to the president," said Vasall, an
LSA junior.
"They can make comments when
the speech is done. It shows poorly
on the Democrats. This was not the
time nor place to do it but Bush
handled it well," he added.
Business School junior Scott
Hartlieb also watched the speech at
the League.
"I'm here cause I support the
president and I like watching the
speech where there are a lot of peo-
ple around who support my views,"
Hartlieb said.
Democratic candidates prepare
for grueling contests up ahead
The Associated Press
COME AND JOIN THE M ICi
DAILY:
STOP BY 420 MAYNARD
OR CALL 76-ALyo.
III
GAN
ST.
Their campaigns jolted by upsets in Iowa, Democratic
presidential candidates sparred over each others' experience
and electability yesterday in a race suddenly lacking a front-
runner or form.
"I am an underdog in New Hampshire," John Kerry said in
words echoed by Howard Dean as the volatile campaign
moved eastward. A day earlier in Iowa, Kerry and John
Edwards blew the campaign wide open with a one-two cau-
cus finish, stripping a humbled Dean of his front-runner's
mantle.
As Rep. Dick Gephardt exited the race, his fourth-place
finish a political death knell, the remaining major candi-
dates adjusted their strategies for a weeklong sprint to New
Hampshire's Jan. 27 primary and a seven-state contest seven
days later.
"I used to be the front-runner when I went out to Iowa,
but I'm not the front-runner any more," Dean said at
Portsmouth, N.H., after making the traditional overnight
flight from Iowa to the Granite State. "But New Hampshire
has a great tradition of supporting the underdog. So guess
what? Let's go get them."
The topsy-turvy results produced smiles at the White
House, where advisers hoped for a long, nasty race that
would produce a damaged nominee and divided Democratic
Party.
President Bush stole the spotlight from Democrats with
the annual State of the Union address, a dressed-up version
of his campaign agenda.
"They have 17 contests over the next five weeks," White
House communications director Dan Bartlett said without a
hint of regret. "So it looks like the roller coaster is just
beginning."
After New Hampshire, where polls show the race tighten-
ing, the next twist comes Feb. 3 when seven states hold con-
tests, including Gephardt's home state of Missouri. The
state, now up for grabs, has 74 pledged delegates at stake,
more than Iowa and New Hampshire combined.
It will cost upward of $1 million a week to air ads in
every Feb. 3 television market, not to mention the cost of
travel. Kerry, who dipped into his family fortune last
year to keep his race afloat, is the only one of the five
major candidates not advertising in any of the Feb. 3
states.
Edwards, whose candidacy hinges on a victory Feb. 3 in
South Carolina, is hoping to carry his Iowa momentum to
New Hampshire.
One of his events was so crowded yesterday that New
Hampshire Democratic Party chairwoman Kathleen Sulli-
van was turned away at the door.
"This race is wild and wide open," she said.
CONVENIENT BUS STOP IN FRONT OF THE MALL - OP
'EN MON. THRU SAT. 8 -11, SUNDAY 8 - 9
U.. 23 & WASHTENAW
IN THE
ARBORLAND MALL
734-677-2370
- 4 v'; -is-tU
UNIV AGE
CLAR
a'a.
NOELSRTH
I
* at SHOP ONLINE IN YOUR
UNDERWEAR...
ANY TIME OF THE
DAY OR NIGHT.
JUST LOG ON TO...