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. 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