Bush Speech Focuses on Saddam, the Economy

Written by Randy Hall, Christine Hall, and Scott Hogenson

(CNSNews.com) — Saying he is "deeply aware of decisive days that lie ahead," President Bush Tuesday declared the union is strong and opened his State of the Union address by touching on a mix of domestic, economic, and foreign issues.

Amid tight security and behind a broad police perimeter encircling the U.S. Capitol, Bush told the nation and Congress that his top priority is economic, saying, "We must have an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job." The president also called for a dividend tax cut and speedy action on his latest tax relief proposals, asking that "all the income tax reductions set for 2004 and 2006 be made permanent and effective this year."

But the president devoted a significant portion of his remarks to the threat posed by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Saying the U.S. would continue consultations with the United Nations, Bush cautioned against any misunderstanding about American resolve in Iraq. "If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him," said Bush.

The president detailed reports of torture and hardship faced by Iraqi citizens under Hussein and offered a message to the people of Iraq. "If this is not evil, then evil has no meaning," said Bush. "Tonight, I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of Iraq. Your enemy is not surrounding your country; your enemy is ruling your country."

Bush praised Americans serving into the military and said that sending Americans into battle is "the most profound decision a president can make." The president acknowledged that risk and loss of life accompany such a decision.

On domestic policy, Bush reiterated his long-standing call for immediately ending the marriage tax penalty, reforming Social Security to include personal retirement accounts for younger workers, and moving towards national energy independence. On health care, he called for adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, which Democrats also support, and curtailing run-away damage awards in medical malpractice lawsuits.

"Because of excessive litigation, everybody pays more for health care and many parts of America are losing fine doctors," said Bush.

Bush touched on issues high on the social conservative agenda, calling for Congress to pass laws ending partial-birth abortion and outlawing human cloning. He also urged Congress to pass his faith-based initiative and Citizen Service Act.

Trying to take the offensive from Democrats on the environment, Bush called for the development of alternative fuel cars. He proposed a $1.2 billion program to develop a hydrogen-powered vehicle. "A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy…can be used to power a car, producing only water, not exhaust fumes," said Bush.

Democrats remained critical of the president, both on domestic and foreign policy issues.

"Tonight, the President used all the right rhetoric – but he still has all the wrong policies," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). "Regrettably, he passed up this opportunity to close the widening credibility gap that is putting him further and further out of touch with the American people."

"The President intended his address to calm a jittery nation, but the fears and doubts of millions of Americans who are hurting, concerned about losing their jobs and health insurance, struggling to pay for prescription drugs, and nervous about going into war without the support of our allies…will not go away," said Rep. Charlie Rangel (N.Y.), ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee.

Daschle accused the president of under-funding homeland security and education programs.

He also accused Bush of talking about helping seniors afford prescription drugs but then proposing a plan to "coerce seniors into HMOs to get prescription coverage."

"He says he cares about working families," Daschle added, but then "refuses to extend unemployment benefits for a million workers whose benefits have expired."

"The real test of the President's speech isn't how many promises he makes, it's whether he provides the leadership to make good on those promises," Daschle concluded.

Rangel expressed doubts about the president's policy on Iraq and urged Bush to be more forthcoming with intelligence information that demonstrates a link between Saddam Hussein and terrorists. "I had hoped that the President would have given us more confidence that the young men and women would not be placed in harm's way unless absolutely necessary to protect this great land of ours," said Rangel. "President Bush failed to demonstrate that there is an immediate threat from Iraq to us or our allies.

"No one denies that Saddam Hussein is a dictator and has repressed his own people," Rangel added. "But so have dictators in other nations, including North Korea, that we have not decided to go to war against."

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