During his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Bush declared that the United States is winning the war on terrorism and the American economy is continuing to grow, and he said America “is confident and strong.”
Pointedly confronting Democrats and the international community for refusing to support the Bush administration’s decision to topple Saddam’s regime, the president stated that ending the national security threat posed by Iraq was not up for multilateral negotiation.
“America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people,” Bush said.
Bush also emphasized the need to further democratize the Middle East by pursuing “a forward strategy of freedom.” He argued that to ensure U.S. security, America cannot back down from aggressively hunting terrorists and eradicating the “outlaw regimes” that support them.
“Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people,” Bush said. “… It is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting and false.”
Republican lawmakers applauded throughout the 54-minute speech, while Democratic lawmakers sat silently. Notable absences included all major candidates from the Monday Democratic Iowa caucuses. The audience was littered with members of the armed forces, among them a Marine Corps sergeant from Madison, Dawn Campbell.
After spending more than half his speech on the war on terrorism, Bush moved to the economy, commending Congress for approving the administration’s tax-cut plan and claiming it was imperative to the economy’s recent rebound.
“We have come through recession and terrorist attack and corporate scandals and the uncertainties of war. And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this economy is strong and growing stronger,” Bush said.
Democratic leaders criticized many of the president’s claims after his address, particularly on economic issues and the war in Iraq.
“American taxpayers are bearing almost all the cost, a colossal $120 billion and rising,” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said. “More importantly, American troops are enduring almost all the casualties — tragically, 500 killed and thousands more wounded.”
Bush also addressed the issue of same-sex marriage during his speech, saying that a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage may be on the way.
“If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process,” Bush said. “Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage.”
The president also set forth several domestic proposals asking Congress to secure his faith-based initiative into law. He also outlined his plan to grant legal status to millions of illegal immigrants working in the United States, stating he favored bringing aliens “out of the shadows” without granting them amnesty.
Bush pushed for Medicare reforms as well, asking Congress to move beyond his prescription-drug benefits package passed last year while avoiding the initiation of policies that would create a public healthcare system.
“A government-run healthcare system is the wrong prescription,” Bush said.
Much of the president’s speech included themes expected to be major parts of the Bush re-election campaign this fall.
“The standard wisdom is that this was a preview for what you will see in the campaign,” University of Wisconsin communication arts professor Stephen Lucas said.