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President
Bush Outlines Plans for 2004 |
Posted:
01.21.04
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President Bush addressed Congress in his third State of the Union
address Tuesday night, laying out the themes of his 2004 presidential
campaign.
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The State of the Union is an annual address to Congress, mandated
by Article II of the U.S. Constitution, in which the  president
assesses the condition of the country and outlines his goals for
the coming year. George Washington personally delivered the first
annual message to Congress on Jan. 8, 1790.
President Bush outlined his priorities for the coming year, but
also defended his administration's policies, such as the war in
Iraq and tax cuts, against recent attacks from Democratic presidential
candidates.
"We have faced serious challenges together -- and now we
face a choice," the president said. "We can go forward
with confidence and resolve -- or we can turn back to the dangerous
illusion that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw regimes are
no threat to us. We can press on with economic growth, and reforms
in education and Medicare -- or we can turn back to the old policies
and old divisions."
As he mentioned specific items, members of Congress either stood
up and clapped or sat quietly, depending on whether or not they
approved of the president's actions.
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International
accomplishments |
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President Bush began his address by focusing on the accomplishments
made in Afghanistan, Iraq and the war on terror and called on
Congress to renew key provisions of the USA Patriot Act, parts
of which expire next year.
 "Twenty-eight
months have passed since September 11th, 2001 -- over two years
without an attack on American soil -- and it is tempting to believe
that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting
-- and false," he said.
The president defended his decision to go to war in Iraq and
criticized those who disagreed with him.
"From the beginning, America has sought international support
for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much
support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition
of many nations, and submitting to the objections of a few. America
will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our
people," he told the audience.
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Domestic
issues |
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From international concerns Mr. Bush turned to domestic issues.
The president praised the nation's economic growth and linked
that growth to his recent tax credits.
"Americans took those dollars and put them to work, driving
this economy forward," the president said.
He praised the recent changes made to the government health insurance
system for the elderly -- Medicare -- and suggested ways to help
Americans pay for medical care, including tax credits for private
insurance, computerized health records and reducing medical lawsuits.
To critics of his health care policy, he replied: "A government-run
health care system is the wrong prescription."
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Policies
that impact students |
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Of particular interest to students, the president defended his
controversial educational reforms that make up the No Child Left
Behind Act, including the regular testing in grades 3-8 that determines
whether a school is failing or succeeding. He pledged more financial
support for the nation's community colleges and proposed a series
of measures called Jobs for the 21st Century.
 "This
program will provide extra help to middle and high school students
who fall behind in reading and math, expand Advanced Placement
programs in low-income schools, and invite math and science professionals
from the private sector to teach part-time in our high schools,"
Mr. Bush said.
Citing the decline in high school drug use, President Bush proposed
spending an additional $23 million to help schools increase student
drug testing. He also suggested doubling the federal government's
contribution to abstinence-oriented sexual education programs.
President Bush is expected to make appearances this week in Ohio,
Arizona and New Mexico, all hotly contested presidential states.
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Reaction
to the speech |
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After the State of the Union, the other party -- in this case
the Democrats -- gets to react. This year, Democratic leaders
criticized Mr. Bush for his "go-it-alone" foreign policy
that they  said
makes more enemies and drains resources from domestic priorities
such as education and health care.
They said the president's tax cuts only really help the rich
and his economic policies fail to address real problems such as
the lack of jobs.
"Rather than a society that restricts its rewards to a privileged
few, we need an 'opportunity society' that allows all Americans
to succeed," said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South
Dakota in the formal Democratic response to the speech.
--
Annie Schleicher, Online NewsHour
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