US presidential elections: The American process (7)

KWENU! Our culture, our future

US Presidential elections: The American process (7)

Republican National Convention

ACHO ORABUCHI

Dallas, Texas

Friday, September 10, 2004

Amid an exceptionally high security, the four-day Republican National Convention kicked off in earnest at Madison Square Garden in New York on Monday, August 30, 2004. National security, war on terror, planting of freedom and democracy around the globe, and liberty at home were the centerpiece of the convention.

The convention that featured moderate faces of the Republican Party who never deviated from the centerpiece of the event also witnessed protesters, who wanted the domestic issues to be discussed. On the eve of the start of the Republican National Convention in New York, about 250,000 protesters organized by the United for Peace and Justice gathered in New York to protest various policies of President Bush. Protests continued in various forms throughout the convention.

In any case, the presence of the protesters did not stop the Republicans from pounding John Kerry on issues. While the Democrats crafted seamless messages crafted for a favorable introduction of John Kerry to the nation during their convention, the Republicans, for the most part used mélange of messages in their convention to define Senator John Kerry. The republicans have pinioned the Democrats with their strength in fighting terrorism to the extent that Kerry is kept in pant eon for issues.

The most stinging attack of Senator John Kerry came from his fellow Democrat, Senator Zell Miller, who was a keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention. Referring to Senator Kerry, Senator Miller said, “No one should dare to even think about being the Commander in Chief of this country if he doesn't believe with all his heart that our soldiers are liberators abroad and defenders of freedom at home.” He continued, Senator Kerry has made it clear that he would use military force only if approved by the United Nations. Kerry would let Paris decide when America needs defending. I want Bush to decide. John Kerry, who says he doesn't like outsourcing, wants to outsource our national security.”

The culminating activity of the convention was the acceptance speech by the president, George Walker Bush on September 2, 2004. Since the Republicans had the momentum going into the convention, all they needed to do was to sustain the energy and they did.

In his acceptance speech, President George Walker Bush, unveiled his agenda for the next four years. President Bush spoke on numerous issues, freedom, including taxes, family values, education, health insurance, war on terror, national security, Iraq, education, the role of government, economy, jobs, etc.

Bush said, “My plan begins with providing the security and opportunity of a growing economy. We now compete in a global market that provides new buyers for our goods, but new competition for our workers. To create more jobs in America, America must be the best place in the world to do business. To create jobs, my plan will encourage investment and expansion by restraining federal spending, reducing regulation, and making tax relief permanent. To create jobs, we will make our country less dependent on foreign sources of energy. To create jobs, we will expand trade and level the playing field to sell American goods and services across the globe. And we must protect small business owners and workers from the explosion of frivolous lawsuits that threaten jobs across America.”

”To stand with workers in poor communities -- and those that have lost manufacturing, textile, and other jobs -- we will create American opportunity zones. In these areas, we'll provide tax relief and other incentives to attract new business, and improve housing and job training to bring hope and work throughout all of America,” Bush promised.

President Bush said, ”In a new term, we must allow small firms to join together to purchase insurance at the discounts available to big companies. We will offer a tax credit to encourage small businesses and their employees to set up health savings accounts, and provide direct help for low-income Americans to purchase them. These accounts give workers the security of insurance against major illness, the opportunity to save tax-free for routine health expenses, and the freedom of knowing you can take your account with you whenever you change jobs. And we will provide low-income Americans with better access to health care: In a new term, I will ensure every poor county in America has a community or rural health center.”

Bush pledged, “We will always keep the promise of Social Security for our older workers. With the huge Baby Boom generation approaching retirement, many of our children and grandchildren understandably worry whether Social Security will be there when they need it. We must strengthen Social Security by allowing younger workers to save some of their taxes in a personal account -- a nest egg you can call your own, and government can never take away.”

Bush told America, “In our high schools, we will fund early intervention programs to help students at risk. We will place a new focus on math and science. As we make progress, we will require a rigorous exam before graduation. By raising performance in our high schools, and expanding Pell grants for low and middle income families, we will help more Americans start their career with a college diploma.”

President Bush explained the differences between him and his opponent. ”My opponent's policies are dramatically different from ours. Senator Kerry opposed Medicare reform and health savings accounts. After supporting my education reforms, he now wants to dilute them. He opposes legal and medical liability reform. He opposed reducing the marriage penalty, opposed doubling the child credit, and opposed lowering income taxes for all who pay them. To be fair, there are some things my opponent is for -- he's proposed more than two trillion dollars in new federal spending so far, and that's a lot, even for a senator from Massachusetts. To pay for that spending, he is running on a platform of increasing taxes -- and that's the kind of promise a politician usually keeps,” Bush stated.

”His policies of tax and spend -- of expanding government rather than expanding opportunity -- are the policies of the past. We are on the path to the future -- and we are not turning back,” Bush pointed out.

Bush continued, ”My opponent recently announced that he is the candidate of "conservative values," which must have come as a surprise to a lot of his supporters. Now, there are some problems with this claim. If you say the heart and soul of America is found in Hollywood, I'm afraid you are not the candidate of conservative values. If you voted against the bipartisan Defense of Marriage Act, which President Clinton signed, you are not the candidate of conservative values. If you gave a speech, as my opponent did, calling the Reagan presidency eight years of "moral darkness," then you may be a lot of things, but the candidate of conservative values is not one of them.”

Bush offered, "Again, my opponent and I have different approaches. I proposed, and the Congress overwhelmingly passed, 87 billion dollars in funding needed by our troops doing battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. My opponent and his running mate voted against this money for bullets, and fuel, and vehicles, and body armor. When asked to explain his vote, the Senator said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it." Then he said he was "proud" of that vote. Then, when pressed, he said it was a "complicated" matter. There is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat.”

”Our allies also know the historic importance of our work. About 40 nations stand beside us in Afghanistan, and some 30 in Iraq. And I deeply appreciate the courage and wise counsel of leaders like Prime Minister Howard, and President Kwasniewski, and Prime Minister Berlusconi -- and, of course, Prime Minister Tony Blair.”

”Again, my opponent takes a different approach. In the midst of war, he has called America's allies, quote, a "coalition of the coerced and the bribed."

President Bush assured, ”I believe in the transformational power of liberty: The wisest use of American strength is to advance freedom. As the citizens of Afghanistan and Iraq seize the moment, their example will send a message of hope throughout a vital region…. And as freedom advances -- heart by heart, and nation by nation -- America will be more secure and the world more peaceful.”

When it appeared that John Kerry and Democrats would capitulate any state to the Republicans due to the pointed attacks on Kerry, Senator Kerry responded immediately President Bush concluded his speech.

“The election comes down to this. If you believe this country is heading in the right direction, you should support George Bush. But if you believe America needs to move in a new direction, join with us. John and I offer a better plan that will make us stronger at home and more respected in the world. And we need your help to do that,” Kerry said

“I believe it's time to move America in a new direction; I believe it's time to set a new course for America. And we have a specific plan to do just that. So tomorrow morning, John and Elizabeth and Teresa and I are hitting the road across America’s heartland. From here, we’ll go out and talk with Americans in towns across Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. And because a stronger America begins at home, we’ll talk about our plan to create jobs, cut taxes for the middle class, lower health care costs, and make America safer and more secure,” he added.

The conclusion of the Republican National Convention signaled the beginning of the official kick off of the fall presidential campaign. The campaign will intensify from now on.