President Bush's Hypocricy
One week ago today, President Bush held a press
conference. This was a rare occasion in a presidency that has been marked with
secrecy, so I felt compelled to watch it. One of the questions that was lobbed
at him elicited his response that he feels as though religion and spirituality
are private matters, and how you don't have to believe in any god or follow any
faith to be a good, patriotic
American.
I agree with his words
wholeheartedly.
I don't know how or why
the religious right seems to feel as though it has a significant amount of
religious clout in American government, if Dubya's words have consistently
echoed the sentiments he expressed last week. Absent any concrete evidence of
Bush's direct support for these groups, I won't accuse him of being responsible
for turning the Republican party into a party of hatred, intolerance, and the
use of religion to oppress the
masses.
That said, the President's
actions have not exactly been indicative or reflective of his
words.
When he started his first term,
one of his first big pushes was to allow for Federal funds to be given to
faith-based charities (an idea that strikes me as ludicrous on many levels).
There's a part of me that wants to set up a charity called Satanic Charities or
some such charitable organization and apply for federal funds. If they truly
want the faith-based initiative to be impartial, they would have no choice but
to fund this charity (assuming it meets the requirements of being a charity). I
doubt it would get the funding it
needs.
After September 11, Bush called
for a national day of prayer. A day of introspection, remembrance, and even
prayer after such a tragedy is definitely called for. But it is wrong for the
president to call on us specifically to pray. Not everyone derives any benefit
from prayer, and it doesn't need to be coming from the mouth of the president,
asking us to do so.
President Bush
shortened his vacation to sign a bill that was rammed through Congress to give
the federal government the right to intervene in Terri Schiavo's case. If that
wasn't a pandering to the religious right, I don't know what
is.
Every time a court case comes up,
where the religious right has an interest, the White House files a
friend-of-the-court brief that takes the side of the religious right. Whether
it be in opposition to Michael Newdow's petition to remove "Under god" from the
pledge of allegiance, or taking the side of the opponents of same-sex marriage
in court cases that are being fought over basic dignity and civil rights, you
can guarantee that Bush's white house will make sure the courts know that they
are on the side of the religious
right.
I recently blogged on the topic
of the death of Pope John Paul II. It was inappropriate for Bush to order the
flags flown at half-mast. Period.
Religion truly is a private matter. I
just wish Bush's actions were something that allow me to believe him when he
says that's how he feels.
Posted: Fri - May 6, 2005 at 12:39 AM