Bush's weak rhetoric
Bush made some statements yesterday about gay marriage that I thought were fairly contrary to the spirit of the day (being the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. BOE). But now I think his rhetoric was truely weak and cowardly. I'm saying this because yesterday Bush didn't "speak" his comments - the White House released a written statement about the gay marriages that were taking place.
I knew yesterday that the president had made a few comments, but I thought he had made them verbally. Now I find that he only released a statement. Apparently he can't even speak about this. I think that is cowardly. Maybe he wouldn't speak about it because what an ass he would be if on all these newlyweds' happy day he was off making a speech about what an abomination they were. Yeah, that might lose votes. Maybe he had to release something to appease the right-wing so he wouldn't lose other votes. Maybe he wouldn't speak about it because he wouldn't feel comfortable answering questions about the issue. Well, I suppose I can see that, especially when all your arguments are regurgitated statements that we've all heard before. Maybe he didn't speak about gay marriage because he can't defend his position. Maybe he didn't make a statement because he secretly supports equal rights for gays and lesbians. Oh wait, I thought he was a "compassionate conservative" for a moment there. Whoops!
Seriously, Bush's rhetoric has always been difficult for me to listen to, but it has become so repetitive and indefensible. There are many people who can debate the quality of their rhetoric, even those I disagree with, but Bush is not one of them. Personally, I'm sick of hearing it and hope it ends this year.
(the extended entry is the text of the statement released by the White House)
Should the statement released by the White House on their website dissappear anytime soon, here it is from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040517-2.html:
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2004
Statement by the President
The sacred institution of marriage should not be redefined by a few activist judges. All Americans have a right to be heard in this debate. I called on the Congress to pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. The need for that amendment is still urgent, and I repeat that call today.
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