pop-culture for the people

In honor of Father’s Day I decided to write this article because it was inspired by my Dad.  He is a registered Republican, and I think would describe himself as conservative, but I’ve never actually asked.  I figure since he considers me a liberal, that makes him a conservative (“You know, liberals are just conservatives who haven’t paid taxes yet”—thanks, Dad).  So, I had this conversation with him and my mom recently, via the phone, in which he said he does not like Bush but dislikes Kerry more.  My mom agreed but then said she wasn’t probably going to vote, since it doesn’t matter anyway.  So I asked for her vote, since she wasn’t going to use it, but she then said she’d vote just to cancel mine out.  What did I do to deserve this?  I told them that since they are so willing to believe what they hear on FoxNews and so willing to follow the popular opinion, why not follow my opinion, someone they raised and have known and trusted for the past 25 years.  That didn’t fly very well, so I decided to write this article. 

So here it is, this article attempts to persuade those fence-sitters who don’t really like Bush, but can’t really think of a reason not to vote for him (like my parents).  It does not attempt to persuade died-in-the-wool conservative Republicans to vote for Kerry; it is for people who agree with certain aspects of liberal thinking, like reproductive freedom and a live-and-let-live attitude regarding homosexuals.  So don’t harass me if you disagree with these views, I’m not addressing you anyway!

Much of my specific information is from On the Issues which is a non-partisan website trying to organize how candidates stand on all the major issues using their speeches, press-releases, and congressional votes.  Links to the candidates’ own websites are also provided. 

Top Reason Not to Vote for Bush: He Lies (and I’m talking serious lies, not “oh, he broke his campaign promise” lies)
Lie #1: The Iraq and Al Qaeda “connection”.  Talk about “waffling” on the issues, as Kerry has been accused of.  Bush himself said Iraq was not behind 9/11, he only said they were behind terrorism, but in their own country.  When WMD couldn’t be found, Cheney started spouting about some Al Qaeda/Iraq connection; that Iraq was training Al Qaeda operatives.  Bush then agreed with Cheney, and now that the 9/11 commission has said there are no credible ties.  So now Bush says that there has been “contact” between the two.  Lets just think about this for a minute.  On one hand we have Osama who hates secular states and is a religious fanatic; on the other hand we have Saddam who hates religious fanatics and loves to be a dictator.  Why do you think Osama was in Afghanistan and not Iraq?  Because of the Taliban, a government based on strict religion that gave Osama free reign.  If Saddam was going to aid Osama, we would have found Al Qaeda based in Iraq.  Need I remind you that there were NO Iraqi people involved in the 9/11 attacks?  In fact most of them were Saudi.  Bush went after Iraq because he wanted to finish what daddy started.

Lie #2: The Patriot Act protects us.  I actually wrote a lengthy email about it in September of ‘03, which I have posted as a separate article, and have linked to here, if you haven’t already read it.  As an update, no men in trench coats as of yet.

Lie #3: Science is alive and well in the White House.  There is no such thing as science in the White House (and as you’ll find out, Bush believes Creationism is as valid as Evolution, so I guess that explains everything).  Check out this website for all the facts.  The short of it is that Bush suppresses any studies that don’t support his views on issues (namely environmental policy that he is trying to push through), and when that does not work, he “rearranges” his advisory panels.

Lie #4: Opening up the Artic National Wildlife Reserve will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  US Geological Survey reports that there is a 50% chance of finding 9 months supply of oil in the refuge.  There is a greater chance of finding less, and a lesser chance of finding more.  Read the report here from the USGS.  Instead the plan would ruin priceless land forever for a measly 9 months worth of oil that would not be ready for years.  We’d save more oil through increasing the average MPG of new cars than would ever be pulled out of the refuge, but that is an entire discussion all on its own.

Ok, so that aside, it is time to compare the candidates.  I’ve bolded the items that I feel are most important, but please take the time to read everything.

On a Woman’s Right to Choose:
Bush
No funds to international groups that offer abortion. (Jan 2001) [banned on his 1st day in office-the anniversary of Roe v. Wade]
Ban partial-birth abortions, and reduce abortions overall. (Oct 2000)[in other words, errode Roe v. Wade as much as possible]
Approval of RU-486 is wrong. (Sep 2000)
Would support - but not pursue - a pro-life Amendment. (Jun 1999)
Supreme Court is wrong: leave abortion to the states. (Jun 2000)

Kerry
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
No criminalization of a woman’s right to choose. (Jun 2003)

On Civil Rights:
Bush
Don’t let Patriot Act expire-terrorist threat won’t. (Jan 20)
Instinct on gay issues: do not touch them. (Jun 2003)
Tolerance & equal rights, not gay marriage & special rights. (Oct 2000)
No gay adoptions (Apr 2000)
Against gay marriage, but leave it to the states. (Feb 2000)
No gays in Boy Scouts. (Aug 1999)
Hate-crime rules don’t apply to gays. (Jul 1999)

Kerry
Flag burning is displeasing, but it’s free expression
Voted NO on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)

On Separation of Church and State:
Bush
Ten Commandments OK in schools for “inherent values”. (Jan 2000)
Use faith-based programs for addicted Americans. (Aug 2003) [maybe we should trust him on this one-seeing as he is a recovered alcoholic and cocaine addict]
Allow religious groups to address social ills. (Dec 1998)
Diminish role of govt as communities & CHURCHES take over. (Jul 1998)
Religious groups must be part of solution to society’s ills. (Jan 2001)
Establish federal & state “offices of faith-based action”. (Jan 2001)
“No-strings” vouchers for religious groups to do charity. (Jan 2000) [no strings for the churches you mean—though they can’t discriminate against who they give aid to, they can still discriminate against who they employ]

Kerry
Honors the separation of church and state. (Dec 2003)

On the Environment
Bush
Abandons campaign pledge to reduce CO2 emissions. (Mar 2001)
Restrict wetland development, but not arsenic or CO2. (Apr 2001)
Weaken Clean Air; no comment on Clean Water. (Nov 2000)
Base enviro decisions on science & market-driven solutions. (Apr 2000) [but only the “science” he approves]
Don’t link trade to environment and labor. (Sep 2000)

Kerry
Raise CAFE standard to 36 mpg by 2015. (Jan 25)
20% renewable energy by 2020. (Nov 2003)
Voted YES on continuing desert protection in California. (Oct 1994)
Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. (May 1994)
All new trade must include labor and environmental standards. (Jan 25)

On the Economy / Trade
Bush
Federal government should stay out of the marketplace. (Dec 1999)
Cut the deficit in half in the next 5 years. (Jan 20) [the deficit that did not exist when he took office in 2001]
On tax cuts: Claims lower income people benefit more than rich; untrue. (Oct 2000)
$500B to people earning under $100K; $800B to those richer. (Oct 2000)

Kerry
Close the loopholes that reward corps taking jobs overseas
Will follow Clinton’s plan to halve deficit in four years. (Oct 2003) [Which worked, seeing as we had no deficit at the end of Clinton’s two terms.]
Voted YES on restricting class-action lawsuits. (Dec 1995)
Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
Voted YES on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
Voted YES on welfare overhaul. (Sep 1995)
Raise minimum wage to $6.65 by next year, then higher. (Jan 25)
Voted YES on limiting the President’s power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)

On Education (in its various forms)
Bush
Evolution & creationism both valid; let states decide. (Aug 1999)
Teachers’ unions obstacle to school innovation. (Apr 1999)
Teach values and moral responsibility in schools. (Apr 1998)
Fund 2,000 charter schools; defund failing schools. (Apr 2000) [because taking the money away makes everything better]
Double funding for abstinence to prevent STDs. (Jan 20)
Promote abstinence in schools and via churches. (Apr 2000)
Abstinence Ed should get funded as much as Sex Ed. (Jun 1999) [despite the fact that it DOES NOT WORK, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as the American Medical Association]

Kerry
Vouchers drain resources from public schools. (Jan 25)
Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
Voted NO on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)

On HMO’s / Insurance
Bush
Absolutely opposed to a national health care plan. (Oct 2000)
Opposes doctor assisted suicide. (Apr 2000)

Kerry
Don’t push seniors into HMOs; change Bush Rx plan. (Jan 25)
Voted YES on allowing importation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
Voted YES on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Establish “report cards” on HMO quality of care. (Aug 2000)
Make certain the veterans have benefits. (Nov 2003)

On Gun Control / Crime
Bush
No child-safety locks on guns; concealed carrying ok. (Jun 1999)
Assault weapon OK; waiting period not OK. (Apr 1999)
“Tough-love” in strictly disciplined juvenile boot camps. (Dec 1999)
For tough juvenile justice laws. (Jun 1999)

Kerry
Gun owner & hunter, but rights come with responsibility. (Mar 21)
Supports assault weapons ban & Brady Bill. (Oct 2003)
Voted YES on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)

On Campaign Finance Reform
Bush
Private soft money OK, with full & prompt disclosure. (Mar 2001)
Ban soft money, but no public financing of elections. (Oct 2000)
Ban some soft money; fewer restrictions on individuals. (Sep 2000) [uh, waffling, anyone?]

Kerry
Voted YES on banning campaign donations from unions and corporations. (Apr 2001)

Miscellaneous
Bush
Increased military pay by 4% per year. (Aug 2003)
Manned mission to the Moon and Mars. (Jan 15) [because that’s really what we need right now]

Kerry
Automatic citizenship to immigrants who serves in army. (Sep 2003)
Voted YES on military pay raise of 4.8%. (Feb 1999)

So, after all this, I’ll borrow one from the late Ronald Reagan: Are you better off now, than you were 4 years ago?  (if you are, I’m jealous, because you must be in the top 2% tax bracket).

—hathyr

Links:
Bush’s campaign website, but you can also find him at the White House.

Kerry’s campaign website

I love the name of this website.