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Despite How Right Wing Media Heads Attempt to Portray John Kerry,
The Bush Record Speaks for Itself
TOP 10 FLIP-FLOPS OF G. W. BUSH
1. Bush Flip-Flops
on Independent 9/11 Commission
Bush Flip:
Initially Opposed to Independent 9/11 Commission
Bush opposed an
independent inquiry into 9/11, arguing it would duplicate a probe conducted by
Congress. In July 2002, his administration issued a "statement of policy" that
read "...the Administration would oppose an amendment that would create a new
commission to conduct a similar review [to Congress's investigation]."
[Statement of Administration Policy, Executive Office of the President, 7/24/02;
LA Times, 11/28/02]
Bush Flop: Bush Relented and Appointed Independent Commission
President Bush finally agreed to support an independent investigation into
the 9/11 attacks after "the congressional committees unearthed more and more
examples of intelligence lapses, the administration reversed its stance." [Los
Angeles Times, 11/28/02]
2. Bush
Flip-Flops on Independent WMD Commission
Bush Flip: Refuses
to Call for Independent Bipartisan Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction
"President Bush
said on January 30, 2004, 'I want to know the facts' about any intelligence
failures concerning Saddam Hussein's alleged cache of forbidden weapons but he
declined to endorse calls for an independent investigation." [AP, 1/30/04]
Bush Flop: Bush Appoints WMD Investigation Commission
President Bush named a nine-member bipartisan commission to investigate U.S.
intelligence-gathering capabilities in February 2004. The AP noted, "Bush had
initially opposed a commission, but agreed to do so as calls grew from
Republican lawmakers as well as Democrats." The Los Angeles Times reported, "The
White House opposed that panel initially, then backed down under pressure, and
some say administration officials now regret doing so because the administration
has become locked in a series of embarrassing battles with the Sept. 11
commission." The New York Times noted Bush "gave the panel until March 2005,
well after the November elections, to submit its conclusions." [NY Times,
2/7/04; LA Times, 2/1/04; AP, 2/6/04]
3. Bush
Flip-Flops on Time He'll Spend With 9/11 Commission
Bush Flip: Would
Meet For Only One Hour With 9/11 Commission
McClellan:
Obviously, as part of this, the President will be meeting with the chairman and
vice chairman at some point in the near future. We are still working on the
exact time of that meeting. We have discussed with the commission what we
believe is a reasonable period of time to provide the chairman and vice chairman
with answers to all of their questions.
Q: Is that the one-hour time frame?
McClellan: That's what I'm referring to. [WH Press Briefing, 3/9/04]
Bush Flop: White House Says No Time Limit on President's Testimony
"President George W. Bush will privately answer all questions raised by the
federal commission investigating the September 11 attacks, the White House said,
suggesting that Bush might allow the interview to extend beyond the one-hour
limit originally offered to the panel by the White House. 'He's going to answer
all the questions they want to raise,' said the White House spokesman, Scott
McClellan, whose remarks suggested that the White House was softening its
negotiating stance toward the bipartisan commission. 'Nobody's watching the
clock.'" [WH Press Briefing, 3/9/04; International Herald Tribune, 3/11/04]
4. Bush
Flip-Flops On Calling For A U.N. Vote On Iraq War
Bush Flip: U.S.
Will Seek U.N. Vote For War With Iraq
Bush: ...yes,
we'll call for a vote.
Question: No matter what?
Bush: No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We
want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein
and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's
time for people to show their cards, let the world know where they stand when it
comes to Saddam. [Bush News Conference, 3/6/03, emphasis added]
Bush Flop: Bush Attacked
Iraq Without U.N. Vote
Bush "failed to
win explicit [security] council approval for the use of force" in Iraq. Two days
before bombs began to fall in Iraq, the Bush administration withdrew its
resolution from the UN Security Council that would have authorized military
force. Bush abandoned his call for a vote after it became clear that the US
could muster only four votes in support of force. [Washington Post, 3/21/03; Los
Angeles Times, 3/18/03]
5. Bush
Flip-Flops on Department Of Homeland Security
Bush Flip: Bush
Thought Homeland Security Cabinet Position Was "Just Not Necessary"
In October
2001, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Bush opposed creating
Office of Homeland Security position for Ridge. "[The president has suggested to
members of Congress that they do not need to make this a statutory post, that he
[Ridge] does not need Cabinet rank, for example, there does not need to be a
Cabinet-level Office of Homeland Security is because there is such overlap among
the various agencies, because every agency of the government has security
concerns," Fleischer said. [White House Press Briefing, 10/24/01]
Bush Flop: Bush Decides to Support Homeland Security
The New York Times reported, "Bush initially resisted Democratic proposals
for a Cabinet-level agency. But once he endorsed it, the president pushed
Congress for fast action as it debated such issues as whistle-blower
protections, concerns over civil liberties and collective bargaining for
department employees."
In remarks to Homeland Security Department employees, Bush claimed credit for
supporting the Department: "In just 12 months, under the leadership of your
President...you faced the challenges standing up this new Department and you get
a -- and a gold star for a job well done." [New York Times, 2/28/03; Bush
Remarks at One-Year Anniversary of DHS, 3/2/04]
6. Bush
Flip-Flops on Gay Marriage
Bush Flip: It's Up
to the States to Decide
In a 2000
presidential primary debate, candidate George W. Bush said gay marriage was a
state's issue, saying, "The state can do what they want to do. Don't try to trap
me in this state's issue like you're trying to get me into." [Presidential
Primary Debate, 2/15/00]
Bush Flop: Bush Supports Constitutional Amendment That Restricts States'
Rights
Bush: "If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed
forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in
America. Decisive and democratic action is needed, because attempts to redefine
marriage in a single state or city could have serious consequences throughout
the country." [Bush, 2/24/04]
7. Bush
Flip-Flops on Using Military For Nation Building
Bush Flip: Bush
Promised Not to Use Military for Nation Building
In a campaign
rally in Tennessee, then-Presidential candidate Bush criticized the Clinton
administration for using the military in nation-building missions. Bush said,
"I'm worried about an opponent who uses nation-building and the military in the
same sentence. See, our view of the military is for our military to be properly
prepared to fight and win war and, therefore, prevent war from happening in the
first place." [Governor George W. Bush, 11/6/00]
Bush Flop: President Used Military for Nation Building in Afghanistan and
Iraq
After the removal of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Bush met with soldiers
stationed in Afghanistan at the White House and thanked them for their nation
building efforts. A senior administration official said, "The administration,
with its international partners, is doing something akin to nation-building."
The plans for a post war Iraq also included nation-building measures and,
according to the Baltimore Sun, "Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
confirmed...that Bush was considering, among other options, installing a
U.S.-led occupation government if Hussein's regime is removed." [Baltimore Sun,
10/19/02]
8. Bush
Flip-Flops on Hybrid Automobiles
Bush Flip: Bush
Mocked Gore's Tax Credit for Hybrid Cars
"'How many of
you own hybrid electric gasoline engine vehicles? If you look under there,
you'll see that's one of the criteria necessary to receive tax relief. So when
he talks about targeted tax relief that's pretty darn targeted,' Bush told the
Arlington Heights rally, drawing laughs." [Chicago Sun-Times, 10/29/00]
Bush Flop: Bush Supported Investing in Hybrid Cars
In his State of the Union speech, Bush said, "Tonight I am proposing $1.2
billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing
clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles. ... Join me in this important innovation,
to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on
foreign sources of energy." [White House, "President Delivers 'State of the
Union,'" 1/28/03]
9. Bush
Flip-Flops on Assault Weapons Ban
Bush Flip: Bush
Supports Extending Assault Weapons Ban
Ashcroft: "It
is my understanding that the president-elect of the United States has indicated
his clear support for extending the assault weapons ban, and I will be pleased
to move forward with that position." [Confirmation Hearing, Senate Judiciary
Committee, 1/17/01]
Bush Flop: Bush Opposes Extension of Assault Weapons Ban
"The White House is opposing addition of gun show and assault weapons
restrictions to a bill shielding firearms makers and dealers from lawsuits,
prompting angry complaints from Democrats that President Bush is reneging on
earlier support for the two proposals...In a statement [on February 24, 2004],
the White House urged passage of the lawsuits measure without amendments that
might delay its enactment. 'Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill
beyond this year is unacceptable,' the statement said. Democrats interpreted
this as an effort to undermine support for the gun-control measures. 'For the
president to say he is for the assault weapons ban but then act against it is a
flip-flop if there ever was one,' said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of
several sponsors of the assault weapons proposal in the Senate." [Washington
Post, 2/26/04]
10. Bush
Flip-Flops on Steel Tariffs
Bush Flip: Bush
Imposes Steel Tariffs
"President Bush
on [March 5, 2002] slapped punishing tariffs of 8% to 30% on several types of
imported steel in an effort to help the ailing U.S. industry, drawing criticism
from American allies and mixed reviews at home. 'An integral part of our
commitment to free trade is our commitment to enforcing trade laws to make sure
that America's industries and workers compete on a level playing field,' Bush
said in a statement issued by the White House." [USA Today, 3/5/02]
Bush Flop: Bush Rescinds Steel Tariffs
"Facing a potential global trade war, President Bush on [December 4, 2003]
lifted tariffs he imposed on foreign steel 21 months ago, declaring the U.S.
steel industry healthy and ready to compete despite the industry's claim that it
needs more time to recover." [Chicago Tribune, 12/5/03]
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