Not long ago, President George W. Bush said:
“Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.” (May 8, 2004)
Read literally, this statement sounds as if Bush were saying: “I will find new ways to harm the American people.” Of course, that sounds wrong and inappropriate, but that’s what he actually said.
A Comparison of Bush and Kerry Rhetoric
In the 2004 campaign, Bush and Cheney displayed a similar rhetorical pattern—twisting the opponent’s words to strengthen their own positions. Dana Milbank of the Washington Post noted several examples:
Sample Statements by John Kerry
- “My goal is troop reduction, and I believe that if diplomacy and alliance-building are done right, that is a worthy goal and one I will achieve.” (August 9, 2004)
- “I will fight terrorism with a more effective, more strategic, more proactive, and more sensitive strategy, while working with other nations to strengthen alliances.” (August 5, 2004)
- “This administration has not done the necessary work to reach out to other nations and protect our facilities, as the 9/11 commission recommended.” (August 2, 2004)
- “I will use the appropriate authority to intervene in Iraq, but I differ from President Bush. The question is: why is he rushing into war without a plan to win the peace?” (August 9, 2004)
Sample Statements by Bush & Cheney
- “Kerry was wrong to say troops would be drastically reduced within six months. That sends mixed signals to the enemy.” (August 18, 2004)
- Cheney: “Those who threaten us and kill civilians don’t need to be treated more sensitively. They must be destroyed.” (August 12, 2004)
- Bush: “Now Kerry agrees that the decision to enter Iraq was correct, even though weapons of mass destruction had not been found.” (August 18, 2004)
Moral Questions for the President
We want a President who is honest and understands the situation, not one who confuses the public. If Bush truly doesn’t understand, that’s bad for a presidency. However, if he understands but continues to twist the facts, that’s even worse, because it means he’s being petty and manipulative for his own gain.
Conservatives who want to uphold conservative principles should carefully evaluate the President’s actions and consider whether they want to support such behavior.
Argumentation and Credibility
If Kerry’s statement was deemed offensive, Bush should have responded with arguments and facts, instead of twisting words, creating a “straw man,” and then laughing it off. Transparency, honesty, and integrity remain important standards for any leader.
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