In and of itself, this story about the RNC editing Bush’s State of the Union speech for its recently-released commercial isn’t a big deal; this “controversy” represents your run-of-the-mill political sniping. After all, is there anyone who really thinks that campaign commercials aren’t edited?
Viewed in the larger context, however, this incident illustrates the fictional qualities of the Bush presidency. A Hollywood movie director could scarcely whip up a better production. From Operation Photo-Op to Healthy Forests, Bush is attempting to pull the wool over the eyes of conservatives and moderates alike.
Take a look at this gem from yesterday’s script:
I want to thank and congratulate the members of Congress for their hard work. You see, we have a responsibility in Washington, D.C. to solve problems, not to pass them on.
Not passing problems on? Of course not. That explains why the Bush administration has turned a federal budget surplus of 2.4% of GDP into a deficit of 4.3% of GDP in four short years. That’s keeping the problems away from our children.
Don’t be fooled simple-sounding speeches and elaborate stagecraft; when it comes to government policy, the devil is always in the details. When you examine the fine print, you’ll find that the administration is usually up to something quite different than it claims.