Bush uses federal resources to push re-election

[Snellius]

April 5, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Treasury Department analyzes John Kerry's tax proposals and the numbers quickly find their way to the Republican National Committee. The Health and Human Services Department spends millions on ads promoting President Bush's prescription drug plan. The House Resources Committee posts a diatribe against Kerry's "absurd" energy ideas on its Web site.

With friends like these -- all operating at taxpayer expense -- who needs a re-election campaign?

In the time-honored tradition of presidents past, Bush is skillfully using the resources of the federal government to promote his re-election. And some critics say the president is going far beyond his predecessors in using government means to accomplish political ends.

"What this administration has done is taken trends from the past and then projected them into the stratosphere," said Allan Lichtman, a presidential scholar at American University. "We've never seen a political operation like this White House does, and that includes the maximum use of government resources."

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/04/05/bush_government/index.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Local government, where I live, has been doing this for years.

and it's getting worse. Good CEO management techniques at work.

[tom_paine]

2. Sure. The Imperial Government belongs to the Imperial Family, anyway

It makes perfect sense that these Tyrants are breaking down every rule and code of civility carried over from the Old American Republic.

These Bushevik Scum aren't nearly through transforming our once-great nation into Subjugated Totalitarian Bootlickers.

They are succeeding.

[TroglodyteScholar]

3. It'd be nice...

...if one of the groups like MoveOn.org would make an ad that mentions this. While it's probably not a surprise to many of us here, I'm guessing a lot of Americans either don't realize Bush is campaining with our tax dollars or they don't understand the implications of this practice.

[fryguy]

4. sickening hypocrisy

all this justifying coming from the very same people who railed Clinton for any use of Air Force One, or any other government asset, for something even remotely political is just plain sickening....I especially love this:

<snip>
"Bush campaign spokesman Terry Holt said the campaign is careful to follow the law and "draw a bright line between our campaign activities and the absolutely important work the president does in serving the people as the president of the United States.""
<snip>

Can someone explain to me what part of the president serving the people of the United States was satisfied by starting a NASCAR race? Where is the animosity and anger toward all the officials jetting around the country on official planes for non-official purposes (think Cheney-Scalia duck hunt??) I guess it inappropriate to do, unless your team is doing it.....and then do it as much as you can!!