Bush could violate the Hatch Act at Lincoln Library today >

[Stephanie]

If he uses the Lincoln Presidential Library as a venue for another one of his Social Security "reform" infomercials, then it looks like a clear violation, under the interpretation of the Hatch Act his own administration has set forth.

Let's see what he has to say today. Do you think there will be an opposing point of view presented? If not, it would appear to be a partisan event.


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President Bush departs the White House, Tuesday, April 19, 2005, for day trip to speak at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum dedication in Springfield, Illinois. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050419/480/whre10104191339

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28299-2005Apr5.html

April 6, 2005

To the already raucous fight over Social Security, add a new -- and unlikely -- government agency: the National Archives and Records Administration.

The guardian of the nation's historical records has joined the fray over President Bush's plan for private Social Security accounts. Last week, it blocked a coalition of women's organizations from holding a Social Security forum at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, N.Y., because the groups oppose Bush's proposed personal accounts.

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Wrote Koch: "Changes to the Social Security system are now the president's highest priority on his domestic agenda in Congress; therefore, in order to be in compliance with the Hatch Act, I must require you to present a program that is balanced in presenting both sides of the Social Security debate."

Koch said the forum would be against federal regulations because it "may be perceived as being partisan."

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The Hatch Act:

http://www.osc.gov/hatchact.htm

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[ixion]

1. IOKIYAR

it's only 'partisan' if it's opposition. Otherwise, it's just good, old fashioned horse manure propaganda from the status quo, which is double plus good!

[Stephanie]

3. It's only OK if we let them get away with it

Someone - Kucinich? - is looking into these campaign trips disguised as Presidential travel. This is another aspect that should be investigated. I'm sick of him using my money for his perpetual campaigning, and if he is in violation of rules his admin advocated two weeks ago, it's up to us to point it out.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Me too

I hope someone investigates this. I'm sure he's doing illegal things but because the neocons are high on power they're, of course, not going to bring George down. If he goes down they all go down.

[DemBeans]

2. I'll wait to read about it

It would be too stomach-churning to watch him struggle to compare himself to Lincoln today (since, of course, he'll make it all about himself).

[signmike]

4. Who will he Body-Check getting through the door ?

:wow:

[patcox2]

5. I Doubt its federal property.

The presidenttial libraries are generally built with private funds coming from donations. I think they are usually owned by a non-profit foundation, not the government.

[Stephanie]

8. The library is brand new

http://www.alplm.org/home.html - just opened

But if the rule applies to the FDR library then it should apply to the Lincoln library.

*edit* I edited my post - I don't think it matters if it is federal property.

[bushisanidiot]

10. The library received several million in federal funding

i read it earlier today.

[Stephanie]

11. Cool!

Now I just need to find out what he said. I think it may have been more of a library dedication than a SS photo-op.

*edit* Nah, he spoke about Lincoln. I'm still on Hatch Act Watch.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050419/pl_usnw/transcript_of_remarks_by_president_bush_at_dedication_of_the_abraham_lincoln_presidential_library_and_museum142_xml

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Except it won't be a forum format

Just more of the same bravado and arrogance.

[bushisanidiot]

9. President Asswipe Doesn't deserve to set foot in the Lincoln library

or our great BLUE state of Illinois.

I hope that idiot got mocked severely..