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Editorials / Columns The following is a short list of some of George W. Bush's untruths.
Bush and Rumsfeld: “Iraq is an imminent danger.” Truth: No evidence was ever found that Iraq was an eminent danger to the U.S. Bush spokesperson: “The war will be mostly funded by oil revenues in Iraq.” Truth: The war is being funded by the American taxpayer—160 billion dollars so far and increasing to 200 billion next year. Cheney: “The people of Iraq will greet us as liberators.” Truth: According to polls, 70 percent of the people of Iraq want us to leave—many view us as occupiers, not as liberators. Bush: “Mission Accomplished—major hostilities are ended.” Truth: 600 additional U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since he made that statement. And Iraq is a country in turmoil. Bush: “The Mission Accomplished banner was not furnished by the White House.” Truth: When confronted with the truth, Bush admitted later that it was furnished by the White House. Bush: “Capturing Saddam will make the U.S. and the world safer.” Truth: There is no evidence that we are any safer. Worldwide, terrorism has increased. Bush: “I’m opposed to nation building” Truth: We are nation building big time in Iraq. And every Iraqi is going to get health care! Bush: “We do not need the United Nations in Iraq.” Truth: The Bush Administration is now trying to get the U.N. involved. Bush: “I back our servicemen 100 percent.” Truth: Bush didn’t send enough troops to do the job in Iraq. Sent troops with too few vehicles, not enough ammunition, not enough medical supplies, not enough water and not enough body armor. Bush lowered soldiers’ salaries. Some Navy enlisted men are forced to beg for food at food pantries. Bush “I support our veterans.” Truth: Bush cut V.A. hospital funding and veterans benefits. Bush: “We need to wait for better science on global warming before we sign the Kyoto treaty.” Truth: More than 550 respected scientists declare that we need to act on global warming, based on sound science. Bush: “I will never allow nuclear waste to be buried in Nevada.” Truth: The Bush Administration is opening the Yucca Flats nuclear waste site soon.
Bush: “With my policies you’ll have more money in your pocket." Truth: Average Americans are feeling the pinch—stagnant wages and higher health insurance premiums. Bush refuses to increase the minimum wage, more and more people are losing health insurance and pensions, local taxes and fees are higher, gasoline prices are high and the high deficits Bush created mean taxes will have to raised in the future. Bush: “I’m for the small businessman” Truth: Eliminates $83 million in aid to small businesses in new budget. Small businessmen are saying they were much better off during the Clinton years. Bush: “I’m for less government spending” Truth: Bush pushed $6 trillion in new spending without ever paying for a penny of it. This does not even include proposed increased spending for Iraqi War or the Mars Mission. Bush: “The Medicare bill will cost $400 billion.” Truth: Bush had been informed that the true cost would be $530 billion when he made the statement. Bush spokesperson: “Outsourcing of jobs is good for our country.” Truth: Every month, thousands of good jobs are lost to outsourcing. Bush: “We’ve added 230,000 new jobs” Truth: We’re still 1.6 million jobs less than in March 2001. Many replacement jobs are low-pay with no benefits. Bush: “My policies help the average worker” Truth: Eliminated overtime pay for workers. Real wages are falling for many workers. Tax burden is shifting from wealthier Americans to Middle and lower income Americans. Bush: “I’m your education President—therefore I’m creating the No Child Left Behind Act." Truth: Bush did not provide the necessary funding for the Act, and it has created a huge bureaucratic headache for most schools. Many children have still been left behind. Bush: “I’m your environmental President.” Truth: Bush has gutted the Clean Air Act. He is allowing National Forests to be destroyed, has slowed down the cleanup of our most toxic waste dumps and has shifted the clean-up cost to the taxpayers. Bush is also allowing coal plants to spew out more pollution. Bush:“I’m for the sanctity of life." Truth: Bush’s EPA has weakened the Clean Air Act, which results in injury to the brain development of the fetus due to mercury poisoning. American Lung Assoc. estimates 5,000 people will die as a result of poor air quality. Millions will suffer from additional lung and asthma problems. Bush: “I am a compassionate conservative.” Truth: More and more families are falling into poverty and increasing numbers of families are going bankrupt trying to pay for medical expenses. Private food banks are running out of money for food to help hungry families. Bush cut funding for low-income housing and aid to small businesses. He also cut Pell Grant funding for college tuition. |
