Bush: Year of the quick tongue

2004-02-24 10:39

Washington - US President George W Bush, casting aside his desire to appear above the political fray, struck back at his Democratic critics, portraying presidential front-runner John Kerry as a waffler and warning that Democrats would raise taxes, expand government and fail to lead decisively on national security.

Facing re-election in November, Bush had hung back for months, despite constant pummeling by the Democratic presidential candidates.

But he levelled his sharpest criticism yet at his rivals in a speech on Monday night. Bush recalled the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, signalling his willingness to use the strikes for political gain, which his aides had long promised would not be done.

"September 14 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. I remember a lot that day," Bush told 1 400 Republican donors at a fund-raiser for GOP governors, recalling his trip to New York after the attacks.

Justice

"As we all did that day, these men and women searching through the rubble took it personally. I took it personally," he said. "I have a responsibility that goes on. I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies. I will defend America, whatever it takes."

Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, found himself fending off both Bush and his chief rival, fellow senator John Edwards of North Carolina, heading into nominating contests on Tuesday in Hawaii, Idaho and Utah.

In his 40-minute address, Bush mentioned none of the Democratic presidential candidates by name, but some of his sharpest criticism was unmistakably intended for Kerry.

"The other party's nomination battle is still playing out. The candidates are an interesting group with diverse opinions.

"They're for tax cuts and against them. They're for Nafta and against Nafta. They're for the Patriot Act and against the Patriot Act. They're in favour of liberating Iraq, and opposed to it. And that's just one senator from Massachusetts," he said. His supportive audience erupted in laughter and applause.

Edwards denounced Bush's new rhetoric. "The American people want this campaign to be about the future, not the past," he said. "We offer leadership and hope, the Republicans want to exploit fears and relitigate the past."

Kerry said Bush sounded as if the past three-and-a-half years had never happened.

"But the American people haven't forgotten this president's failed record, because they have to live with it every day," he said in a statement. "George Bush's credibility is running out with the American people. They want change in America, and I'm running because I am determined to bring that change and put America back on track."

Earlier Monday, Bush tried to shrug off such criticism as election-year posturing. "It's going to be the year of the sharp elbow and the quick tongue," he told governors of both parties at the White House.

- AP