Josh Aterovis is the author of the Killian Kendall Mystery Series as well as numerous columns and articles. Visit his site at http://www.steliko.com/bleedinghearts

One Last Plea
By Josh Aterovis
October 22, 2004

As I was pondering the topic for this week's column, it occurred to me that this will be my last Heart to Heart before the November 2 elections. I had wanted to avoid a political subject, but since by the time I sit down to write the next column the next president will have been chosen, I couldn't resist one last plea to those of you who may still be undecided.

I know. It's hard to believe that there are still people on the fence, or even more unbelievable, that there are LGBT folks out there still considering voting for Bush. After all, even the Log Cabin Republicans, the group of gay conservatives, decided not to endorse Bush. Yet, just this week while I was on an LGBT website I noticed they had a poll asking which candidate you were planning to vote for. When I checked the results, I was shocked to see that Bush had received 18% of the vote-on an LGBT website!

Personally, I don't understand how anyone could be voting for Bush, although the national polls show that he and Kerry are still neck and neck. More and more, it's looking like a replay of the 2000 election. Who are all these people voting for Bush and why are they supporting him? Don't they know what Bush stands for?

I realize that the conservative religious folks are turning out in full force in support of Bush. That makes sense considering he's proven himself to be their mouthpiece and they've made gay marriage seem like the only pressing issue in the entire election. Forget Iraq, forget "No Child Left Behind", forget the economy, forget the environment, forget healthcare-forget everything except gay marriage. There are a frighteningly large number of people out there voting for Bush just because their minister or priest told them to.

I also realize there are many one-issue voters. They support Bush because he is pro-gun or anti-abortion. Nothing else but this one issue matters to them. Then there are those who would vote for Hitler if he was running on the Republican ticket and Jesus was running as a Democrat. In my admittedly humble opinion, the political party system has failed us miserably, leading only to partisanship and acrimony. We should be basing our votes on what people stand for, not for what party they belong to.

So what does President Bush stand for? It might be easier to find what he doesn't stand for. In the last four years, we have gone from a surplus to a record deficit. He has not vetoed a single spending proposal in his entire presidency. Then, he gives the richest 2% in the country massive tax breaks, while underfunding federal programs like "No Child Left Behind." Obviously, he does not stand for fiscal responsibility.

Bush has repeatedly lied to the American people and the world. Some were big whoppers (Iraq had weapons on mass destructions, Iraq had direct ties to al-Qaida), while others tended to get overlooked (the navy posted the "Mission Accomplished" banner when in fact it was the White House, Air Force One was spotted by a British plane when Bush made his "top secret" visit to Iraq when in fact they were not). Obviously, he does not stand for honesty and integrity.

Although he campaigned in '99 as a "uniter, not a divider," he has presided over one of the most divided and partisan administrations ever. He has repeatedly made decisions that appeased only his conservative religious supporters while alienating those who disagreed with his far right positions. His usual stance of "either you're with me or you're against me" is clearly not that of a "uniter." Obviously, Mr. Bush does not stand for a united America.

Bush has never made a secret of his strong faith, but he has too often allowed his faith to sway his political opinions. His stance on abortion, gay-marriage, and even the war in Iraq was influenced heavily by his religious beliefs. I thought Senator Kerry's statement about not legislating faith issues was one of the strongest points of the debates. As president, George W. Bush has done nothing but try to legislate his religious beliefs, forcing his brand of narrow-minded Christianity on everyone regardless of their own beliefs. Obviously, he does not stand for freedom of religion.

The president has been an outspoken advocate for the Federal Marriage Amendment, a move that would enshrine discrimination into the Constitution of the United States for the first time ever. The official Republican platform supports not only the marriage amendment, but also seeks to invalidate any and all recognition of same-sex couples. Obviously, he does not stand for equality.

President Bush started not one but two wars in the last four years, one of which was clearly based on false pretenses and was rushed into without an adequate exit strategy. Obviously, Bush does not stand for peace.

Bush failed to fund his own "No Child Left Behind Act," leaving many schools suffering and struggling to educate our children. He did not fully fund the Pell Grants as he promised. Obviously, Bush does not stand for better education.

He opposed legislation that would have allowed for cheaper prescription drugs to be imported from Canada, while drug costs continue to rise here at home. Health insurance rates are skyrocketing as more and more Americans become uninsured. Obviously, Bush does not stand for better healthcare.

Bush's energy policy benefited only the energy industry, ignoring the needs of consumers and the environment. He consistently cut renewable energy programs, weakened the Clean Air Act at every turn, opened 9 million acres of public land to logging, and proposed weakening mercury regulations. Obviously, he does not stand for the environment.

Over and over, Bush has used his time in office to nominate and appoint some of the most conservative judges in American history. One of the most critical issues in this election is the likelihood that the next president will have the opportunity to appoint as many as three judges to the Supreme Court. This could be devastating for the future of America as these judges will influence the laws for years to come. The Patriot Act, enacted under President Bush in the name of national security, is trampling our Constitutional freedoms and being used to harass people who have nothing to do with terrorism. Even leading Republicans say Attorney General Ashcroft and the Justice Department are out of control. Obviously, President Bush does not stand for civil rights and freedom.

I've barely scratched the surface, but I think you get the idea. What does Bush stand for? Religious intolerance, corporate greed, and warmongering. I don't think our country can afford another four years of George Bush's leadership. Do you? Don't forget to vote on November 2.