WASHINGTON – “Some 20th Century Presidents were known as great communicators, but I believe that Americans in the 21st Century could well remember President George W. Bush as the ‘Great Pretender,’ says Ralph G. Neas, Chairman of Washington’s based organization, People For the American Way (PFAW). “The specialty of the Bush White House is using deceptive rhetoric to hide the real consequences of an extreme policy agenda that is out of touch with the American people.”
Tax Policy
PFAW co-chairs the Fair Taxes for All Coalition, which opposed the first round of reckless Bush administration tax cuts and is gearing up to oppose the latest round of irresponsible and inequitable cuts. PFAW can rebut the administration’s distortions and put the new round of tax cuts in the context of a larger political agenda to undermine the federal government’s ability to effectively address crucial national issues for decades to come.
Judicial Nominations
President Bush has said that he seeks to appoint conservative judges who will interpret rather than make the law. But PFAW has documented that many Bush nominees have embraced a radical judicial philosophy promoted by Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, one that would turn back the clock on civil rights, reproductive choice, worker safety and health, environmental protection, and more. PFAW is opposing the confirmation of Miguel Estrada, who may be one of Bush’s State of the Union guests, who refused to answer important questions during his confirmation hearing.
Government Funding of Religion
President Bush’s “faith-based initiative” is rapidly dismantling the wall of separation between church and state. PFAW opposes the administration’s efforts to undermine a core constitutional principle that protects all Americans’ religious liberty, and its attempts to accomplish by executive fiat what it could not get passed through Congress, including reported plans to “voucherize” the provision of social services.
Public Education / Vouchers
President Bush talks about his commitment to improving public education, and takes credit for the bipartisan No Child Left Behind Act, but his administration refuses to ask Congress to fully fund the act, pushing a huge financial burden onto already-strapped states and localities. The administration has also supported efforts to create federal private school voucher programs.
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People For the American Way and its more than 600,000 supporters nationwide are committed to defending and promoting constitutional liberties, civil rights, quality public education and an independent judiciary. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with regional offices in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Tallahassee, Florida.
