Bush vs. Bush on Independent Ads

"That's what freedom of speech is all about….People have the right to run ads."

--George W. Bush, referring to independent ads attacking John McCain, his rival for the Republican presidential nomination, on Face the Nation, March 5, 2000

"I don't think we ought to have 527s….I think they're bad for the system."

--George W. Bush, referring to independent ads attacking him and John Kerry (but mostly him), at a press conference in Crawford, Texas, August 23, 2004

[Thanks to Tapped, among others, for the 2000 quote.]

Comments

[J]

Sigh....I wish this was the least bit shocking....

[Fred Gillette]

I think what is significant about this was the smugness with which he stated the first comment and the whinyness with which he stated the second. POTUS' shouldn't whine.

[Fred Gillette]

Oops, Apostrophe error.

[Kerry]

Who's the flip flopper now, Bitch!?!

[OPUS]

Bush says it is OK to run the Ads and with all things being equal that he wishes there was no 527's to begin with. No conflict.

Vote Nader!!!!

[Neil Lindsey]

Didn't Bush sign the legislation (McCain-Feingold) that created 527's or, at least, continued them?

[Gary Gunnels]

Another Bush Flip Flop:

"We have a clear vision on how to win the war on terror and bring peace to the world."
--George W. Bush, July 30, 2004

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,127583,00.html

When asked ?Can we win?? the war on terror, Bush said, ?I don?t think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the ? those who use terror as a tool are ? less acceptable in parts of the world.?
--New York Daily News, August 30, 2004

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/227273p-195190c.html

[Rick Barton]

Bush on March 5, 2000:

"That's what freedom of speech is all about....People have the right to run ads."

He's compromised on many of the principles of limited government. (not that he ever really held the high ground on many of them) But, free speech too?? The answer is yes. Look at the "free speech zones" he sets up. As if our whole nation wasn't a free speech zone. And, what about those FBI "interviews" of possible GOP convention protestors? (Attacked in an article by Bob Barr, covered on a separate thread)

I'm a Republican and I advise others who share my affiliation to talk to other GOP candidates and tell them that if they want your votes and money they had better not dump the core value of liberty the way Bush has. One does not have to be as bad as most Democrats are to deserve being ignored.

Dude, I want my party back. I've seen that bumper sticker: - God I Miss Reagan and Elway- Ok, although Reagan made some progress toward less government in some areas, he wasn't as great a president as Elway was a quarterback but still, next to Bush he seems like James Madison in reincarnate.

[notJoe]

Rick:

Some solace...Elway's a Republican.

Bush did sign CFR...IIRC he said he was doing so even though he felt that parts would be struck down as unconstitutional. Greeaat.

[Mo]

notJoe,
So according to Bush, "The buck stops [points to Supreme Court] over there." Or maybe the Kerry-esque, "I was against it before I signed it."

The fact that he didn't veto the bill is just as good as his support.

[Mark S.]

"I'm a Republican and I advise others who share my affiliation to talk to other GOP candidates and tell them that if they want your votes and money they had better not dump the core value of liberty the way Bush has."

GASP! You're violating the ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT!!!

[Andrew Lynch]

Gosh, I hate to be trollish for the second time today, but are we actually wasting valuable time addressing the contradictions and hypocrisy of politicians? Or am I just missing the "depth" of the discussion?

[Rick Barton]

Andrew,

You're right, the phenomena of the contradictions and hypocrisy of politicians/government is well established. However, we may still explore its particulars to some benefit, such as revealing government for what it is.

BTW Andrew, I was never so cracked up reading a post as when I read one by you a while back. One time I started a big fight with some lefties over at Eschaton and a bunch of them came over here and were posting, and then you came on and said: "Who are all these people and where did they come from?" It still cracks me up.