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President Bush on Saturday devoted his entire weekly radio address to the California wildfires, while Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean continued his party’s push to criticize the GOP on blocking to expand children’s health care. Bush, under a skeptical eye in California after the administration’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Katrina two years ago, said the federal, state and local authorities in the Golden State acted swiftly and effectively in this case. The president pledged that Washington will not “forget” the victims. “We will help you put out the fires, get through the crisis, and rebuild your lives,” he said. Dean offered a brief mention of the wildfires before continuing his party’s political offensive on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and the impending Iraq war funding bill. “Just weeks after vetoing SCHIP, the Bush Republicans wanted to borrow a total of $196 billion to continue the wars in Iraq and then Afghanistan, but they wouldn’t spend $7 billion for the health of our children,” Dean said. “We need more of [California’s] spirit of cooperation in Washington, D.C., today,” he added. “Despite significant bipartisan support for the country’s health insurance program for our children … every single Republican running for president sided with President Bush in keeping our kids from getting the health care that they need.” Bush denounced Democrats on the war funding and other political issues on Friday, upon returning from California. But in his address Saturday, he focused exclusively on praising first responders and volunteers and detailing the federal response to the wildfires. Bush said his emergency declaration on Wednesday “made additional federal funding available to the residents of the counties affected by the wildfires, so they can recover and rebuild. This Federal assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repair, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, loans for small business owners and funding to help clean up debris. “I went to Southern California with a message: We want you to know the country cares for you,” he concluded. “We’re concerned about you, your neighborhoods and your homes. Things may look dismal now, but there is a better day ahead. And we will not forget you in Washington, D.C.” |
