| For Immediate Release Feb 28, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
Speech Regrettably Consistent with Previous Statements and Actions of the New President Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty. John Adams (June 21, 1776 -- 23 days before signing the Declaration of Independence). (Second President of the United States) (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, Inc., the public interest watchdog that investigates and prosecutes government abuse and corruption, “watched” with great interest President George W. Bush’s address to the nation yesterday evening. While the President offered a bundle of new government programs and perks to the American people, including but not limited to tax cuts, social security reform and prescription drug benefits, noticeably absent from his speech was any discussion concerning concrete ways to clean up the rampant bribery, influence peddling, and other latent forms of government corruption throughout the land. President Bush’s lack of concern for addressing this growing government corruption does not address or further the ideals which John Adams proclaimed just 23 days before he signed the Declaration of Independence. Most recently Mr. Bush, in commenting on the obvious bribery involved in the Clinton pardons, dismissed the scandal’s importance by stating at his first press conference: Q: Mr. President, do you believe that pardons were for sale in the Clinton White House? And what specifically do you think should be done to look into, to investigate, the circumstances of the president’s brother-in-law accepting money to lobby him on pardons? BUSH: David, as far as this White House is concerned, it’s time to go forward. I’ve got too much to do – to get a budget passed, to get reforms passed for education, to get a tax cut passed, to strengthen the military – than to be worrying about decision that my predecessor made. Q: Other presidents are commenting on this matter. On the Rich pardon specifically, former President Carter said that in his opinion it was, quote, ‘disgraceful.’ Do you not have an opinion on a power that is absolute and is vested in you as the president? BUSH: This White House is moving forward. We’ve got a lot to do. We’ve got a lot of people to convince on our agenda. I think we’re making pretty good progress, but there’s a lot of work to be done. “Judicial Watch and its supporters wish the new President well in his materialistic endeavors. But President Bush should remember there is a higher purpose to governing the land and if liberty is to be maintained, morality and the Rule of Law must not only be given ‘lip service,’ but also enforced. While Judicial Watch is endeavoring to do just this, it would be nice to have a President who recognizes the importance of and supports with action these virtues,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. | |