| For Immediate Release May 24, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
Bush White House’s Insistence on “Yes Men” Too Much for Vermont Senator to Bear Similar Tactics Used By Bush, Sr.’s White House Causing End Of His Administration (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes public abuse and corruption, “watched” with interest the recent resignation of Senator James M. Jeffords (R. VT) from the Republican Party. Jeffords, who is no conservative, has clashed with the Bush White House and Senate leadership over a number of issues in recent months. Because of his resistance to Bush White House initiatives, the Bush White House and Senate leadership ostracized and humiliated him. Most recently, he was not invited to an awards ceremony at the White House for a Vermont teacher, despite the fact that Jeffords is active in education issues and comes from Vermont. Similar tactics were used by George W. Bush’s father during his administration from 1988 through 1992. It was well known that anyone who disagreed with the administration was barred from White House events. The most notable example of this was George Will, the renowned columnist who was critical of Bush, Sr.’s flip-flop on taxes and other policy matters. In recent weeks, Judicial Watch has learned that a number of conservatives who have disagreed or written articles critical of the Bush White House have either been threatened that they would no longer be welcome at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, ostracized, or did not receive consideration for appointments. It would appear that it is a Bush practice not to accept constructive criticism from fellow conservatives and others. “This practice has now caused the Bush Administration to lose Republican control of the Senate, for which it will pay a heavy price – particularly since Democrats will now have the ability to block all major Bush Administration initiatives, including the appointment of conservative judges, through their control of committee chairmanships. The attitude of the Bush White House to criticism therefore has resulted in “shooting conservative objectives in the foot.” “The Bush Administration appears to want “yes men” rather than people of principle. Because of this, the Bush agenda is in serious jeopardy,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. | |