Richard Aguirre: Governor to side step, not two-step with Bush
Richard Aguirre
January 5
Thousands of Oregonians will cheer for President George W. Bush when he visits Portland this afternoon.
Not peace advocates.
Not union members.
And not Gov. John Kitzhaber, who said Friday he opposes the “economic security plan” Bush will promote today.
Kitzhaber said he supports the commander-in-chief, but opposes much of Bush’s domestic agenda, including tax cuts for corporations and upper-income people.
“You can ride security just so far and that’s a lot of his popularity,” Kitzhaber said during an visit with the Statesman Journal’s editorial board.
“I support everything he’s doing in the war on terrorism. But you know something, if we can airlift food to kids in Pakistan, what about 120,000 Oregonians who go to bed every night without any food in their stomachs?
“At some point, I think we need to start talking about homeland security in terms of the people who are living here — not who are threatened by a terrorist assault — but who are threatened by apathy, by lack of public investment, by the growing discrepancy in wages between the poor and the rich and by a school system that is struggling.
“Let’s get real.”
In other words, Bush’s welcome won’t be much different than the last time he visited Oregon — Halloween 2000 — as a presidential candidate. He ended up losing Oregon to Al Gore by 6,675 votes.
Bush’s mixed reception also won’t be much different from visits by President Clinton, who drew catcalls from the right and left — and snubs from Kitzhaber.
What makes the discord different this time is that Bush’s job approval rating is hovering at 85 percent nationally, and he continues to win widespread praise for his handling of the war on terrorism.
Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River, said Oregonians should welcome Bush’s visit, and be comforted by his interest in ending Oregon’s recession and lowering its 7.4 percent unemployment rate — the highest in the nation.
“I think it’s a good thing he’s coming to Oregon. With our high unemployment rate, it’s important he come and tell us his plan for getting the economy moving,” Walden said. “It’s clear he cares about states that are hurting.”
Walden, who is flying to Oregon with Bush on Air Force One today, said he supports Bush’s economic proposals and disagrees with Kitzhaber.
“(Kitzhaber) has never been an advocate of tax cuts in good times or bad,” Walden said. “We have to get consumer spending going by cutting taxes and helping small businesses. Government has to tighten its belt once in a while.”
During his visit, Bush will win widespread support from business and civic leaders. He also will get a rousing welcome from the many people fortunate enough to secure free tickets to his speech at Parkrose High School.
“We have been overwhelmed by the interest in the visit,” said Darryl Howard, executive director of the Oregon Republican Party.
“I wish we could accommodate every person who requested a ticket. Opportunities to see the president are unique. Everybody loves him so much and wants an opportunity to see him.”
Maybe for many, but not all Oregonians.
Peace advocates, who disagree with the way Bush is conducting the war, plan to protest outside Bush’s appearances.
Labor union members will slam Bush’s economic proposals.
The White House invited Kitzhaber to join Bush at the high school, but the governor has a prior personal commitment and won’t attend.
That isn’t sitting well with Rep. Walden.
“If I were in the governor’s shoes, I would have cleared the decks to be with the president and I would have done that whether he was a Republican or a Democrat,” Walden said. “I would be there to argue for my side.”
Kitzhaber said he has no personal beef with Bush, but said the president’s call for ever-deeper tax cuts is unwise and illogical, especially as Oregon faces a $850 million state budget shortfall.
“This president also says ‘Let’s run government like a business.’ How many businesses do you know that refuse to reinvest their resources into their work force and their plant and equipment during good times? None.”
And what does Kitzhaber think about Bush’s claim that tax cuts will revive the economy, even if that means deep government cutbacks?
“I think it’s a great political throwaway line, but I don’t think that if you scratch it very deep you find anything very meaningful,” Kitzhaber said.
State Editor Richard R. Aguirre can be reached at (503) 399-6739.
Excuse me, but isn't that the problem of the OREGON GOVERNOR - not the President!!