Bush Threatens Veto To Enforce Anti-Reproductive Rights Agenda

Posted by Bruce Wilson at 6:00 PM on May 20, 2007.

In The "Values Action Team" and Bush's Veto Threat, my research colleague Chris Rodda writes on a an almost totally overlooked vet-threat letter George W. Bush sent to Reid and Pelosi on May 2nd.

Congressman Joe Pitts ( R-PA), head of the "Values Action Team", recently bragged that Bush's letter was an indication of influence, within the Bush Administration, of the "Values Action Team".

"An action taken earlier this month by George Bush -- which is being claimed by the VAT and its coalition of pro-life groups as a major victory and demonstration of their influence -- has to be one of the most under-reported stories in recent news about the religious right.

On May 3, after being guaranteed that there would be enough Republican votes in the House to sustain a veto of any appropriations bill that removed any of the pro-life riders that have been regularly attached to these bills over the past decade, Bush sent the following "veto-threat" letter to both Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi:

'Dear Mr. Leader / Madam Speaker:

I am concerned that this year the Congress may consider legislation that could substantially change Federal policies and laws on abortion, and allow taxpayer dollars to be used for the destruction of human life. I am writing to make sure that there is no misunderstanding of my views on these important issues....' "

Yet Another data point refuting the 'Bush is Only Pandering' Theory

Anyone who has been paying half a lick of attention should know that George W. Bush's demonstrated commitment to the agenda of the American Christian right has pervaded his administration's foreign and domestic policy, his administration's hiring preferences for the federal bureaucracy, and in most other realms.... such as, writes Tim Mitchell, its willingness to stuff the federal bureaucracy and judiciary with religious ideologues and also promote a highly sectarian and fundamentally bigoted view of "religious liberty".

For that, claims that George W. Bush lacks authentic religious belief fail to pass the smell test. Since 1984 at least, from his days with a "Promise Keeper" influenced Bible study group in Midland, Texas and up through the present, George W. Bush has demonstrated considerable devotion to religious observance and, later as a politician, to the partisan agenda of the Christian right.

With the hullaballoo over Monica Goodling and her 150 member string Regent University graduate cohort in the Bush Administration, the extent to which the Administration has advanced that agenda quietly and stealthily is now coming to light. Claims about Bush's alleged lack of "faith" fail the basic test of Occam's Razor ; the preponderance of evidence suggests that we should take Bush's professed religious beliefs at face value.

But, that's nothing new ; since Gail Sheehey's investigation of Bush's religious beliefs almost a decade ago, evidence has continued to mount and Tim Mitchell's Talk To Action analysis, introduced below ( Jilting Justice for Jesus: Monica Goodling, Fundamentalist Education, and the Impact on Religious Civil Liberties ) provides yet more :

In light of the recent controversy surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Department of Justice (DOJ)--particularly the involvement of one Regent University graduate by the name of Monica Goodling--I thought now would be a great time to take a look at what the Religious Right is doing to screw up our religious civil liberties. Here is the fruit of my labors: a hefty-sized article with a cast of thousands, including the Bush administration, the DOJ, John Ashcroft, Patrick Henry College, Native Americans, and the Amish. Go grab some popcorn and enjoy the show....

Even if the current controversy surrounding Attorney General Gonzales and the DOJ ends up become the biggest disaster for the Bush administration, we cannot forget what has happened to our government over the last several years. The justice system that was designed to protect the rights of all has been compromised for the benefit of the extreme few, and organizations such as Regent University, Patrick Henry College and HSLDA are preparing future generations to continue what Bush and his cronies have started--both here and in other countries. Vigilance and democratic participation will be needed to repair the damage that has been done. Unfortunately, I fear that until the progressive community actively embraces inter-religious understanding and appreciation as passionately as the Religious Right believes in its destined role of dominion over others, the possibility of Christian fundamentalists undermining our democracy will remain a major threat. [emphasis mine - BW

Tagged as: bush, pro-life, pitts, values action team

Bruce Wilson writes for Talk To Action, a blog specializing in faith and politics.