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COMMENTARY: Bush Touches On Conservative Themes In Commencement Address By Ron Hutcheson Knight Ridder Newspapers Friday, May 14, 2004 MEQUON, Wis. - President Bush on Friday urged new college graduates to promote "a culture of life" in America as part of a lifetime commitment to serve the weak, the vulnerable and "the most easily forgotten." Wrapping an anti-abortion message into a commencement address at Concordia University, Bush challenged graduates at the Lutheran school to "protect and honor life in all its seasons." He also used his remarks on character and values to defend the war in Iraq as a natural outgrowth of American idealism and religious values. "Where there is tyranny, oppression and gathering danger to mankind, America works and sacrifices for peace and freedom. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world, it is the almighty God's gift to all humanity," he said. The president spoke to about 500 graduates, their teachers and their families, but his remarks were aimed at a much larger election-year audience. Republicans hope that emphasizing conservative values will help Bush win over culturally conservative swing voters. The president drew heavily from Christian teachings in urging the graduates to reach out to less-privileged Americans. He said the Golden Rule's exhortation to treat others as you would like to be treated "is more than a familiar saying; it is the foundation of a meaningful life." He told the graduates they should look first to those around them in channeling their desire to improve the world. "America needs your efforts and energy in the fight against poverty and despair," he said. "Government can play many important roles, but it cannot take someone's hand and be their friend. You have that power. ... If you follow this calling, you can help transform our society, one heart, one soul at a time." His right-to-life message was subtle but hard to miss. He never mentioned the word "abortion" as he called on graduates to defend life at every stage. He also defended his decision to limit research involving stem cells from fetuses. Critics of federal restrictions on stem-cell research, including former Republican first lady Nancy Reagan, contend that the limitations hinder research that could help cure Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and other ailments. Former President Reagan has Alzheimer's. "Our standards must be high and clear and fixed," Bush said. "Life is not just a tool, or a commodity, or a means to other ends. Nothing good or just can be built on the destruction or suffering of others." He told the graduates they may face hard choices about ending life in caring for aging parents. "Often, in their pain and loneliness, they will feel they are nothing but a burden, and worthless to the world. And you will need to show them that's not true," he said. "Our worth as human beings does not depend on our health, or productivity, or independence, or any other shifting value the world might apply. Our worth comes from bearing the image of our maker." Turning to the war in Iraq, the president cited the prisoner-abuse scandal as an example of how individuals can change the world. "We have recently seen how much difference, for good or ill, the choices of individual men and women can make," he said. "In Iraq, the cruelty of a few has brought discredit to their uniform and embarrassment to our country." The crowd rose for an ovation when Bush added that "those failures cannot diminish the honor and achievement of more than 200,000 military personnel" who've served in Iraq. By coming to Concordia, a conservative campus and the largest Lutheran university in North America, the president all but guaranteed a warm reception. There was no hint of protest during the ceremony, and some audience members shouted, "We love you, W," when he took the stage. Six of this year's graduates served in Iraq. Bush's visit to Concordia, on the shore of Lake Michigan just north of Milwaukee, was the first of three commencement addresses he'll make this season. He'll speak at Louisiana State University on May 21 and at the Air Force Academy on June 2. He and his wife, Laura, will skip graduation ceremonies for their twin daughters to avoid disrupting the festivities. Jenna Bush will graduate from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in English on May 22. Her sister, Barbara, will graduate from Yale University with a bachelor's in humanities two days later. The president and first lady plan back-to-back dinners with the graduates at each of their universities next weekend. Bush traveled to Wisconsin after raising $2.2 million for the Republican Party in Bridgeton, Mo., near St. Louis. "I have a reason to run: We have a war to win," he told the partisan audience. "We have a responsibility to spread peace and freedom around the world." --- (EDITORS: The West Virginia poll mentioned in this story was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs between April 26-29. The poll of 984 registered voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.) SOURCE: Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau, CA - May 14, 2004 http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/8669917.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn