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Politics

Not everyone happy with Bush's speech

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 25, 2007

WASHINGTON - On the day after came the grumbling.

The White House warned for days ahead of President Bush's State of the Union address that changed conditions demanded a speech stripped of the usual laundry list of proposals designed to please loyal constituencies. Still, disappointment abounded Wednesday.

Religious groups heard no mention of banning same-sex marriage, preventing expanded embryonic stem cell research or pursuing tougher abortion laws.

When the president urged the Democratic-controlled Congress to vote on his judicial nominees, he left out his usual statement that he picks those who "strictly interpret the Constitution" - a signal he is committed to nominees conservatives would like.

Such issues were benched in favor of a focus on a nemesis issue for the right, immigration changes that could create a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.

"We're disappointed that he didn't mention cultural issues at all," said Rich Lowry, editor of National Review magazine. "Everyone realizes that this is a product of his diminished circumstances."

But Democrats were disheartened on the day after, too, saying Bush brought up "the serious challenge of global climate change" almost parenthetically.

[Last modified January 25, 2007, 05:53:28]