Why President Bush Won the Election

22 November 2004

By: Todd Bauerle

At 1pm November 3^rd, 2004 Senator John Kerry conceded to President Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election, yet three states were too close to call and the electoral system was in a dead heat…neither candidate had the 270 needed. Regardless, President Bush unilaterally won the popular vote, and eventually the Electoral College vote. Yet President Bush has less than a 50% approval rating, much of the country greatly opposes him, and his base of support really isn’t convinced he is the man for the job. Additionally, the White House is under investigation from the FBI for giving Halliburton (of which Vice President Cheney was CEO) war contracts in Iraq without a bidding process. How can this man get re-elected yet again? All talk of election rigging again placed aside, I’ll tell you how Bush won his second term.

Iraq and the War on Terror

President Bush has had a far longer campaign for this election when compared to John Kerry by at least two years. His campaign for re-election began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America. It is fact that Bush’s administration decided September 11^th was the prefect reason for invading Iraq. The case this administration built for going into Iraq was also the case for his re-election, even though much of the country is disapproving of the war.

How could this be a case for re-election? Fear. We were told to fear Saddam, his weapons of mass destruction, and his support of terrorism against America. Poppycock. While Saddam is not a nice guy, he was in compliance with inspectors. He did not have WMDs. He was not connected to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, the case for fearing Iraq was air tight, and most people do not have adequate information regarding the facts of Iraq and terrorists. The bottom line is America was afraid, and the radical change of electing a new President during these times was even more terrifying for voters.

Therefore, the American public participated in the greatest ironic act of our time. They voted for a man with an administration employing officials who supported terrorism and were involved in allowing the CIA to train Osama bin Laden in the first place. A vote for Bush is also a vote for an administration that is actually increasing our country’s armament of weapons of mass destructions and researching new chemical / biological weapons.

These factors do not make America and the world safer. What would make our nation safer would be a President that would strengthen the bonds with our allies. This President and the Republican power base has consistently thumbed their nose to the world. The re-election of President Bush does not bode well for our relationship with the world, making us less secure. Yet fear of additional terrorists attacks resulted in Bush’s second term.

Same Sex Marriages

Bush’s second plank in an extended campaign for re-election was the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages. To those of you that say, “Wait a tick, wasn’t that measure defeated in congress?” Yes, it was. However, this was such a hot issue that multiple states added a measure to their ballots defining marriage between a man and a women, and all but one passed. How does this impact the presidential race? I’m getting there.

President Bush never cared about passing a constitutional amendment. He cared about getting votes from the religious right. Look at the distribution of Bush supporters: the Southern and Midwestern states, the home of the Christian coalition. The Bible belt won Bush the election. Additionally, one of the number one factors Bush-supporters voted on was moral values, and those values were anti-gay. Bush mobilized the same population in Texas to win the governorship.

It’s not a dirty tactic by any means. However, it does prevent voters from thinking about the issue. For Christians, the knee jerk reaction is against gay marriage and they shut their brain off. They miss the point that gay marriage is a religious issue, and congress shall make no law respecting a person’s religion. The only way this is a government issue is how marriage has been secularized and rewarded.

Now couples can go to the courthouse to get married. They need a license and signatures because being married means filing taxes as couples, spousal insurance benefits, and next of kin rights among others. Should not these rights be extended to all couples in enduring relationship? If the answer is no, it is founded in anti-gay sentiment. If the answer is yes, then the introduction of a Domestic Partnership needs to be discussed. In fact, why not change the marriage benefits to a Domestic Partnership and let churches and religions keep marriage as a holy institution with a foundation in God the way it should be.

When it comes to the issue of adoption, most people do not want to think about gay parents. Research shows that children raised by same sex parents develop no different than with two heterosexual parents, and is preferred unilaterally to single parents. Yet it is easier for a single person to adopt than a same sex couple that has been together for a period of time. Homosexual fear is nothing more than anti-gay beliefs, which played a huge factor in Bush’s victory.

Tax Cuts and Fears

Three and a half years ago, I received a check in the mail from the IRS for $400 dollars. I remember saying to myself, “Wow, Bush has done more for me than any other President. He just got my vote!” Many people probably thought the same way, and cast their vote accordingly. Likewise, fears that Senator Kerry may actually raise taxes compounded their voting reasons.

When I became informed as to the great Bush tax cuts, I was appalled. I had heard that 98% of the tax cut went to the top 2% of earners, but never believed it. I believed that hundreds of millions of taxpayers in similar brackets who received similar tax cuts would obviously outweigh any cuts the rich received. How ignorant of me. Across the board, this tax cut benefited the rich. Period. Yet, people don’t believe it. They remember their $400 check, which was little more than a bribe.

Re-Election in the Face of Investigation

For skeptics, those who cannot believe this administration has favored the rich and corporations, check this. One week before the election, it was quietly announced that the FBI was investigating the White House for awarding war contracts to Halliburton without a bidding process. Specifically concerning former CEO and current Vice President, Dick Cheney’s involvement.

This wasn’t some left wing, grass roots rumor or something posted on the internet. This was announced on network evening news. But it went un-discussed after the announcement of the investigation. If this was President Clinton, it would have been plastered all over every newspaper, magazine, and headlined every newscast. Those undecided voters did not even know this was happening, and probably you didn’t either.

The Candidate

Lastly, John Kerry is absolutely the weakest candidate for this race. From viewing his record, listening to his debates, and researching his position on the issues John Kerry comes across as well educated, intelligent, and ultimately confusing. It’s not that the guy flip-flops, but the simple minded undecided voters could not decipher his message. Kerry could not articulate his position very well, confusing voters and supporters.

Also, John Kerry lacked the intensity, determination, and energy that people require in a post September 11^th President of the United States. He came off looking more like the unfeeling Michael Dukakis during the debates with Bush, Sr. He didn’t make people feel secure about the war on terrorism, all irony aside.

Kerry was also subject to a myriad of, “Why the long face?” jokes. This proves once again, people need an attractive candidate for the oval office as well. Considering appearance, Bush seems to strike more terror into the hearts of terrorists than John Kerry. John Edwards, however, would have won because he possesses the characteristics Kerry lacks. Edwards would have also been able to reach out to younger voters, a group that uncharacteristically supported Bush in this election.

- Todd

*Note* This E-pinion is continued in "The Nation Divided" found here.