In Time for the Final SOTU Address, Americans United for Change Launches ‘Bush Legacy Project’
www.americansunitedforchange.orgFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Funk, 202.263.4576
DATE: January 25, 2008
As President Prepares for Final State of the Union Address, Americans United for Change Launches 'Bush Legacy Project'
- First National Television Ad of Campaign to Air Before and After Bush's State of the Union Speech on Monday; View it Here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/blog/entries/state_of_the_union/
- "I'm a Bush Republican" Button Challenge Issued to Congressional GOP: View the Challenge Video Here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/wearthebuttons
- Bush Legacy Web site launched: http://www.PresidentBushLegacy.com
- Forum Held With Experts to Review Bush Legacy on The Economy, National Security/Foreign Policy, Health Care, Energy/Environment: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/content/npcpresentations/
- Local Citizens Hold Roundtables: "Are we better off now than we were 7 years ago?"
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Ad Script
Washington D.C. – As President Bush prepares to deliver his final State of the Union Address on Monday, and for what his supporters have dubbed his "legacy year" [U.S. News and World Report, January 10, 20008], Americans United for Change, the group best known for leading the fight to defeat the President's effort to privatize Social Security in 2005, launched a national campaign today called the Bush Legacy Project. The multi-million dollar effort will include paid media, grassroots, and online tactics with the goal of cementing into history what the last 7 years of the Bush/Conservative ideology has wrought on America -- from the looming recession, the endless war in Iraq, shortchanged domestic priorities, millions more Americans uninsured, global warming ignored, stagnant wages, a mortgage crisis, the middle class squeeze, exploding deficit, the pathetic Katrina response, and the list goes on.
"In March of 1987, at the height of the Iran-Contra affair, President Ronald Reagan's job approval rating dropped to its lowest level – 42%," said Brad Woodhouse, President of Americans United for Change. "But, before he left office in January 1989, Reagan's approval rating had rebounded to 63% - essentially redefining his legacy and allowing his disciples and later followers like George W. Bush to tout the Reagan years as an example of successful conservative governance, when in fact, Reagan left behind the same economic crises and shortchanged domestic priorities we see again today. We can not allow history to repeat itself – we can not allow Bush to enjoy a Reagan rebound or for conservatives to rewrite history about the Bush Legacy which has been a disaster for America. This project is less about Bush – and more about the conservative ideology he represents. It's less about him – and more about sticking a stake in the heart of conservative ideology which is a failed governing philosophy."
The first TV spot, entitled "State of the Union" (Click here to View) of the Bush Legacy Project will air on national television right before and after the President delivers his final State of the Union Address on Monday, January 28th and will continue for the balance of the week.
In addition, a new website – www.PresidentBushLegacy.com – was launched and will feature research, videos, and essays from a broad coalition of organizations documenting President Bush's Legacy, both foreign and domestic, during his tenure. In key battleground states, Americans United is hosting roundtables with local citizens to reflect upon how the past 7 years of the President's policies have impacted their lives. Americans United will also unveil plans in the future of a traveling 'Bush Legacy' bus – a rolling museum featuring mementos from the Bush Presidency from Iraq, Katrina, the economy, the environment, energy and a host of policy areas that have defined Bush's time in office.
Also, this week, Americans United for Change delivered "I'm a Bush Republican" buttons to all of the Republicans in the House and Senate in advance of Bush's Final State of the Union Address on Monday with the message: "your votes helped build his legacy; you should show your support for him by proudly declaring that you're a Bush Republican." On Monday, as cameras scan the House Chamber during the State of the Union Address, we'll see how many Republicans – those who have voted for Bush's policies on Iraq, the economy, energy and health care – are willing to put their lapels where there votes have been and wear a button with this simple message: "I'm a Bush Republican." See the accompanying video of the challenge here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/wearthebuttons
Yesterday, Americans United hosted a forum with several public policy experts to examine the broad implications of the Bush Presidency and Republican policies in four major issue areas: the economy, national security/foreign policy, health care and energy and the environment. Experts included Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research; Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress Action Fund; Diane Archer, Health Care for All Project and Campaign for America's Future; Daniel J. Weiss, Center for American Progress Action Fund. You may view their PowerPoint presentations by clicking here: http://www.americansunitedforchange.org/page/content/npcpresentations/
The goals of the "Bush Legacy Project" are three fold:
- Continually remind American voters why they have lost faith in President Bush and his agenda.
- To tie Bush and his agenda directly to the conservative brand and its followers – including Republican candidates who have and continue to support his unpopular agenda.
- To highlight how Bush's conservative economic, social and foreign policy agenda has failed -- to shift the center of the political debate away from the conservative frame by demonstrating the failure of Bush's policies.
"The Bush Legacy Project, therefore, will be a critical element in the ongoing effort to redefine American political values and to create an enduring progressive majority in America," added Woodhouse.
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