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A part of one of Bush's social security forums has been making the rounds. I wrote a comment on it in some obscure website or another, but decided I might as well put it here as well. First, the transcript:
(Emphasis and ellipses added by me.)
Now some people have come out saying: Look how out of touch Bush is, look how cruel he is, saying it's "fantastic" that this woman has to work three jobs.
And other people have countered: that's not what he's saying, he's complimenting her hard work, don't put words in his mouth.
Or even, who says she isn't working three jobs by choice? (A possibility, although made less likely by her comment about not getting enough sleep, her having a mentally challenged son, and her being concerned about her social security benefits. Me, I'm going to make the not unreasonable assumption that she is working three jobs in order to make enough money to take care of herself and her son.)
Now, I don't think Bush's comment was malicious, but it was unintentionally ironic. Of course he was admiring her hard work, not delighting in her difficulties. But her difficulties arise from a lousy economy, which we populists believe is the fault of the current Republican leadership with its support of laissez-faire capitalism and corporate oligarchs at the expense of the poor and powerless. Bush meant to say that her work ethic was "uniquely American", but the economic woes of this country are also somewhat "unique" among First-World nations, or so we populists believe, and it is amusing to hear Bush agree with us (even though we know he probably doesn't).
On a less amusing note, while such hard work might inspire admiration in anyone, most people would probably also express concern and compassion for this woman...and Bush doesn't. Not really. He compliments her, he jokes with her, he probably made her feel better...but he doesn't offer her any hope that things might improve. I think this is a common theme in Bush's presidency: he invokes fear a lot, and a need to persevere, but he doesn't talk a lot about hope (at least, not in this life). That's rather disturbing to me.
MS. MORNIN: Okay, I'm a divorced, single mother with three grown, adult children. I have one child, Robbie, who is mentally challenged, and I have two daughters [...] and I am concerned about -- that the system stays the same for me.
[...]
THE PRESIDENT: It's an interesting point, and I hear this a lot -- will the system be the same for me? And the answer is, absolutely. One of the things we have to continue to clarify to people who have retired or near retirement -- you fall in the near retirement.
MS. MORNIN: Yes, unfortunately, yes. (Laughter.)
[...]
MS. MORNIN: That's good, because I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.
THE PRESIDENT: You work three jobs?
MS. MORNIN: Three jobs, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)
MS. MORNIN: Not much. Not much.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, hopefully, this will help you get you sleep to know that when we talk about Social Security, nothing changes.
(Emphasis and ellipses added by me.)
Now some people have come out saying: Look how out of touch Bush is, look how cruel he is, saying it's "fantastic" that this woman has to work three jobs.
And other people have countered: that's not what he's saying, he's complimenting her hard work, don't put words in his mouth.
Or even, who says she isn't working three jobs by choice? (A possibility, although made less likely by her comment about not getting enough sleep, her having a mentally challenged son, and her being concerned about her social security benefits. Me, I'm going to make the not unreasonable assumption that she is working three jobs in order to make enough money to take care of herself and her son.)
Now, I don't think Bush's comment was malicious, but it was unintentionally ironic. Of course he was admiring her hard work, not delighting in her difficulties. But her difficulties arise from a lousy economy, which we populists believe is the fault of the current Republican leadership with its support of laissez-faire capitalism and corporate oligarchs at the expense of the poor and powerless. Bush meant to say that her work ethic was "uniquely American", but the economic woes of this country are also somewhat "unique" among First-World nations, or so we populists believe, and it is amusing to hear Bush agree with us (even though we know he probably doesn't).
On a less amusing note, while such hard work might inspire admiration in anyone, most people would probably also express concern and compassion for this woman...and Bush doesn't. Not really. He compliments her, he jokes with her, he probably made her feel better...but he doesn't offer her any hope that things might improve. I think this is a common theme in Bush's presidency: he invokes fear a lot, and a need to persevere, but he doesn't talk a lot about hope (at least, not in this life). That's rather disturbing to me.
