http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/articles/2004/09/17/waiting_for_an_attack_on_bushs_deceptions/Waiting for an attack on Bush's deceptions
By Scot Lehigh | September 17, 2004
IF ONE had to pinpoint the most important difference between George W. Bush's energized presidential campaign and John Kerry's stalled effort in the last few weeks, it would be this: Bush has been actively molding public opinion while Kerry has not.
On the stump, Bush is a skilled performer. He's relaxed, he's on message, and he connects well with his audience. Indeed, his skewering of John Kerry's position(s) on Iraq is delivered with the deft timing and sly mockery of a professional comedian.
But here's the president's not-so-secret weapon: He is dismayingly willing to say things that are either blatantly false or clearly designed to create a misleading impression.
The most recent example came when he claimed that Kerry's health care plan amounted to "a government takeover of health care with an enormous price tag," something that Kerry couldn't possibly pay for "unless he raises your taxes."
In fact, Kerry's carefully designed plan would operate through financial incentives and maintain the existing health care framework. And the Democratic nominee has stipulated that he would pay for it by rescinding tax breaks only for upper earners while retaining middle-class cuts.
But by far the most egregious example of Bush's "say anything" approach comes on Iraq. What Bush and the Republicans did at their New York City convention was to paint Iraq as an essential war in the battle against terror.<snip>