LAPPING IT UP:

Family Advocates Praise State of the Union Speech (Pete Winn, 2/02/05, Citizen Link)

President Bush lays out the priorities of his final term in office, endorsing a federal marriage amendment and the "culture of life."

To thunderous applause, President George W. Bush on Wednesday evening used his 2005 State of the Union address to outline his goals for the remainder of his term -- and the most conservative president in recent decades sounded the alarm for conservative pro-family principles.

Much of the speech was dedicated to addressing the problems of Social Security.

"One of America's most important institutions — a symbol of trust between generations — is also in need of wise and effective reform," Bush said. "Social Security, on its current path, is headed toward bankruptcy, and so we must join together to strengthen and save Social Security."

But the president did not limit his speech to that issue. He also took on important pro-family issues, and did so in a way that pleased evangelical leaders.

"Our second great responsibility to our children and grandchildren is to honor and to pass along the values that sustain a free society," Bush said. "So many of my generation, after a long journey, have come home to family and faith, and are determined to bring up responsible, moral children. Government is not the source of these values, but government should never undermine them."

Dr. James C. Dobson, chairman of Focus on the Family Action, said he was delighted to hear the president's turn his attention to home and family.

"The president delivered a powerful, moving speech this evening," Dobson said, "speaking to the most important issues of the day with forcefulness and confident cadence."

Former presidential candidate Gary Bauer, president of American Values, said it was the best speech the president has delivered.

"It was a tremendously effective speech," Bauer told CitizenLink. "He has said himself that speechmaking is not one of his strong suits, but this speech was exceptionally well-done."

But the NY Times assures us the Religious Right is restive...

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 3, 2005 6:34 AM