Bush, Democrats praise troops in holiday messages
Democrats slam Bush on unemployment benefits
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CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush saluted two groups of people Saturday for embodying the Christmas spirit: military personnel and volunteers.
"Across our country, caring citizens are reaching out to those in need by volunteering their time," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "By serving a cause greater than themselves, Americans spread hope in our country, and they make our nation better, one life at a time."
Bush said Christmas also triggers thoughts of members of the armed forces "who are defending freedom around the world."
"These brave Americans are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere so that we do not meet these killers on our own streets," Bush said.
"All our men and women serving abroad can know that their families miss them, millions are praying for them, and their nation is proud of them. All who serve others are living out the spirit of the Christmas season," the president said.
Bush, a Methodist who celebrated Christmas this week at Camp David, Maryland, laced his weekly address with references to the high Christian holiday.
"The story of Christmas is familiar to us all, yet it still brings inspiration and comfort and love to people everywhere," Bush said. "The voice first heard 20 centuries ago in Bethlehem stirs churches and communities to open homeless shelters and food pantries and job training centers to help those in need."
The Democrats' weekly radio address offered a similar tribute to troops serving overseas. "To these members of our American family, we pray for your safe return and extend our gratitude for your service," said Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.
But while Bush's message steered steadfastly clear of politics, Vilsack used his radio address to criticize Bush for refusing to press Congress to extend unemployment benefits last week.
"In the last three years, nearly 3 million jobs have been lost and the number of people looking for work for more than six months has tripled, yet last week, the administration and Republicans in Congress allowed emergency federal unemployment benefits to expire, notwithstanding Democrats' repeated attempts to extend the benefits," Vilsack said.
"Until the president has a plan to put people back to work, he should call on the Republican leadership in Congress to support the extension of an additional six months of benefits, and it should be the first thing the Congress does when it returns to work in January."
Copyright 2003 The
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