Democrats respond to Bush's speech
Pelosi, Daschle criticize 'go-it-alone foreign policy'
 |
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Democrats "have a better way" to protect the United States.
Story Tools
VIDEO
|
CNN's John King reports on President Bush's State of the Union address.
Speech excerpt: President Bush defends his decision to go to war with Iraq.
Speech excerpt: Bush calls for a law to allow government funding of faith-based social initiatives.
CNN's Kitty Pilgrim examines President Bush's record on previous State of the Union addresses.
|
|
(CNN) -- In response to President Bush's State of the Union address, two congressional leaders discussed Democratic priorities on topics including health care, the economy and national security.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota each responded to Bush's speech.
In addition to pushing Democratic issues, Daschle took a swipe at Bush's foreign policy.
"[Only] when America is secure at home and our strength abroad is respected and not resented, only then will we have a union as strong as the American people," Daschle said.
Bush has previously been criticized by Democrats for losing the goodwill and sympathy from other nations that the United States enjoyed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
Pelosi also attacked Bush on the same subject.
"Never before have we been more powerful militarily," Pelosi said. "But even the most powerful nation in history must bring other nations to our side to meet common dangers.
"The president's policies do not reflect that. He has pursued a go-it-alone foreign policy that leaves us isolated abroad and that steals the resources we need for education and health care here at home."
But Pelosi attempted not to anger soldiers or veterans.
"Our men and women in uniform show their valor every day. On the battlefield, our troops pledge to leave no soldier behind. Here at home, we must leave no veteran behind. We must ensure their health care, their pensions and their survivors' benefits," she said.
The Democrats also focused on the economy, which they described as weak.
"Our first challenge is to strengthen the economy, the right way," Daschle said.
He said Bush's tax cuts helped only the wealthiest Americans.
"America can't afford to keep rewarding the accumulation of wealth over the dignity of work," Daschle said.
"Instead of borrowing even more money to give more tax breaks to companies so that they can export even more jobs, we propose tax cuts and policies that will strengthen our manufacturing sector and create good jobs at good wages here at home."
