Another instance of mind-boggling gall

It leaves you gasping sometimes, it just does, the way these people in the Bush Administration (Wolfowitz and Rove) have such a low opinion of the brains of the electorate that they actually believe people are stupid enough to fall for this.

For the people who DO fall for it, please know that I would never think you are stupid. But there is no excuse for being so woefully misinformed that you allow yourself to be manipulated by the most crass of rhetorical ploys.

Chris

White House Is Trumpeting Programs It Tried to Cut

By ROBERT PEAR

Published: May 19, 2004

WASHINGTON, May 18 — Like many of its predecessors, the Bush White House has used the machinery of government to promote the re-election of the president by awarding federal grants to strategically important states. But in a twist this election season, many administration officials are taking credit for spreading largess through programs that President Bush tried to eliminate or to cut sharply.

For example, Justice Department officials recently announced that they were awarding $47 million to scores of local law enforcement agencies for the hiring of police officers. Mr. Bush had just proposed cutting the budget for the program, known as Community Oriented Policing Services, by 87 percent, to $97 million next year, from $756 million.

The administration has been particularly energetic in publicizing health programs, even ones that had been scheduled for cuts or elimination.

Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, announced recently that the administration was awarding $11.7 million in grants to help 30 states plan and provide coverage for people without health insurance. Mr. Bush had proposed ending the program in each of the last three years.

The administration also announced recently that it was providing $11.6 million to the states so they could buy defibrillators to save the lives of heart attack victims. But Mr. Bush had proposed cutting the budget for such devices by 82 percent, to $2 million from $10.9 million.

[etc... etc...]