COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATIVES
The Rev. Dana Prom Smith, S.T.D., Ph.D. (3/10/07)

Citizens tend to believe politicians during political campaigns although experience doesn’t support such credulity. When President Bush was packaged six years ago as a “compassionate conservative,” many took delight because heretofore the phrase “compassionate conservative” was thought an oxymoron. Hoping against hope many held out hope for compassion amongst the conservatives.

However, subsequent events have proved that the credulity is misplaced, phrases such as “compassionate conservative” and “compassionate Republican” still being oxymorons.

The first big test was, of course, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, laying waste New Orleans and the Mississippi coast. President Bush saw the catastrophe coming and did nothing, even after having been warned that the levees might break. When they came, he was fund-raising in Phoenix where hurricanes don’t happen. Afterwards, he looked down from Air Force One on the devastation but did nothing except several days too late to commend Michael Brown, the head man of FEMA at the time with the words, “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” One test of compassion is being in touch with the situation. Compassion is not remote.

Having unleashed the dogs of war with his invasion of Iraq, neither he nor his principal kennel keeper, Dick Cheney, had noticed the deplorable conditions of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital. Compassion would have dictated visiting the wounded and maimed and being appalled at the disgusting conditions amongst the recuperating. But alas, no, there is no such thing as a compassionate conservative, much less a compassionate Republican, certainly not a compassionate President.

Copyright (c) Dana Prom Smith 2007