I woke up a little late this evening but managed to catch the re-broadcast of Bush’s press conference (thanks C-SPAN!).
I’m sure most of you were paying attention to Bush’s remarks on the elections. I however noticed in his speech something that’s been bothering me for 5 years.
The election has changed many things in Washington, but it has not changed my fundamental responsibility, and that is to protect the American people from attack.
-Bush, 11/8/2006
That’s definitely not the first time I’ve heard him say this. I did a little Googling and found dozens of examples. Here are some 40 more:
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/30/2004
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/29/2004
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/23/2004
My most solemn responsibility and the most solemn duty of the federal government, as a matter of fact governments at all levels, is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 9/28/2006
Above all else, President Bush never loses sight of his most fundamental duty — to defend the nation and to protect the American people.
-Cheney, 05/23/2006
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/31/2004
And we’re at war now. And therefore, part of my mission and goal is to protect the American people. It is the most solemn duty of any President — is to never forget the lessons of the immediate past, in our case, September the 11th, 2001, and to do everything we can to secure the homeland.
-Bush, 01/09/2004
My job is to keep America secure. That’s my job. I’ve got a solemn duty to do everything I can to protect the American people.
-Bush, 12/15/2003
I believe the most solemn duty of the American President, the most solemn duty, is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/23/2004
My first responsibility as your President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 03/27/2002
The most solemn duty of the President and the Congress is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/18/2005
[George Bush’s] first and most solemn duty is to protect our country and to protect the people of the United States.
-Laura Bush, 10/19/2004
My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against further attacks and emerging threats.
-Bush (inaugural speech), 01/20/2005
My most important job is to protect American life, to protect innocent life.
-Bush, 10/22/2002
I will use every asset at our disposal to do our most important job, which is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 05/18/2004
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 11/01/2004
See, our most solemn duty is to protect the American people. That’s our most solemn duty.
-Bush, 07/23/2004
Our job is to secure the American homeland, to protect the American people.
-Bush, 10/01/2003
There’s going to be a lot of domestic issues we’ll work on, but there’s no issue more important than protecting the American people. It’s the calling of the 21st century. The most important job for the federal government is to protect you.
-Bush, 10/04/2006
And we’ve got a big difference when it comes to protecting the American people. The most important job of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 11/02/2004
I’ve got a job to make this country a safer country. My job is to do everything in our power to protect the American people from an enemy which is cold-blooded, an enemy that has no conscience, an enemy which struck us on September the 11th.
-Bush, 05/04/2004
And I believe we have a solemn duty, whether or not people agree with it or not, to protect the American people…
…And there’s no need to rehash my case, but I did so, I made the decision I made, in order to protect our country, first and foremost.
-Bush, 11/04/2004
My most solemn duty, and the most solemn duty of those of us in government here in Washington, is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 06/14/2005
That’s our most important job, is to protect you and your families from further attack.
-Bush, 10/31/2002
It’s — these are serious times that require serious thought and serious purpose in order to do our most important duty, which is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 02/23/2006
Our biggest challenge in Washington is to protect the American people. That’s the biggest calling we have. It’s the most important responsibility. When somebody says, name your most important responsibility, Mr. President, it’s easily: to protect you.
-Bush, 05/19/2006
Our most important duty is to protect the American people from a future attack.
-Bush, 09/29/2006
My most solemn duty is to protect our country.
-Bush, 08/02/2004
Above all, President Bush never loses sight of his most fundamental duty — to defend this nation and to protect the American people.
-Cheney, 02/09/2006
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 11/01/2004
I have the duty to work with you all to protect this country. That’s our most solemn duty.
-Bush, 07/20/2005
My most solemn obligation is to protect the American people. That’s my most important duty as your President.
-Bush, 07/15/2005
Our most important duty is to protect the American people from these cold-blooded killers.
-Bush, 05/17/2005
The number one priority of this government and the future governments will be to protect the American people against terrorist attack…
…Protecting American citizens from harm is the first priority, and it must be the ruling priority of all of our government.
-Bush, 07/26/2002
It is — the most solemn duty of government is to protect American people.
-Bush, 01/23/2004
Our most solemn duty in the federal government is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 08/15/2006
And I am also very mindful of my job as the American President to do everything we can to protect the American people from future attack.
-Bush, 10/10/2002
The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people.
-Bush, 03/31/2005
Our most important job is to protect America.
-Bush, 05/30/2002
And so on, ad infinitum….
But what exactly IS the President’s “most solemn duty” or “most important” obligation?
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
-Presidential Oath of Office, U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Clause 8
A terrorist can destroy buildings and take lives, but it takes a President to harm the Constitution of the United States.
Pax
