James Carville, former political consultant and spin doctor for President Bill Clinton, amused the Georgetown community Wednesday with his opinions of the Bush administration’s first year and American politics in general.
Carville began his speech emphasizing his stance on the war in Afghanistan and the Bush presidency. Carville said that he supported the war, but when asked if he supported President Bush, Carville said, “Bullshit!”
“I’m not supporting Bush! I’m supporting the United States!” Carville said.
He said that every act that the Bush administration has made so far during the war has rejected its campaign platform and adopted that of the Clinton-Gore platform.
Carville also addressed the economic crisis under the Bush administration. He said that the dramatic drop in the economy from surplus to deficit during the Bush presidency exemplifies negative changes in the country since the election. Carville said these massive deficits were not caused by the war against terrorism, but “irresponsible fiscal policy,” including the Bush tax cuts.
Carville also advised the audience not to be dissuaded from careers in politics because of stereotypes.
“People cannot say that what [politicians] do does not matter. It matters tremendously!” Carville said.
He urged the student body to become involved in politics because it affects everything in the community, the state, the nation and the world. He said that when people are absent from politics, a huge void is left for “mischievous people.”
“When the country can go from the biggest surplus in history to less than zero in a year, [politics] matters,” said Carville.
“The biggest lie in American politics was when Ralph Nader said it doesn’t matter who the president is. It matters profoundly,” he said.
Carville is married to Mary Matalin, former political consultant for President George Bush Sr.
