Who loves hypocrisy and wasting money more than a newly-elected President? Apparently, one who is entering his second term. Next week’s inauguration is not only stealing money from the District of Columbia’s security budget and endangering its citizens, but delivering a slap in the face to our troops around the world and those suffering from the devastation in Southeast Asia. It’s time for the President to call off the party and get down to work, but that would require admitting that there’s work left to do.
There is obviously a danger of a terrorist attack or a riot during the inauguration and sensibly enough, the District government bears the brunt of security and safety costs during the events. Terrorists and protestors aren’t coming to D.C. because of the folks living in the city- they’re coming because of the President. The administration usually defrays security costs for the District by providing $15 million a year. Unfortunately, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams said the inauguration alone is going to cost $20 million in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget. The President is refusing to give any more money and now the city is being forced to divert $11.9 million from its own homeland security projects to make up the shortfall.
Besides the arrogance of refusing to pay for their own party, there’s a total lack of explanation. Representatives of the OMB said they still expect the annual security grant to cover the inauguration, despite the facts that the District asked for a $10 million increase to cover the inauguration as early as last year and Congress appropriated $50 million to defray security costs at both of this summer’s national political conventions.
Despite the quixotic nature of the task, it is not unreasonable to ask President Bush to occasionally stand up for the principles he so often talks about. Let’s see some “ownership.” Bush should not waste taxes on his private party. He should divert some money from the privately-raised $40 million dollar party fund to pay for security. Better yet, he could be a true “war President” and cancel the party in order to use the money to equip and relieve our troops around the world or help victims of the tsunami. Anything would be better than watching the President celebrate a wild bacchanalian while U.S. soldiers are dying.
