The Beat Goes On

The virtual beating of George W. Bush, that is. Today's WaPo contains a story about the volunteer efforts to take place around the country on MLK day and leaves a strong whiff of inference that Bush 43 had no stomach for such compassionate nonsense. From page one of the story:

The call is similar to that given by other presidents, from John F. Kennedy with the Peace Corps, to George H.W. Bush with the Points of Light, to Bill Clinton with AmeriCorps.

Hmm, no mention yet of Bush's Freedom Corps, whose website states:

President Bush created USA Freedom Corps (USAFC) to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11th. When he announced USAFC in his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves. Since then, USAFC has helped Americans answer that call, and the American people are responding.

The story continues to page two, where we also find no mention of Bush's initiative. We DO find a Waco, TX mother of three, who volunteered for Obama's volunteer corps:

A Democrat in the heart of Red America -- the event is the closest service day project to George W. Bush's Crawford ranch -- Petree said she thinks the Web site is a good way to help people get involved.

And finally, the coup de grace:

"It's great that we have someone in the White House who is actually promoting that," Dicker said of community service. "He's going out of his way to promote giving back to the community."

From Bush's 2002 State of the Union Message:

My call tonight is for every American to commit at least two years, 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime, to the service of your neighbors and your nation.

Many are already serving and I thank you. If you aren't sure how to help, I've got a good place to start. To sustain and extend the best that has emerged in America, I invite you to join the new USA Freedom Corps.

The Freedom Corps will focus on three areas of need: responding in case of crisis at home, rebuilding our communities, and extending American compassion throughout the world. One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland security. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies ... volunteers to help police and fire departments, transportation and utility workers well-trained in spotting danger.

Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our communities. We need mentors to love children, especially children whose parents are in prison, and we need more talented teachers in troubled schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers.

Maybe the WaPo and General Powell can work a little harder to make sure Obama's service plan is more successful. Sounds like they're off to a good start.