A Discussion of The President's Saturday Morning Radio Address

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Notes and Summary of Laura Bush's Address -- American Heart Month

During the weekly radio address, Mrs. Bush said, "February is American Heart Month -- a time to start heart-healthy habits, and to learn about the risk factors for heart disease. These risk factors include smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, family history, and age. Heart disease affects more than 80 million people in the United States and claims the life of one American every minute."

How the First Lady Differs from the American vision of "Liberty Under God":

Who can disagree with advice to learn about and guard against heart disease?

Nevertheless, let's step back and look at the big picture through the eyes of the philosophy of "Liberty Under God."

"Liberty": The Doctrine of "enumerated powers"

In the Constitution, is it the job of the Executive Branch of the federal government to be an educator or policy maker in the area of heart health? This radio address is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Under God": Who should be admired? Who should be a spokesperson for heart health? Why should we listen to Laura Bush? Who should we be listening to? Who is America listening to?

Who creates better health? Government or business? Which societies have better health: those with liberty and thriving businesses, or those with strong centralized governments?

The First Lady's Saturday Morning Radio Address	Another Perspective: "Liberty Under God"
	The President did not give the Saturday Morning Radio Address on a matter of public policy; rather, the address was given by First Lady Laura Bush, on the subject of women's health. Usually we take issue with the substance of the President's radio address, but there's not much that Mrs. Bush said that anyone can really disagree with. So we step back and ask whether The First Lady would be giving such an address in a nation of "Liberty Under God."
MRS. BUSH: Good morning. This is Laura Bush. For the weekly radio address, President Bush has handed the mic over to me. And today, I'd like to talk about something that's close to my heart -- America's heart health.	Most Admired Women Women's History: Wednesday December 31, 2003 When Gallup in their annual poll asked "What woman that you have heard or read about, living today in any part of the world, do you admire most? And who is your second choice?" the combined first and second choices showed Hillary Rodham Clinton making a remarkable comeback into the top spot. Oprah Winfrey came in second with Laura Bush close behind. Others in the top ten this year were Condoleezza Rice, Barbara Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, Madeleine Albright, Nancy Reagan, and Elizabeth Dole. Others who've made the list in recent years include Jennifer Lopez, Maya Angelou, Barbara Walters, Rosalynn Carter, Elizabeth Taylor, Julia Roberts, Madonna, Sandra Day O'Connor, Rosa Parks, Tipper Gore, Christine Whitman, Mother Teresa (usually appearing at #1 until her death), and Princess Diana. More people selected a friend or relative than any individual other than the #1 selection, 22% named others not on these lists, and 31% didn't name anyone or expressed no opinion. Americans Pick 50 Most Admired Men, Women | Christianpost.com
February is American Heart Month -- a time to start heart-healthy habits, and to learn about the risk factors for heart disease. These risk factors include smoking, being overweight, lack of exercise, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, family history, and age. Heart disease affects more than 80 million people in the United States and claims the life of one American every minute.	VOA News - President Bush Declares February American Heart Month Does the Constitution give the President the power of transubstantiation, turning February into "American Heart Month?"
By now, many women who've tuned in may be tempted to tune out. A few years ago, I might have. Like many women, I assumed heart disease was a "man's disease." But the Heart Truth is this: that heart disease is the leading cause of death among American women. In 2002, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute launched the Heart Truth campaign, and asked me to join.	American Heart Association with Marie Osmond: "During American Heart Month, ask your lawmakers to do their part to cure these diseases by co-sponsoring the HEART for Women Act. Women’s lives depend on it!" Heart for Women Act - Thomas: Library of Congress Requires sexual discrimination and segregation: are there really differences between men and women? Are there really differences between races?
Over the last five years, I've seen the Heart Truth campaign spread the word to women about how they can protect their heart health. Symptoms of a heart attack can be different in women than in men. Symptoms in women can include persistent fatigue, difficulty breathing, and a pain in the jaw or neck. If women have these symptoms, they should go immediately to the hospital.	Why is it basic health information is not taught in schools? (Answer: because not much of anything is taught in government-operated schools.)
Nothing draws attention like a little red dress, so this is the Heart Truth's symbol. Across the country, people are rallying around that dress. Women are taking heart disease more seriously. So are their doctors. And every year from 2000 to 2005, heart disease deaths among women decreased.	Who gets the credit for the decrease in heart disease death? The government?
This is good progress, but we still want more people to know the Heart Truth. Too many women, especially African-American women, die of heart disease. More than 80 percent of middle-aged women have at least one risk factor and many of them don't know it.	Overall, the government encourages a "live for today" attitude. The government criticizes us for being overweight, while its budgets are bloated beyond comprehension, and the future mortgaged to crisis levels. Government's spending for today without concern for the future is truly pathological.
Last year, as part of my work to tell the Heart Truth, I went on the Rachael Ray show, where I described the symptoms of heart attacks in women. One woman who watched, Candy Stauffer, says that a few weeks after she saw the show she woke up feeling nauseated and bothered by pain in the jaw. Candy's daughter remembered what she'd heard on Rachael Ray. And because Candy and her daughter paid attention to the symptoms of heart trouble, Candy got to the emergency room in time to be treated.	Who is Rachael Ray? Rachael Ray's Official Website Apparently the next Julia Child.
Since her close call, Candy has started exercising every day. She's dropped 45 pounds. Now she's calling on others to take better care of their hearts. "My family is more aware," Candy says. "My friends are more aware." Even in line at the grocery store, Candy will tell other people about heart disease.
I'm proud to serve as the Heart Truth's official national ambassador. But I'm even more proud of America's unofficial heart-health ambassadors. Across the United States, doctors, researchers, and patients like Candy Stauffer are telling the Heart Truth, and they're saving women's lives. This American Heart Month, all of us can be Heart Truth ambassadors. Start by protecting your own heart, and spread the word to others. February is a month known for Valentines. This February, encourage your loved ones to take care of their health. It's the best Valentine's gift you could possibly give. Thanks for listening.	"Back in 1920, men and women had almost identical life spans. But the looming threat of heart disease widened that gap. American men now have heart disease death rates that are 50% higher than women's. Compared to their married counterparts, single elderly women are four times more likely to end up in a nursing home. Carey Roberts January 29, 2008

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Additional Resources:

Kevin Craig's platform:

• Health Care

Libertarian Resources

• American Heart Association plays a cruel trick on women

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John Adams once wrote that the American Revolution began in 1761, when Massachusetts attorney James Otis began legal challenges to the Writs of Assistance. He lost the case, but "American independence," Adams wrote, "was then and there born." Now do the math. That means it took 15 years to convince the rest of America to declare Independence (1776). Then another seven years of war was required before a Peace Treaty was signed (1783), and then six years before the Constitution was finally ratified (1789). That's almost 30 years. (And Jefferson said we shouldn't go 20 years without another rebellion!) How can we hope to convince Americans to fight for principles they were never taught in government schools? We need to be in this battle for the long term. "Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty."

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The Democrat Party Radio Address:

Gov. Joe Manchin, West Virginia

"Bipartisan stimulus package" should be permanent, not temporary.

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