Bush lifts Democratic talking point

RAW STORYPublished: Thursday August 10, 2006

A phrase once considered so partisanly Democratic that House leaders objected to its use in House communications has been lifted by President Bush in a statement today, RAW STORY has learned.

The term "culture of corruption" has appeared in numerous Democratic releases and statements over the past several months. At one point, sources told RAW STORY that some Congressional Republicans considered it so partisan that they requested it not be used in certain official communications.

However, Republican President Bush today opened a statement with the following:

"For too long, the culture of corruption has undercut development and good governance and bred criminality and mistrust around the world. High-level corruption by senior government officials, or kleptocracy, is a grave and corrosive abuse of power and represents the most invidious type of public corruption. It threatens our national interest and violates our values."

Bush's statement was meant to target not domestic fraud or waste, but malfeasance by other nations, in calling for an effort to address high-level international corruption.

"Fighting the culture of corruption starts here at home," responded Democratic National Committee Press Secretary Stacie Paxton. "We're pleased to see the President come around to support our call for an end to the Republican culture of corruption that has plagued Washington, and we will, of course, do our best to get rid of corrupt Republicans in the fall."

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