Clyde Prestowitz, KNIGHT RIDDER/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Monday, October 18, 2004

As a former Reagan administration official, registered Republican, born again Christian and traditional conservative, I am going to vote for John Kerry. So are many other old line Republicans. Here's why.

While the Bush administration calls itself "conservative," its use of the term is frankly Orwellian. It not only deprives the word of meaning, but presents the administration's philosophy as the opposite of what it actually is.

Conservatives have always and everywhere believed in fiscal responsibility, in being sure you could pay your way and in providing for the future. Conservatives pay down debt rather than adding to it. This doesn't necessarily mean balancing the budget every year, but at a minimum it means striving toward balance as a top-priority objective.

The Bush approach is completely at odds with such thinking. If any proof were needed it was amply provided in the president's acceptance speech at the recent Republican convention. With Congressional Budget Office projections by a very Republican former member of his own administration showing oceans of red ink for the indefinite future, President Bush promised more tax cuts. His audience cheered.