Opinion: George Bush signs a letter to GOP faithful about you-know-what

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No, of course he didn’t write it himself. But you can bet he read it before it went out.

George is calling for money.

President Bush’s public approval ratings may be gathering mold in the Gallup Poll’s basement. But the soon-retiring Republican president still has pull on the purse strings of his party members.

And, in a fundraising e-appeal to Republicans, the president is citing both the GOP’s unflinching ‘ideals’’ and the ‘focus-group’’-free determination of the party’s presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain. Bush is optimistic in a general election campaign in which Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has gained an early advantage by seemingly printing his own money, nearly $300 million worth.

Not to mention those ‘Liberal’’ Democrats not standing up for national security and freedom from taxation. And despite what those unhappy conservatives within the Republican Party say about the Arizona senator and former POW, the compassionate conservative-in-chief maintains that McCain ‘is running on a clear, consistent and conservative agenda.’

‘There is no question in my mind, with your help,’ Bush writes in a new fundraising message, ‘the Republican Party can win this election if our candidates are true to our principles, boldly share the GOP agenda with the American people and are confident in contrasting our hopeful and optimistic philosophy with the Liberal vision of the other party.’

Our colleague Mark Silva has the rest of this story over at the Swamp. And the complete text of the president’s appeal is available by clicking on the Read more line below.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Dear Republican,

As a dedicated Republican grassroots leader, will you work with me to see to it that we keep the White House and retake the U.S. House and Senate?

There is no question in my mind, with your help, the Republican Party can win this election if our candidates are true to our principles, boldly share the GOP agenda with the American people and are confident in contrasting our hopeful and optimistic philosophy with the Liberal vision of the other party.

The reason that I am confident about Republican success is because when the American people look at our ideals versus the ideals of the Democrats, the people are with us.

Our ideas and values are those embraced by the American people. They may not be the ones who the pundits listen to, but they are the ones who are out working every single day to make America a great and hopeful place.

The American people want strong national defense and they want the government to protect them from further attack . . . they want lower taxes and less government . . . they want strong, principled leadership . . . and that is precisely what Republicans will give them.

I am also optimistic about this year because of John McCain and our candidates at all levels. Our nominee is a man who will make decisions based upon sound principles, not based on the latest focus group or political poll. He has the wisdom and the experience necessary to be the Commander-in-Chief of our United States military forces.

Our presidential nominee is running on a clear, consistent and conservative agenda and I can assure you he does not want a lonely victory.

That is why I am personally committed to helping our GOP candidates win -- and why I am contacting you, Republican, on behalf of the Republican National Committee (RNC). The RNC is the only GOP organization permitted by law to directly support both our presidential nominee and our GOP candidates up and down the ticket.

Please help provide the maximum support all our candidates need to defeat the Democrats by making a secure online gift of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25 to the RNC today.

Your generous donation to the RNC is the single most important contribution you can make to ensure we maintain the White House and regain our majorities in the U.S. Congress.

Republican, I am looking forward to the campaign ahead. I am excited about taking our message to the American people. With your help and hard work, there is no doubt in my mind that we will win.

Sincerely,

George W. Bush

P.S. Republican, Republicans have a great opportunity to retain the White House, reclaim our majorities in Congress and elect more GOP governors and state officials. Your support is critical to providing the resources our Republican candidates need to win. Please make a secure online gift of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $100, $50 or $25 to the RNC today. Thank you.

Contributions or gifts to the Republican National Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.