(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island) released the following statement this evening in reaction to White House-disclosed excerpts of President Bush’s State of the Union address:

“The President has an enormous credibility problem on both the domestic and foreign policy fronts.

“The President continues to call for fiscal responsibility, but has added $1.6 trillion to the national debt since he took office, bringing the total national debt to a record $8.2 trillion. He is mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren.

“He talks about health care reform, but since he took office in 2001, the number of Americans lacking health insurance has risen from 39.6 million to 45.5 million.

“His record on the ‘War on Terror’ is even worse. More than four years after the worst terrorist attack in our history, over 17,000 young Americans have been killed or wounded – and over $277 billion committed – going after the person (Saddam Hussein) who did NOT attack us. Meanwhile, the one who DID attack us and killed 3,000 innocent men, women, and children – Osama bin Laden, leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network – is still alive, free, and openly planning another attack on our country.

“That represents a colossal failure on the ‘War on Terror.’ We have given the Iraqi people the chance to have a new way of life. It is time for them to stand up and defend their own government – and for us to remove our troops from Iraq. Our military efforts should then re-focus on neutralizing Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda – before they strike again!"

# # #