LONDON: The only surprise about angry US claims that George Bush is cashing in on the “war” is that they have been so long in coming. Despite his onerous responsibilities, Mr Bush has found time to play star at more than 50 Republican party fundraisers so far this year. More events are planned before the November 5 mid-term elections.

At a recent luncheon in Nashville, supporters paid US dollars 1,000 a plate to hear Mr Bush speak in support of former Tennessee governor Lamar Alexander, now running for the Senate. This one event raised US dollars 1.1 million in campaign funds.With busy-bee Mr Bush continuing to break all previous fundraising records, the Republican party has accumulated an unprecedented war chest of US dollars 180 million solely to contest these elections.

That this gross form of money politics is inimical to good governance is a familiar truism. What is different this time is the way that Mr Bush has also begun routinely to exploit his “war on terror” and basic public safety fears to promote his partisan cause. In recent weeks he has devoted ever greater proportions of his stump speeches to his Sept 11-related policies, particularly on Iraq, while implying that his opponents are “soft” on defence.

After he suggested this week, on no fewer than four occasions, that the Democrats in congress were “not interested in the security of the American people”, Tom Daschle, the Senate Democratic leader, finally exploded. Mr Bush’s remarks were “outrageous”, he said. Mr Bush, the Democrats said, should apologise.

If Mr Bush wants the support of Congress, and more importantly, the UN, then he must build a consensus.

To this end, he might study the remainder of what Mr Daschle had to say about a president’s unifying duties in time of strife. “I’ve been in national cemeteries all over this country and I have never seen anything but stars, the star of David, and crosses on those markers. I have never seen ‘Republican’ or ‘Democrat’,” Mr Daschle said.

“We’ve got to rise to a higher level. Our founding fathers would be embarrassed by what is going on right now.” He is right. Mr Bush’s squalid politicking betrays his nation’s principles and undermines its cause.—Dawn/ The Guardian News Service.