WASHINGTON - Americans deserve better leadership than what the Bush administration offers, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn said Saturday in the Democrats' weekly radio address.

Clyburn, chairman of the House Democratic Faith Working Group and chairman-elect of the House Democratic Caucus, said recent legislation promoted by Republicans has done little to help the lives of many Americans.

"In order to have an America that is strong at home and abroad, we must have a government that is as good as the American people," he said.

Clyburn said American troops in Iraq are particularly hurt by budget legislation that passed the Senate on Wednesday. The measure, which cuts $40 billion in federal spending over five years, reduces funding for student aid, Medicaid and other entitlement programs.

"Every time our nation has gone to war we've called on American citizens from all walks of life to make sacrifices. But not this time," he said. "While our brave young men and women fight to protect our freedoms, Republicans are cutting services to their families back home while giving people of great means unfair and unneeded tax cuts."

Clyburn also said the administration has done little to help victims of the Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita.

"This Republican administration refuses to provide housing for thousands of disaster victims, while fleecing American taxpayers by giving no-bid contracts to their friends and cronies as Americans along the Gulf Coast continue to suffer," he contended.

"In this time of giving and sharing, no matter which holiday you celebrate or to which, if any religion, you adhere, working together, America can do better," Clyburn said.

President Bush ran for re-election in 2004 on a platform of tax cuts, spending cuts and a "stay the course" agenda in Iraq. Since 62,000,000+ Americans voted to put the President back in office it would seem that he has adhered to that platform pretty closely.

I can't help reply to Clyburn with this: Americans are pretty much getting the type of leadership they voted for. Where's the problem?