Congressional hopeful Patty Weiss told UA students last night that President Bush's State of the Union Speech spent little time addressing the concerns of most Americans.
Weiss, a Democrat who has entered the race to succeed Rep. Jim Kolbe in Arizona's 8th Congressional District, watched the state of the union address with about 15 students in Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall and afterwards gave students her take on the speech.
"The words sound good, but his actual actions speak very, very differently," she said. "We need more than just lip service."
Weiss' visit to campus was organized by the UA Young Democrats.
Although the event was open to all students, the majority of those in attendance were members of the Young Democrats.
Weiss said Bush was more than halfway through his speech before he began addressing the issues with the biggest effect on the typical American's life.
"He talked for about a minute about Hurricane Katrina and talked for 37 minutes about us being overseas and in Iraq," she said. "There are major issues in this country and he is not addressing them."
President Bush did not spend enough time addressing issues such as health care, immigration and education, Weiss said.
Weiss, a UA alumna, said Bush's push for health savings accounts will only benefit the wealthy and will not help what she called the "center of America."
She said companies in America would be more competitive if they did not have to pay for their employee's health care and the government took care of it.
Weiss, who said education and health care are the main focus of her campaign, also criticized the No Child Left Behind Act.
"(The Act) has provided no money and no actual resources to actually help any child learn anything," she said.
Weiss, who has served on several advisory boards at the UA, said she feels like she could do a lot for the university if elected to office.
The 8th District does not include the UA campus, but includes much of Tucson and southeastern Arizona, including Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Benson.
Some students living off-campus could be eligible to vote in the November election.
"Education is our investment in America," Weiss said. "We need to put more into it."
Weiss, who had a three-decade career as a television newscaster, said she believes her past job is a good compliment to political life.
She said she firmly believes that a democracy needs a free press and politicians willing to make sacrifices.
Although there were many standing ovations during the televised speech, there was an absence of applause during Bush's speech in the Arizona-Sonora lobby.
Instead there was the occasional chuckle and close monitoring of the Bingo cards that were passed out before the speech.
The cards featured words such as "tyranny," "threat," "security," and "liberty."
Those in attendance were told to mark the word on their bingo cards whenever Bush said the word in his speech.
Communication Senior Carlie Christensen said she found Weiss' comments after the speech to be intelligent and insightful.
"She was absolutely spot on," she said. "She's exactly the kind of person we need in Congress."
Christensen said there are inconsistencies in all of Bush's speeches and said she does not think he ever has any real intention of following through.
"I am still astounded that the American people buy into this deceit," she said.
David Martinez III, a secondary education junior and president of the Young Democrats, said he agreed with much of what Weiss had to say.
Martinez said Bush did not really address higher education.
"He has no real plans," he said. "He's so out of touch that it's unbelievable and just unfortunate."
Weiss was accompanied by her husband, Alan Gelenberg, who is the head of psychiatry at the UA College of Medicine. She has two grown children and he has three grown children.
Martinez said the Young Democrats do not endorse a democratic candidate during a contested primary. He said the group plans to invite the other democratic candidates to events throughout the semester.
Other Democrats in the race include Jeff Latas, Alex Rodriguez, Eva Bacal, Francine Shacter and Gabrielle Giffords.
Republicans in the race include Steve Huffman, Mike Hellon, Mike Jenkins and Randy Graf.