Bush praises Street during address

Citing Philadelphia's faith-based institutions as a model for the nation, President Bush recognized Mayor John Street during his budget address before Congress last night. "Mayor Street has encouraged faith-based and community institutions to make a significant difference in Philadelphia," Bush said of Street, who was sitting with First Lady Laura Bush during the address. "He's invited me to his city this summer to see compassion in action." In a bipartisan venture, Bush announced that he had accepted the offer of Street, a Democrat. Penn Political Science Professor John DiIulio has been instrumental in the controversial faith-based programming movement. Bush tapped DiIulio to head the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives last month. Supporting faith-based organizations was a cornerstone of Bush's election campaign, but last night he acknowledged critics of that message by saying that the separation between church and state needs to be upheld. "Government cannot be replaced by charities or volunteers, government should not fund religious activities, but our nation should support the good work of these good people who are helping their neighbors in need," the president said. Furthering his efforts to link government and religious charities, Bush also announced the creation of a "federal compassion charitable fund" that would provide $700 million over 10 years to provide mentors for one million children whose parents are in prison. Philadelphia already has a similar plan called "Amachi," with the mentors being supplied by 40 area religious congregations, said former Philadelphia Mayor Wilson Goode, who led Street's transition committee on faith-based programs. Some say that the connection is more than just a coincidence. "I think I see John DiIulio's hand in all of that," Penn Political Science Chairman Jack Nagel said. In an interview, Goode said that Philadelphia has about eight faith-based programs besides Amachi, including a truancy program, a prison ministry and a children's literacy program. "I don't think that anyone in any other city has promoted faith-based connections to solving the social problems in cities," Goode said. Luz Cardenas, Street's spokeswoman, said that more programs with a religious affiliation are on the way, "probably as early as next week." Observers say Street may have been a particularly good champion for faith-based initiatives, since he is an African American and represents a heavily Democratic city that voted in droves for Bush's opponent, former Vice President Al Gore. In addition, Bush has struggled to connect with African Americans, many of whom continue to question the Florida election results. "I think that Bush has shown that he's a very shrewd politician, despite his lack of a Jeffersonian oratorical ability," said College senior John Lee, the former chairman of Penn for Bush. "[Faith-based programs] have real appeal to black Democrats because the black churches have been such an anchor of democratic votes in cities," Nagel said. "It is a way to appeal to a part of the Democratic base without alienating some of their own base as well." But College sophomore Arshad Hassan, president of the College Democrats, thought Street's presence last night was mainly about appearances. "It's not so much to reach out to the black community, but more to look like they're reaching out," Hassan said. College Republicans Chairman Philip Bartlett, a College senior, praised Bush's bipartisan efforts. "I think that it's a symbol that Bush is a uniter, not a divider," Bartlett said. "He's trying to unite Democrats and Republicans around common themes." Throughout his speech, Bush was interrupted by cheers, and he received several standing ovations during his first televised address as president. "A lot of people were expecting that the job was too big for him," Lee said. "But I think that he showed tonight that he's more than enough for the task."