Cancel the Ball
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

President Bush’s moneymen are currently raising $40 million for the president’s second inaugural. Apparently, giving money will get the donors terrific spots at the leading balls and a great seat at the inaugural itself.
Now, I consider the $273 million Mr. Bush spent to defeat Senator Kerry money well spent. Mr. Kerry would have taken us back to the weak Clinton days when terrorists attacked us and received a couple of bombs lobbed at them in return. Mr. Kerry would have given the United Nations a place of prominence in decisions pertaining to American foreign policy that would have undermined America’s commitment to promoting democracy and human rights.
But the idea that a president who was the choice of 80% of morality-based voters would now spend $40 million on a giant inaugural party in a time of war is unconscionable. With American soldiers dying nearly every day in Iraq, is a big shindig for a bunch of superannuated campaign contributors really appropriate? Franklin D. Roosevelt cancelled both his 1941 and 1945 inaugural balls in deference to the Americans engaged in fighting World War II. Shouldn’t Mr. Bush follow this inspired example and demonstrate to the troops in Iraq that the Washington elite are not going to dance the waltz while they are ducking grenades? And why would Mr. Bush give fodder to his enemies and appear as the president of the fat cats rather than the people?
Mr. Bush was elected president four years ago as he was four weeks ago. He already had the big inaugural bash. There is no need to repeat a lavish affair now. The thing to do with the $40 million raised for the inaugural balls by his friends and contributors is to distribute the money to the approximately 1,300 military families who have lost a loved one in Iraq, and Mr. Bush would win over a lot of his critics if he would prevail upon his friends and fund-raisers to tone down the inaugural to a modest affair and give the rest of the money raised to military families who have lost their principal breadwinner.
I have been a great fan and passionate advocate of Mr. Bush and his faith-based presidency. This president has been willing to pursue courageously history-shaping policies, like removing from power tyrants who slaughter their people. I salute and revere him for it.
But while the war in Iraq is just and necessary, the fact remains that American are dying almost every day. And while we have to see our commitment through and establish a viable democracy, we dare not become desensitized to the value of American life by having unnecessary political celebrations in a time of war.
I’m not looking to be a killjoy. I know that we at home need to lead an essentially normal life even in a time of war. But surely some sacrifices can be made on the home front, especially by the president and the country’s political elite. More than any other single policy, this administration is defined by the war in Iraq. And the president must therefore be the first to show that the American people have not forgotten their troops.
There is a disconnect between the 275 million Americans who go about their daily lives focused mostly on themselves, and the approximately 2 million Americans who are entrusted to guarantee our freedom and sacrifice their lives, if need be, to safeguard our freedoms. There is a desperate need in America to close that gap, both so that our soldiers never feel unappreciated and so that the American people never take the military’s sacrifice for granted.
Mr. Bush can begin that process by making a statement that now is not the time for large parties celebrating political triumphs, but rather a time to focus on the plight of our troops and ensure their victory in Iraq.
There is also the issue of not gloating in victory. The Republican Party now controls Congress and the White House. They are completely dominant. I do not lament this development as I am convinced that in its current incarnation the Democratic Party should not be entrusted with power. But there should be humility in victory. Mr. Bush’s victory was won with voters who supported him because they trust his values. So there is a need to show that he does avoids gloating and embraces his victory with humility. Canceling the big inaugural celebrations sends the right messages to the American people that Mr. Bush did not seek to whip the Democrats or raise himself in victory, but rather to continue the course of spreading democracy and destroying tyranny around the globe.
And what about all those who need to be rewarded for their support of the president with invitations to a big inaugural ball? First of all, they can all be invited to the inaugural itself, which should be a sufficient honor. But more importantly, political contributors must learn the lesson of supporting a candidate they believe in, even if it means receiving nothing in return. The big-money people need be no different from us little people, doing the right because it’s right. Mr. Bush’s victory is enough of a reward.
Rabbi Boteach is a nationally syndicated radio host on the Liberty Broadcasting Network.