The take away paragraph tells the story of this President’s term in office. 

Bush has always supported a faith-based initiative, but his recitation of beliefs in the East Room yesterday — he listed no fewer than 18 principles he holds to be true — sounded less like a question-and-answer session than a reading of the Nicene Creed. The only thing the president did not believe in was answering the questions he was asked.

Well Mr. President, I believe you live in a bubble. And your answer to Martha Raddatz’s question is the first time you have been honest about it.

“Do you believe it’s a civil war, sir?” Raddatz pressed.

“It’s hard for me, you know, living in this beautiful White House, to give you a firsthand assessment,” he punted.

That should be your answer to every one of the beliefs you professed to yesterday. Your position as a informed spokesperson on almost every issue has so far been shown to be less than informed…So why should your beliefs matter when the evidence placed before American is contrary to those beliefs? Once upon a time in America it was assumed that the President of the United States had access to better sources of information than the rest of us. That may well still be true. But the past few years have shown that if you do you are not listening to them. Therefore, it will take some really potent evidence and not just your “This I Believe” statements.

My advice Mr. President is leave your beliefs in church and us the facts to govern. I am sorry Sir, but beliefs are not morals, and you Sir need to lead by example not belief.

Source: Dana Milbank – A Man of Many Beliefs Gives a News Conference With Few Answers – washingtonpost.com