By Gregory Korte
Enquirer staff writer

President Bush returned to his 2000 campaign theme of "compassionate conservatism" Monday in an official visit to Cincinnati's Talbert House before stopping in Indian Hill for a $2.5 million Republican fund-raiser.

BUSH'S SPEECH

• The complete remarks of Bush's speech at Talbert House

Using the Corryville social service agency as a venue, Bush said the true strength of America is not in its military or economic power, but "in the hearts and souls of its citizens."

"Government can hand out money," he said, "but it cannot put a purpose in a person's soul."

Democratic groups chided Bush for not focusing on the economy, but Bush stayed on the day's message, making only a brief offhand comment about the improving unemployment figures in Ohio.

Bush spent about four hours in Cincinnati, the foundation of his political support in Ohio, one of several battleground states that may determine the outcome of the presidential election.

Bush last visited Cincinnati May 4, with a bus tour and campaign rallies in Lebanon and Bond Hill. Opponent John Kerryvisited Cincinnati just last week with a $1 million downtown fund-raiser.

The president praised the 40-year-old Talbert House, which started as a prisoner re-entry program and now has drug and alcohol treatment and welfare-to-work programs.

He said Talbert House was "such a great example of compassionate love," which was "changing society one soul, one conscience at a time." And he called agency president Neil Tilow "a general in the army of compassion."

Touting his support of religious social service agencies, Bush said the government should focus more on results than on the process of awarding the money.

"The job of the federal government is to fund the providers who are actually making a difference," he said. "Whether they have a cross on the wall or a Star of David on the wall, we shouldn't worry about faith being a part of social services. In fact, we ought to encourage that."

Bush called on Congress to support $400 million in initiatives to strengthen the family. "One reason I'm here is to give a little boost behind that bill," Bush said. "There is a method to what I'm doing."

Bush also boosted a prisoner re-entry bill that Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, plans to introduce Wednesday. It will be called the Second Chance Act of 2004.

One of the provisions of the bill would support grandparents who take care of children whose parents are incarcerated. In that way, Bush linked the ex-offender programs to the day's theme of "Strengthening America's Families."

"I can't think of a better re-entry program than to have someone standing there with open arms and say, 'I love you, no matter what you've done in the past,' " he said.

Bush's delivery in the 46-minute Talbert House event was informal and chatty, as he sat on a stool flanked by social-service providers and clients of the Talbert House.

President George W. Bush, left, talks with former Talbert House client Tami Jordan as she points out her children in the audience. (Gary Landers photo)

As Tilow spoke about welfare reform, Bush interrupted, "Let me comment on that, if you don't mind." When Tilow didn't object, Bush joked, "He didn't mind."

On the stage with him was Tami Jordan, who spent three years in prison before getting her job back - and her house and family back - through a Talbert House program.

Bush called her "an inspirational person" who demonstrated that "you can go from prison to being a boss, you can go from prison to the White House, as long as you have someone to lend a hand."

After the discussion at Talbert House, Bush departed for a $25,000-a-couple fund-raiser at the home of St. Louis Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt, a former Texas business partner and member of Bush's inaugural committee.

The event was closed to the press, although many dignitaries mingled on the patio in view of the press: Gov. Bob Taft, Portman, Reds owner Carl Lindner, and White House political director Karl Rove.

Proceeds from the dinner went to the Republican National Committee, which said it was the largest of the 33 Victory 2004 fund-raisers outside New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta. About 175 people attended the event.

Thousands more lined the 24-car motorcade route from the airport to Corryville to Indian Hill and back. Most appeared to be supportive; a few held signs and made gestures of protest.

At the Talbert House, about 20 protesters stood across the street, one with a megaphone shouting "No more Bush." They never got a glimpse of the president, who entered and exited under a tent.

Before the president arrived in Cincinnati, critics attacked Bush for what he said - and didn't say.

Dan Radford, executive secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO's Cincinnati Labor Council, said in a statement that Bush ought to be talking about jobs and health care.

"Bush's visit to Cincinnati today to promote a program that he says is supposed to emphasize 'family values' is misguided. Nothing is better for families than the stability provided by good jobs and affordable health care," he said.

Democratic Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, a surrogate for the Kerry campaign, released a statement saying Bush's family values message shows he's "out of touch with issues faced by real Ohioans."

"What President Bush should realize, but does not, is that the single biggest factor in keeping families together is stability - a job, decent and affordable health care, and a quality education," Luken said.

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E-mail gkorte@enquirer.com.