By John J. Sweeney

Read more from President Sweeney.

Sad. Incomprehensible. Irresponsible. Cruel.

That’s how Democrats and Republicans alike have described President Bush’s veto of a bill to make sure 10 million children have health care.

And Bush himself has been called disconnected, detached and out of touch.

One word you won’t hear used much to describe Bush or his veto—compassionate.

Remember how Bush promised to bring his brand of “compassionate conservatism” to the White House? “It is compassionate to actively help our fellow citizens in need,” he said a few years back.

But when it came time to help children, the weakest and most vulnerable citizens among us, his true philosophy—one of “cold-hearted conservatism”—was on full display.

Well, it would have been on full display had he not vetoed the bill without a camera in sight.

Why would he do it in secret like that?

Is it because his misleading arguments about the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill have been debunked time and time again?

Or because the American people strongly disagree with his decision?

Perhaps he’s feeling hurt by his friends on the Hill who are urging him to reconsider. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Bush ally and strong supporter of the SCHIP bill, said this recently:

I believe that supporting this bipartisan compromise to provide health coverage to low-income children is the morally right thing to do.

Could it be he wanted to avoid the scorn of the medical experts who support the bill? Jay Berkelhamer, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said:

Today’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) will have a serious negative impact on low-income children and their families across this nation.

Or does he feel ashamed for breaking his 2004 promise to “lead an aggressive effort to enroll millions of poor children who are eligible but not signed up for government health insurance programs”?

Whatever his reasons, with one stroke of his pen, Bush shut out millions of children from having their best opportunity to grow up healthy.

Days before the veto, Bush was busy celebrating “Child Health Day” at the White House. From his presidential proclamation:

On this day it is also appropriate to recognize the important role the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has played in helping poor children stay healthy. To preserve that role and ensure that poor children can get the coverage they need, SCHIP should be reauthorized.

Yet, as he announced he would seek $200 billion more in spending for Iraq, he called the SCHIP bill’s $35 billion investment in our children “excessive.”

Talk about shameless.

The U.S. House can still set things right and show Bush the true meaning of compassion. On Oct. 18, the House will have the opportunity to override Bush’s veto. Right now, SCHIP’s supporters are short of the votes they need.  The fight for children’s health isn’t over yet.

Leaders in Congress are working to come up with a new SCHIP with minor changes meant to win more votes for a veto-proof majority the next time around. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said covering 10 million children under the new bill is "not negotiable."

Congress may not be able to warm Bush’s heart, but they can still undo his cold-hearted veto.