BUSH SAYS GOP TOO MATERIALISTIC.

Byline: Frank Bruni The New York Times

Gov. George W. Bush of Texas used a speech about his proposals for improving education on Tuesday to issue a pointed critique of the Republican Party, saying that it has put too much emphasis on economic wealth and too little on social problems.

It was the second time in less than a week that Bush, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, cast fellow Republicans as insensitive and seemed to be establishing some distance from them. On Thursday, Bush accused House Republicans of trying to ``balance the budget on the backs of the poor.''

On Tuesday, addressing hundreds of people in a hotel in midtown Manhattan, he digressed somewhat from a discussion of his education proposals, which include a major expansion of charter schools, to offer a sort of apology for the priorities many Republicans have set and for the image they have projected.

``Too often, my party has focused on the national economy, to the exclusion of all else, speaking a sterile language of rates and numbers, CBO and GNP,'' Bush said, referring to the Congressional Budget Office and the gross national product.

``Of course we want vigor and growth in our economy,'' Bush continued. ``But there are human problems that persist in the shadow of affluence. And the strongest argument for conservative ideals - for responsibility and accountability and the virtues of our tradition - is that they lead to greater justice, less suffering, more opportunity.''

Bush's usual stump speech and his public remarks almost always feature the assertion that he is a new kind of Republican, which he calls a compassionate conservative. Again and again, he advocates prosperity with a purpose and declares that prosperity alone is simple materialism.

But any rebuke to fellow Republicans is usually just implied. On Tuesday, however, Bush's comments were explicit and veered toward the confrontational. He seemed to challenge fellow Republicans not only to look beyond the bottom line when assessing the state of the nation, but also to devote as much energy to problem-solving as to stern moralizing.

``Too often, on social issues, my party has painted an image of America slouching toward Gomorrah,'' Bush said.

A few sentences later, in another swipe at Republicans, Bush added, ``Too often, my party has confused the need for limited government with a disdain for government itself.''

Bush's speech was the second of three that he plans to deliver this year on education, an issue he is making a cornerstone of his campaign. He delivered his first major education speech Sept. 3 in Los Angeles, when he suggested that federal funds should be taken from the worst schools and given to parents for private education.

On Tuesday, he outlined plans to pave the way for the proliferation of charter schools, to give states much more discretion over how they spend federal funds for education and to create financial incentives for states to improve student performance.

Bush promised that, if he is elected president, he will allocate $300 million over two years to guarantee $3 billion worth of private loans for the establishment of new charter schools.

With that proposal and others, Bush was advocating an increase in federal spending on education, a commitment sure to displease some conservative Republicans.

His harsh appraisal of some Republicans came during a campaign swing through a city and a state whose voters have favored the Democratic nominee in the last three presidential elections. To compete effectively in New York, Bush may well have to appeal to moderate Democrats.

Karen P. Hughes, a spokeswoman for Bush, said he was merely continuing to flesh out the meaning of compassionate conservatism and it was mostly coincidental that he was doing so in New York. But, Hughes added, ``In a place like New York in particular, the Republican Party has seemed harsh.''

An adviser to Bush said the Texas governor spoke out forcefully because he sensed that Republicans lack credibility on the issue of education and he wanted his thoughts and concerns to be taken seriously.

``In the past, our message has been one of abolishing the Department of Education,'' the Bush adviser said, referring to the Republican Party. ``Let's face it. If you look at the polls, we're badly trailing the Democrats on this issue.''

In style and theme, said the adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Bush is saying, ``I'm not like a lot of Republicans you've gotten used to hearing from and who seem willing to throw in the towel on your schools.''

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Photo: (color) Bush