Caution: Bridge out ahead
Campus Times
October 11, 1996
by Christie Reed
Editor in Chief
Bridges, bridges and more bridges. Bob Dole and President Bill Clinton
repeatedly emphasized the importance of building a bridge to the future,
because "our nation is dependent upon it," as Clinton said in
the Oct. 6 presidential debate.
Although it is true that we must prepare for the future and head into the
21st century with a powerful leader, it seems ironic that Clinton would
have such utter confidence in his ability to do this.
He boasted of his fight against the odds and thanked the American public
for placing their confidence in him.
"Four years ago you took me in faith. Now there's a record," said
Clinton at the opening of the debate.
There is a record. An enormous tax increase in 1993, stagnant wages
and a doubling of drug abuse in the last 44 months. Nothing to brag
about.
Somehow, even with the holes in his debate, Clinton sounded like he knew
what he was talking about. I will give him credit for his eloquent public
speaking ability. I am pretty sure he did not stutter once, but this does
not change the facts.
When the issue of the 140 percent increase in marijuana use and the 166
percent increase in cocaine usage was presented to Clinton, he managed to
worm his way into the hearts of viewers by giving his typical "we-are-all-responsible-for-this-problem"
reply, placing little blame on himself.
Really? I do not recall encouraging him to cut spending in national
drug abuse programs such as D.A.R.E.
To reinforce his true hatred of drug abuse, he claimed, "I know what
it is like to see somebody in your family suffer from drug abuse."
So I guess all American citizens, especially drug abusers, should feel confident
that he really cares, and just ignore the cutbacks in substance abuse programs.
By passing the Brady Bill on gun control, Clinton boasted of keeping
guns out of the hands of more than 60,000 criminals. That should make a
significant dent in crime. Yet, somehow there are still illegal gun sales
and murder all over the streets. I am not about to wander the streets of
East L.A. any time soon.
Another feat accomplished during Clinton's four years in office was a record
number of troop deployments. Every time a tiff took place in another country,
he was ready and willing to send American troops to "spread democracy."
According to Clinton, life is just peachy in the once war-torn countries
of Haiti, Somalia and Northern Ireland, thanks to his dutiful deployment.
Just a day after his boastful response, Northern Ireland saw the start of
a war. The troops better start packing their bags.
Dole emphasized the need to deploy when the interest of the United States
is at stake, but to stop sending U.S. troops in the interest of the United
Nations.
Clinton startled me when he claimed the need to "move Cuba to democracy,"
ringing frightfully familiar to colonial times when the white settler felt
it was his duty to "civilize" the Indians.
Dole discussed his strengths as a person, his desire to give education back
to state governments and rejected the opportunity to slam Clinton's character
when moderator Jim Lehrer of PBS invited him to comment on his personality
differences with the President.
He did not bring up Clinton's alleged extra-marital affair or his stint
with marijuana. He chose simply to define himself as a "man of my word,"
tactfully implying that Clinton cannot be trusted.
Clinton talked of the country being "better off" than it was four
years ago and claimed that everything that went wrong with his administration,
including the government shutdown, was the fault of the Republican Congress.
So while Clinton talked with utter confidence, smiling just enough for every
American watching the debates to catch his pearly whites, Dole did stumble
over some words, blinking every 10th of a second out of nervousness.
Regardless of the fact that nearly every news agency hailed Clinton as the
winner in the debate, his polished appearance should not overshadow his
lackluster presidency. I still want to know what he has done for me lately.
Christie Reed, a junior journalism major, is the Editor in Chief of the
Campus Times. She can be reached by e-mail at reedc@ulvacs.ulaverne.edu