|
January 20, 2000 4:15PM
RATHER STRANGE
The McCain campaign has sent out a short press release containing only a
quote from the CBS Evening News: "In the Republican Presidential Campaign,
the fight over who has the best tax-cut plan is getting nasty. George W.
Bush launched an attack ad against the John McCain tax cut. . . . McCain
has called the Bush Plan 'a giveaway to the rich' that doesn't help
protect Social Security. This is the first time Bush has used a
heavy-money television campaign to unload negatively on McCain."
Underneath the quote are the words "Dan Rather, Anchor." Isn't it just
like the McCain campaign to use Dan Rather as a character witness?
NEWT SIGHTING
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich announced on Wednesday the founding of the
Committee for New American Leadership, which will serve as his "sole
political entity" and focus on Social Security privatization and tax
reduction. "I don't think that currently the leaders in either party
understand these ideas or how to communicate them," he said in a
statement. "But that is precisely why I left office, and precisely why I
founded the Committee for New American Leadership."
We seem to recall Gingrich leaving office for a slightly different set of
reasons. Whatever. As he noted, "I believe we are in a period of dynamic
transition."
THE LONER
President Clinton has never struggled to find, um, companionship. Yet as
much of the press was reporting Hillary Clinton's assertion that she won't
dump her main squeeze, the New York Times turned oddly somber on
Wednesday.
"As Mr. Clinton heads into the eighth and final year of his presidency, he
is a blur of motion — but he is also very alone.
"His only child is away at college. His wife has moved out to start a
career of her own. His vice president is on the road seeking to become his
successor. Left behind, at least, is Buddy the labrador, who now spends
all night with the president when Hillary Rodham Clinton is away."
Gosh, we're getting teary just thinking of it. And that explains why both
sides of the bed are undone, Hil.
GUN NUT
Last week the father of Elian Gonzalez, the 6-year-old Cuban boy whose
future lies in limbo, sounded like he was ready to launch a Biscayne Bay
of Pigs operation against the people of Miami. Appearing on Nightline, he
threatened to shoot up the place; Chris Wallace, the conciliatory host,
allowed that he was speaking metaphorically.
Juan Miguel Gonzalez (speaking through a translator): "Sometimes what I
would like to do is go down there [to Miami] with a rifle, I don't know to
get rid of how many people."
Chris Wallace: "Are you serious about that, sir? That's obviously a very
inflammatory remark."
Gonzalez: "And what about--isn't it inflammatory what they are doing with
my son?"
Wallace: "I understand. But when you talk about bringing a rifle, you have
to understand that's going to be viewed very carefully in Miami and in the
United States."
Gonzalez: "No, I think that the main thing is to send my child back to me
as soon as possible."
Wallace: "But, obviously, when you talk about a rifle, and I assume you
meant it as a figure of speech, it does speak to the tremendous pressure
this must have created for you. This is not a political issue. It is a
personal issue. Tell us how hard it has been on you personally to be
separated ... from your son."
If Wallace had expressed genuine outrage--the kind liberal moderators
typically reserve for Americans proclaiming their Second Amendment
rights--the whole debate over Elian could have shifted. Elian's father
threatened to turn Miami into another Columbine, and Wallace let it slip.
Couldn't he at least have asked if he has fixed a child-safety lock to his
rifle? We wouldn't want Elian, back in the workers' paradise, to get his
hands on it.
| Think a friend would want to read this? Send it along.
|
Updated By:
Ramesh Ponnuru - Senior Editor
John J. Miller - National Political Reporter
Kate Dwyer - Editorial Associate
For a selection of recent Washington Bulletins
click here
If you would like to receive the Washington Bulletin via e-mail, please
send an e-mail message to majordomo@us.net. The first line in the body
of the message should read: "subscribe washingtonbulletin".
In order to ensure that you are not accidentally subscribed, you will
receive a reply message with a confirmation number, to which you must
reply to complete the subscription process.
To unsubscribe leave the subject line blank and have the first line in the body of the message read: "unsubscribe washingtonbulletin". |