20B -The Michigan Daily WeeI nd Magazine - Thursday, October 31, 1996
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The Michig9eaily Weekend 1
Sound and Fury
NO GOOD REASONS TO
DETHRONE CLINTON
BY DEAN BAKOPOULOS
insulting to American intelligence.
Dole and Kemp both have literally
scolded the voters for not supporting
the GOP ticket. They have scolded Ross
Perot for staying in the race. They have
scolded the media, Hollywood, other
Republicans. If they somehow miracu-
lously win this thing, many of us
Americans will likely have to take a
"time-out" in the corner for our bad
behavior.
But Dole's woes stem from a much
simpler issue, an issue that began many
months ago: Simply put, Dole has
failed to convince the nation that it
needs a new president. And that's the
role of the challenger - to make the
citizens believe that if they do not oust
the incumbent, the state of the union
will rapidly sour.
On the other hand, Clinton has con-
vinced the voters that his crime package,
welfare reform laws and educational
programs have helped the nation move
forward. These programs also assured
those who are wary "liberals" (now
there's a real scary Halloween costume)
that Clinton is a moderate president.
Clinton has managed to come across as
the candidate whose concern with
Social Security and Medicare reform is
legitimate. And his stances on urban
renewal, affirmative action, the environ-
ment and the Family and Medical Leave
Act make him the only choice for any
moderate who leans to the left.
These are the issues Clinton has
There may be plenty of elbow room
at the polls Tuesday. The 1996 presiden-
tial race between President Clinton and
Bob Dole is as devoid of real drama and
as full of blas6 predictability as a
Daielle Steele novel.
Let's face it. Dole's chances couldn't
be worse if he suddenly revealed that he
secretly egged Kruschev into instigat-
ing the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
In the campaign's final days, Bob
Dole's campaign has grown nastier and
tougher. The attacks on Clinton are
coming more and more frequently;
unfortunately, Dole's attacks are getting
more and more incoherent. Example:
"Bob Dole knows you, Mr. President.
I know you and you have a wife. I know
the White House and John Belushi lives
there! You killed Mickey Mouse! 'Pulp
Fiction,' I'll give you 'Pulp Fiction!'
Bob Dole for principal!"
Dole's recent slip into negativity has
made the Dole-Kemp ticket seem
stressed in his wonderfully run cam-
paign, and these are the issues that will
make him the choice of a number of
voters. But even so, there are four
issues, albeit pointless issues, that will
give Bob Dole some votes.
1. Character
As expected, some GOPs believe
Clinton is a drug-dealing, draft-dodg-
ing, Communist-hugging radical pig.
They bring up an administration
plagued by scandals, a marriage that
has had its share of troubles, a failure to
serve in
Vietnam, an
admission that Simply pu
he tried pot
once. Here's
why these
charges don't convince
hold much water
with many peo- that it ne4
ple:
A. Dole him- president
self worked
closely with the Nixon and Reagan
White Houses. Can you say "scandals
galore;' America? I knew you could.
B. Bob Dole is on his second mar-
riage. His first wife called him a worka-
holic who was an absentee father and
husband. Mysteriously, when he left his
wife and daughter, Dole was spending a
lot of time with his administrative assis-
tant named Liddy.
C. True, Bob Dole's a war hero. How
couldn't we know that by now? But his
football-playing running mate Jack
Kemp managed to dodge the Korean
War draft. He had a bad shoulder. He
then went on to use that shoulder to
have a career as a professional football
quarterback.
D. Boy, if everyone who smoked
weed once or twice in the '60s lost their
jobs, maybe some of us soon-to-be
graduates could get jobs. Besides, don't
tell me Dole never had an illegal sip of
moonshine while growing up in
Russell, Kan.
2. Abortion
So many voters cast their vote on the
basis of this issue, it's frightening. It
seems more of a personal moral issue
that a national political issue to me. But
it
11
Bob Dole will get the votes of staunch
anti-abortion activists. Still, many
American voters cringe at the idea of a
constitutional amendment banning the
procedure. In this country, people don't
want women who get raped or face
death during childbirth to lose their
choice. Clinton understands that this is
an imperfect society, and while abortion
is part of the society it is not the prob-
lem, but a symptom of larger problems.
By making abortions unsafe and illegal,
nothing will be resolved.
3. Taxes
Dole is court-
Doleingthe middle-
m businesspersons
vote with his 15
e n to percent across-
the-board tax
ds a new cut, which he
says he will
implement with-
out raising the
federal deficit. Now, we all have heard
Clinton say 500 economists, including
seven Nobel Prize winners, say the plan
is impossible. Heck, a lot of
Republicans admit the plan is impossi-
ble. The plan simply hasn't sold, and
since Dole has made it his main plank;
that's a problem.
4. Hillary
Republicans hate her. Just hate her.
What a stupid issue. Men who are
afraid of independent women are well,
really lame.
The University is an isolated and
unrepresentative part of the world. So
while Republicans on this campus may
vote based on more major issues,
Republicans across the nation seem to
be focusing on the four issues men-
tioned above. That's not enough to
dethrone Clinton, and it likely won't be
enough to keep congressional
Democrats from riding his coattails
back to a majority on Capitol Hill.
I already have my champagne on
ice.
- The opinions of Dean Bakopoulos
are not representative of those of The
Michigan Daily. He can be reached via
e-mail at deanc@umich.edu.
U.S. Senate race
OPPOSING VIEWS
r PAR L O . II . ) ;RTI
COMMON SENSE. HOBO VVOR HOI Y
THE WILLINGNESS TO RING THE
"CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY TOGETHER.
RE-ELECT
SLUMM
Republican For City Council, 2nd Ward
"For students at the University of Michigan, Jane Lumm defines the
nameless entity that is Ann Arbor City Council...her dedication to fostering
better communication and relations between students and neighbors, the
University and the City, is widely recognized and applauded by our
peers...She understands her constituents and applies herself tirelessly to
address their needs... We urge residents and students alike to consider
someone whose hard work is in the best interest of everyone -Jane Lumm."
- Larry Powell, President - Maureen Sirhal, Public Relations.
Interfraternity Council Panhellenic Association
'Jane has worked hard to be certain that all views are represented. The
2nd Ward is privileged to have such a bright, articulate spokesperson..."
- Ingrid Sheldon, Mayor
"Jane is immensely popular because of her follow-through in solving
neighborhood concerns." - David Kwan, 2nd Ward Council Member
'Jane has been very supportive of our neighborhood association...She's always
accessible and has rolled up her sleeves to work on numerous neighborhood
projects" -Peter Pleitner, Past President, Oxbridge Neighborhood Association
'As owners of a small business on South University, we are grateful for the
leadership role Jane has taken in addressing downtown issues."
-Jeff & Maria Harshe, Owners, Exclaim!
"During her three years on Council, Jane has shown herself to be an
advocate for al of Ann Arbor.." - Peter Fink, Former 2nd Ward Council Member
Levin
looks to
win fourth
term
By Jennifer Harvey
Daily Staff Reporter
U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) has a
comfortable lead in the polls in his bid
for re-election against Republican chal-
lenger Ronna Romney, but he's still
working to get his message out.
And he has a lot to say. Levin said he
battles government spending and serves
as a champion of those things dear to
the working class.
"I have probably been the greatest
waste-fighter in the federal govern-
ment;' Levin said. "My changes in the
procurement rules have produced $40
billion in savings in the last 10 years."
Levin speaks out on everything from
affirmative action to missiles, offering
strong opinions about them all.
On nearly every issue,
his view opposes that of-.-
his challenger, Carl Le
Republican talk radio
host Ronna Romney. Bom: June 2
The two strongly con-
test the abortion issue FamIy: Wife
this election season. three childre
Levin said he is pro-
choice, and sides with Religion: Jew
President Clinton's veto.
of legislation that would Education: S
have banned partial- (1956); Harv
birth abortions. (1959)
"I believe a woman
- in consultation with Occupation:
her physician - is the
appropriate person to .Political Care
make that decision," (1969-77); U6
Levin said in a state- sent)
ment.
Unlike Romney,
Levin supports gay
rights. "This issue here is discrimina-
tion and that is wrong" Levin said.
He is always on the side of "average
Americans;" Levin said. One example
is his fight for opportunities in educa-
tion.
"Education becomes a much greater
importance as we've been trying to
increase the incomes for working peo-
ple;" he said.
Levin said he supports President
Clinton's proposals for education -
namely a $500 per-child tax credit, a
$1,500 tax credit for the first two years
of college for students maintaining a B
average or above and a $10,000 per-
year tax deduction middle-income col-
lege students.
"I am fighting efforts to close the
Department of Education, and to slash
funding for important initiatives like
HeadStart, Goals 2000, AmeriCorps
and School to Work," Levin said.
Levin" said' that contradictory to
Romney's allegations, he is tough on
crime. He said this is demonstrated in his
support for legislation like the Brady Bill
and bills requiring mandatory minimum
sentences for drug-related crimes.
More work needs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Romne'
lfe Stan,
By L~aurie Mayk
Daily Staff Reporter
Ronna Romney emerged f
ter primary race only to ente
rougher one against incum
Sen. Carl Levin.
Romney, whose camp
focused intently on crusadin
current government institul
spent much of her time and
fund-raisers to keep pace
heartily-financed Levin (D-M
"That's what happens whei
is a long-term incumbent,'
said. "It makes it so hard f
lenger to take on an -
incumbent"
"Her major prob- R
lem is that Carl Re
Levin has so much
money,' said John
Truscott, spokesper-
son for Michigan Fan
Gov. John Engler.
Campaign '96 is Relli
not the first time
Romney, who has Edu,
been calculated at B.A.
15-20 points behind
in the polls, has been 1CCI
a candidate for U.S.
Senate and cam- PORt
paigned for term lim- ton I
its and campaign
finance reform.
Romney lost the
GOP Senate nomina-
tion in 1992 to Spencer Abra
beat out Democrat Bob Carr I
vacated by Sen. Donald Rieg
The Levin campaign has tri
Romney as a conservative dar
lifers and a loyal soldier of I
Speaker Newt Gingrich.
vin
8, 1934
Barbara;
Nish
'
to
JOE WESTRATE/ Daily
President Clinton confers with U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (DMlch.) yesterday In
Ypsilanti.
be done to
improve the
economy,
Levin said.
"We've
already
made sig-
ni fic ant
progress
toward bal-
ancing the
b u d g e t,"
Levin said.
"I am com-
mitted to
finishing
the job."
He voted
f o r
Clinton's
1993 deficit
reduction
package,
Levin said.
he will work for further deficit reduc-
tion and will make sure "priorities like
education, the environment, Social
Security and Medicare" are protected.
Stephen Serkaian, a spokesperson for
Levin, said Levin's position on the
Senate Armed Services Committee
allows him to influence national
defense policy.
Levin said he supports peace-keep-
ing efforts "where everybody con-
tributes."
"We should be very careful before
we become involved anywhere, particu-
larly where combat is a possibility,
unless our vital interests are seriously or
directly threatened."
Serkaian said Levin does not support
the Strategic Defense Initiative, the so-
called Star Wars program, an anti-missile
defense system initiated in the 1980s.
Serkaian said Levin instead believes
defense funding should be directed to
non-nuclear weapons systems.
Levin may have more opportunities
to influence defense policy. Pending his
win and two retirements, Levin will be
the ranking member of the Senate
Armed Services Committee and, most
likely, the next chair of that committee.
- Daily Staff Reporter Laurie Mayk
contributed to this report.
r
Jane Lumm brings
common sense and
balance to policy
debates and
issues resolution
- at the Council
table and across
the 2nd Ward.
Romney keeps the faith
warthmore College, BA.
ard University, LLB.
Lawyer
mw: Detroit City Council
.S. Senate (1978 - pre-
Students,
residents,
neighborhood
groups and
merchants
alike support
Jane Lumm.
ROMNEY
Continued from Page 58
"Usually it is the conservative candi-
date that gets hurt when they win (the
primary);' Traugott said.
Romney lists abortion, along with
taxes and special interests as the top
three defining issues of the race.
Romney chastised Levin for supporting
a 1993 tax increase.
"Clearly he broke his word on that,"
she said.
Romney's economic proposal
includes the same promise for a bal-
anced budget, 15-percent tax cut and
$500-per-child tax credit as does the
Dole/Kemp plan, but Romney contends
that special provisions in her plan will
allow "enormous opportunities over-
seas in terms of encouraging trade.'
Block grants and a shrinking federal
government are part of the recipe for a
trimmer federal government and a
"more exciting" future, Romney said.
Romney's platform claims reducing
governmental waste, fraud and the bud-
get are more likely under a plan to put
programs under state control.
"(Currently) they can't find where the
abuse is" she said. "By the time it trick-
les back to the states, almost two-thirds
has been eaten up by the bureaucracy."
"What (voters) can expect from me is
an absolute push on my part to bring us
back into sound fiscal management.'
The radio talk-show host and mother
of five has taken a more pro-active
stance on education than the official
GOP party line this year. Romney has
expressed a determination to keep high-
er education affordable by putting
demands on tuition policies at colleges
and universities and keeping student
loans and Pell grants available.
"We need to say to colleges and uni-
versities, 'If you want federal money,
then you have to make sure that your
tuition does not rise above the rate of
inflation,"' Romney said.
U I
Health
Foods
He said the package has cut the nation-
al deficit by more than half - from
$290 billion to $117 billion. Levin said
t'
r ~~~~
10%
Discount
for Students
*Sports*Nutrition*
*Herbs*Foodse
*Vitamins.Books*Cosmetics*
Ancien
On Tuesday, November 5, VOTE for LEADERSHIP
in the 2nd Ward and on Council.
RE-ELECT JANE LMM.
Paid for by the Jane Jammfor Council Committee 3606Chatha Waj; Ann Arbor MI 4840 Palty ldrich, Treasurer
1677 Plymouth Rd.* Ann Arbor eTel. 665-7688
Located in the Courtyard Shops at North Campus Plaza