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12B - e Michigan Daily Week* Magazine - Thursda tober 31, 1996
C nton to

The Michigan o2 Weeke d1

build

'bridge

to future'

By Laurie Mayk
Daily Staff Reporter
Bill Clinton's presidential campaign
isn't built around a place called I-lope
this year. It's built on a bridge to the
21 st century.
What Americans will find across that
bridge, which Clinton claims is wide
enough and strong enough to accom-
modate all Americans, is debatable and
under fire by Republicans who claim
Clinton has chosen a liberal path.
Clinton's campaign, however, has
concentrated on a healthy economy.
recent efforts to reform the federal gov-
ernment's approach to spending and
Clinton's promises to secure futures in
terms of education. health care and
social security.
Much of the material for Clinton's
campaign speeches aims to discredit the
Dole economic plan.
"It's a $550-billion tax scheme that w\ill
blow a hole in the deficit;"Clinton said in
the first presidential debate this season.
Clinton's tax plan includes an
increased gas tax and a $500 per-child
tax deduction. coupled with his educa-
tion plan to make higher education more
accessibWe. Clinton has vowed to balance
the federal budget but opposes a consti-
tutional amendment to do so. claiminz it
may endanger social security. Miedicare
and Medicaid programs. especially
under a Repubbean ('ongress
"We have to bahance the budget:.
Clinton said "Keep thuse interest rates
down. It w il keep the economy going.
It will make iat moneN m ia :ailable
to yiu."
Clinton's education initiaties ha'.e
been the cornerstone to his bridgze'~
concept. H i: programs include a choice
for familes to receive either a $i0.000
deduction per child per \car for the first
two years at a colege or university or a
$1,500 per-child per-year tax credit for
two years at a communiy college.
"The education thing is so important
to me, Clinton said during his speech
at EMU yesterday. C linton said
Americans increase the probability of
getting a good job by having at least two
years of higher education.

One of Clinton's most elaborate ini-
tiatives of his *92 campaign and admin-
istration became one of the most criti-
cized. Clinton's early efforts to extend
health care coverage to all Americans
resulted in a bill even Democrats who
voted for it now admit tried to do too
much. too soon.
"The instincts of the program were
right even though the specifics were
wrong," Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said
in a debate last month.
After the health care package failed,
Clinton has continued his efforts to
reform the system bit by bit.
"I just signed a bill (that states that)
mothers and their newborn babies can't
be kicked out of the hospital in 24 hours."
The issue on which Clinton/Gore
supporters and opponents are divided
this year is one that ties together the
themes of government reform, econom-
ics and entitlements: welfare. Clinton
wavered this summer before passing the
Welfare Reform Act, but ultimately
took a stand for what he said was a first
step in recognizing the need for change
in the welfare system.
"It now says to local states and com-
munities you have two years to tur a wel-
fare check into a paycheck,"he said.
Clinton has encouraged employers to
help the federal government effort by
hiring welfare recipients.
"If xou've ever criticized the welfare
S> -stem in your life, and 1 think that
counts for just about everyone in
America. and vou're an employer, you
oucht to think about hiring someone off
wehfare:' he said.
Despite hesitations about Clinton's
position on welfare reform, the presi-
dent has maintained a significant lead
over Dole in Michigan and throughout
the campaign.
A reluctance by Bob Dole to publicly
attack Clinton's character makes it even
more natural for Clinton's White House
record to be the central factor in the polls.
"The data seems to suggest (voters
are assessing) Clinton in terms of his
service rather than his personal charac-
ter." said communication studies Prof
Michael Trauuott.

Dole
he %
chari
By Jennifer Harvey
Daily Staff Reporter
Bob Dole has traveled a i
get to these final days befo
tion.
In the remaining five
Republican presidential nc
has a lot of ground to cover.
If elected, he said he
change to the nation.
"This is a battle for the ft
said. "It's about agendas;
ideas."
Dole offers a message o
resurgence.
"The economy is not go
It's not on the right track," [
want to be CEO of America
He said he can achieve hi
goals by working closely wil
ernments and giving them r
"I want to reach out and woi
ernors;" he said.
Republicans credited Dol
ing concrete plans to boost
my.
"His vision goes beyond
to the next generation," sai
Gov. John Engler.
The former Kansas senal
tered his campaign on a tax
poses a 15-percent across-th
cut be phased in during th
years. He also supports i
$500 per-child tax credit,
estate taxes and reducing
gains tax by 50 percent
"I think it's time to put
the other toot and tel the t
to take a hike' Dole said.
how to spend your money
the government."
Dole said he wants to "en
we know it:" and to "finaly
budget by 2002."
He said he wants to help
allowing citizens to set
Rex enue Accounts of up tc
spouses not in the workplac
lishing a significant hom<
deduction.
During the last few we
campaign. Dole has spoken

KRISTEN SCHAEFER/Daily KRISTEN SCHAEFER/Daily

AD THE
POLLS SAY:

National Poll Results for Oct. 27
A Los Angeles Times poll of 1,112 likely voters showed Clinton
still retains a commanding lead over challenger Dole
51%

Michigan Poll Shows Dole Gaining Ground
A Detroit News poll this week showed that Dole is catching
Clinton in Michigan, cutting his lead to 10 percentage points.
42%

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