Actually, I am getting to like Clinton, if only because it's fun watching Newt and Dole getting outmaneuvered and shut down. Clinton gets accused of being a sellout but: On welfare, AFDC entitlement legislation still stands with two vetos by Clinton against Republicans who sought to cut funding and any standards. The money hasn't been cut and it's thanks to Clinton. Medicaid funding still stands dispite Republican attempts to slash spending. The Earned Income Tax Credit is now funneling tens of billions of dollars each year to the poorest workers in the country. Clinton has endorsed full legislation to protect gay rights, ended discrimination against gays in civilian jobs (including the CIA) and fought to end it in the military but ended up settling for the "Don't Ask Don't Tell policy" (and will veto current Defense legislation partly because it would bring back discrimination at recruitment). Anyone who criticizes Clinton on the Gay Marriage issue is a chump/pavlovian job jumping to the strings of the Religious Right. Six months ago, knowing Clinton had publicly come out against gay marriage in 1992, the religious right promoted the whole issue as a wedge to piss off conservative voters and drive a wedge between Clinton and his base. It's a non-existent issue in reality until Hawaii's courts even make a decision. And if the decision comes down, the anti-gay marriage bill would probably be unconstitutional anyways. What is Clinton promoting? Raising the minimum wage, expanding pensions for lower-income workers, child care and guaranteed jobs for those getting off welfare, expanded educational spending and a defense of a whole range of social spending. His Justice department is modifying affirmative action to conform with Supreme Court decisions but just today, they filed briefs in support of minority-based scholarships and admissions against the Texas affirmative action ruling. In recent days, Clinton and Reich have both denounced sweat shops and called for expanded investigations to shut them down. They flatly promised a veto if anti-labor "team" legislation was added to the minimum wage bill. And on women's rights, Clinton has expanded family leave and defended abortion in every way possible, including vetoing the late-term abortion bill. As opposed to rhetoric (where he does promote a centrist version), his actions have been solid liberal, even if not as liberal-left as I would like in all cases. His worst crimes have been support of NAFTA and the anti-terrorism bill, but since we would get those plus massive cuts in Medicaid, welfare, nutrition programs and anti-labor legislation with Dole, the choice for President is pretty clear. So Clinton apology given :) --Nathan On Fri, 24 May 1996, Louis N Proyect wrote: > >From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fri May 24 12:05:16 1996 > Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 11:14:04 -0500 > From: Doug Henwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: > Subject: evil of two lessers > > Savor this, Clinton apologists. From Paul Gigot's column in today's (May > 24) Wall Street Journal (Gigot is quite right-wing, for those who don't > read him): > > "Lately, Mr. Clinton has been moving so fast to the right that he's beating > Mr. Dole to the spot. He declared his opposition to same-sex marriage > before the Kansan could make it an issue. Then, lest Mr. Dole find even an > inch of running room, the president pre-emptively endorsed a GOP bill to > allow other states to ignore the Constitution's Full Faith and Credit > clause and reject Hawaii's looming endorsement of gay marriage. Who needs > the Christian Coalition when Bill Clinton is around. > [...] > [D]on't look for Mr. Clinton actually to defend federal welfare. Instead > he's taking credit for reforms by GOP governors that are more radical than > anything his own advisors favor. The official White House line this week is > that there's no difference between Bob Dole and Bill Clinton on welfare! > [...] > [C]onfident liberals might ponder how difficult it would be for Mr. Clinton > to govern as a liberal after he's campaigned, in essence, for a kinder, > gentler Contract With America." > > Doug > > -- > > Doug Henwood > Left Business Observer > 250 W 85 St > New York NY 10024-3217 > USA > +1-212-874-4020 voice > +1-212-874-3137 fax > email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > web: <http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html> > > > > > --- from list [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- >
