From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,alt.politics.clinton,alt.president.clinton
Subject: At least he is consistent...
Date: 26 Jan 93 20:19:29 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA

Hikes in Fuel Efficiency Standards:  "We'll accelerate our progress
toward fuel-efficient cars and seek to raise the average goal for auto-
makers to 40 miles per gallon by the year 2000."  [Speech at Drexel
University, 4/22/92]

o    Four months later:  "I strongly believe we have to raise the mileage
     standards.  But I have never said that I didn't think there was more
     than one way to approach it.  I thought that the goal was a good
     goal.  That's what I said in April."  [Speech to Detroit Economic
     Club, 8/21/92]

Going to War in the Persian Gulf:  "I guess I would have voted with the
majority if it was a close vote.  But I agree with the arguments the
minority made."  [Arkansas Gazette, 1/15/91]

o    Sixteen months after the President's decisive victory:  "I supported
     the Gulf War."  [Los Angeles Times, 7/31/92]

The North American Free Trade Agreement:  " ... I think it is imperative
that we make alliances with Mexico." [Southwest Times Record, 6/2/91]

o    But once the President makes that alliance possible:  "I am
     reviewing [the NAFTA Agreement] carefully and when I have a definite
     opinion I will say so."  [Speech to Detroit Economic Club, 8/21/92]

Disappearing Middle Class Tax Cut:  "I want to make it very clear that
the middle-class tax cut, in my view is central to any attempt we're
going to make to have a short term economic strategy and a long-term
fairness strategy ... "  [ABC News, Primary Debate, 1/19/92]

o    "But to say that this middle class tax cut ... is the center of
     anybody's econom[ic] package, is wrong."  [ABC News Democratic
     Candidates' Debate, Dallas, 3/5/92]

New Payroll Taxes:  "We don't need to lead with a tax increase that asks
hard working people who already pay too much for health care to pay even
more ..."  [Bill Clinton for President issues paper]

o    "There will be a buy-in tax, which they can call a payroll tax." 
     [USA Today editorial meeting, 8/12/92]

On His Draft Deferment:  "[Clinton] says that, because of his willingness
to be drafted, he never enjoyed a ROTC deferment."  [Pine Bluff
Commercial, 10/29/78]

o    "My deferment was withdrawn in October, I was put back in the draft
     pool."  ["Nightline," 2/12/92]


HAITIAN REFUGEES

Clinton's written policy statement, May 27, 1992:
	"The Bush policy 'is another sad example of the administration's callous
response to a terrible human tragedy...If I were president, I would - in the absence
of clear and compelling evidence that they weren't political refugees - give them
temporary asylum until we restored the elected government of Haiti"

Clinton's radio address to Haitian people 1/14/93:
	"For Haitians who do seek to leave Haiti, boat departure is a terrible
and dangerous choice...For this reason, the practice of returning those who fled
Haiti by boat will continue, for the time being, after I become president.  Those who
do leave Haiti...by boat will be stopped and directly returned by the United States
Coast Guard.

Guess Clinton plans on more "callous response to a terrible human tragedy".

FIRST 100-DAYS ECONOMIC PLAN:

Clinton in interview on ABC's "Good Morning America", June 23, 1992
	"...I'll have the bills ready the day after I'm inaugurated.  I'll send them
to congress, and we'll have a hundred-day period...It will be the most productive in
modern history."
Clinton news conference 1/14/1993:
	Question: "We were originally led to believe that you'd have an outline to
Congress even before the inauguration and presented on Day One or shortly
thereafter...When will it be ready?"
	Answer: "I don't know who lead you to believe that, but I'm the only one
who's authorized to talk about that."

Maybe we should tell him that the speaker, "Bill Clinton", who lead us to believe
that was authorized...

MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUT:
Clinton's first campaign advertisement, Jan 1992"
	"...I believe you deserve more than 30-second ads or vague promises.  That's why
I've offered a comprehensive plan to get our economy moving again...It starts with a
tax cut for the middle class and asks the rich to pay their fair share again."

Clinton's news conference 1/14/93
	"From New Hampshire forward, for reasons that absolutely mystified me, the
press thought the most important issue in the race was the middle-class tax cut.  I
never did meet any voter who thought that...We have a structural deficit that is too
high.  The American people would think I was foolish if I said I will not respond to
changing circumstances."

In words taken from the song "The Streak": "yup, I did."  Wonder why he is mystified?
Could it be that he wondered why anyone would believe him?

===================================================================================

Given such self-contradictory behaviour, why would anyone be suprised at his "going
back on campaign promises"?

Just be suprised if he remembers any.  Actually, almost ANYTHING he does will be
fullfilling SOMETHING he said...


--
James W. Meritt:  m23364@mwunix.mitre.org - or - jmeritt@mitre.org
The opinions above are mine.  If anyone else wants to share them, fine.
They may say so if they wish. The facts "belong" to noone and simply are.
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc,talk.politics.theory,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh