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OCR Page 1 of 33Tobacco-
yoth Pensthes
The Democratic platform
L
ike its standard-bearer, presidential candi-
into no growth" by the end of the Bush adminis-
date Al Gore, the Democratic Party's plat-
tration. In fact, the economy the Clinton-Gore
form, which was made public yesterday, has
administration inherited in 1993 had gro n by 3.5
great difficulty not only telling the difference
percent the previous year with little inflation. Nor
between fact and fiction - but also telling the truth.
would a reader of the Democratic platform real-
So dominated by the lowered moral standards of
ize that one of the world's greatest bull markets in
the Clinton years has the party become that no one
history effectively began after Republicans gained
seems to think twice about shading, twisting or sim-
control of Congress on Nov. 8, 1994 - the day, by
ply ignoring the facts. As has often been pointed
the way, when long-term interest rates peaked.
out by his political opponent, Texas Gov. George W.
The Democratic platform pledges to "fix the
Bush, Mr. Gore will say anything to get elected.
marriage penalty so that parents can spend more
Well, here it all is, in black and white.
time at home and less time trying to make ends
In its approach to what is arguably the nation's
meet." But didn't President Clinton, with Mr. Gore's
most pressing domestic problem - the lack of
enthusiastic support, just veto a bipartisan bill that
basic skills among large segments of the potential
would have eliminated the marriage penalty?
work force - the platform first inexplicably, proud-
With U.S. oil production now at its lowest level
ly, recalls the Big Lie that John F. Kennedy popu-
in decades, a fact that has made the American
larized in 1960 when he was nominated in Los
economy far more dependent on imported oil than
Angeles as the Democratic presidential candidate
it was during the oil crises of the 1970s and early
- and then offers another Big Lie to address the
1980s, the platform proudly declares that "Al Gore
current problem.
is committed to
protecting the coasts of Cali-
"Forty years ago," Mr. Gore's document intones,
fornia and Florida and the [Alaskan] Arctic
"the Democratic platform discussed a Missile
Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas drilling." Irre-
Gap," an assertion that Mr. Kennedy certainly
sponsible in the extreme, Mr. Gore's short-term
knew to be false. "Today, too many Americans face
energy policy amounts to nothing more than a cru-
an Opportunity Gap, a lack of the skills they need
sade against Big Oil, a campaign that will do noth-
to be competitive in the global economy." True
ing to alleviate America's growing dependence
enough this time, but Mr. Gore's ferocious opposi-
upon foreign oil.
tion to school vouchers for poor students con-
The platform promises to "reform the labor laws
demned to the failed public school system in the
to protect workers' rights to exercise their voices."
nation's great cities will no more close the Oppor-
But it says nothing, of course, about eliminating Big
tunity Gap than Mr. Kennedy's razor-thin election
Labor's practice of funneling millions of dollars of
eliminated a Missile Gap that never existed in the
mandatory union dues from Republican-voting
first place. Interestingly, elsewhere on the educa-
union members into the Democratic Party's coffers.
tion front, the platform extols the fact that "Pell
Regarding its strategy for "fighting the
grants are at their highest level ever" - inten-
scourge of drugs," the platform implores citizens
tionally ignoring the fact that Pell Grants are noth-
to "send a strong message to every American
ing more than college-tuition vouchers for the
child: Drugs are wrong and drugs can kill you."
poor.
Unmentioned, of course, is the fact that during
Following eight years in which the Clinton-Gore
the eight years of the Clinton-Gore administra-
administration has decimated the nation's defense
tion the level of drug use by American children
budget, the 2000 platform audaciously asserts, "Al
has soared. The platform also declares, "Al Gore
Gore and the Democratic Party will make sure that
is committed to dramatically reducing teen
our armed forces face any future conflict from a
smoking in America" -- never mind that teen
posture of dominance." However, the document
smoking has dramatically increased during the
makes it clear that Mr. Gore is more interested in
Clinton-Gore administration.
"ensuring that any [national missile defense] sys-
Will the American people believe any of this?
tem is compatible with the Antiballistic Missile
After the experience of having Mr. Gore's mentor,
Treaty," a relic from the Cold War that would
President Clinton, look them straight in the eye and
severely limit the extent to which an anti-missile
lie outright about his affair with a White House
system could defend the nation.
intern, Americans should know to treat anything
Addressing the economy, the Democratic plat-
coming from Democrats with the skepticism it
form repeats the lie that "slow growth had turned
deserves.
The Washington Times
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2000
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