Posted on 03/20/2002 4:33:41 PM PST by erk
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2002
Statement by the President
Like many Republicans and Democrats in the Congress, I support common-sense reforms to end abuses in our campaign finance system. The reforms passed today, while flawed in some areas, still improve the current system overall, and I will sign them into law.
The legislation makes some important progress on the timeliness of disclosure, individual contribution limits, and banning soft money from corporations and labor unions, but it does present some legitimate constitutional questions. I continue to believe the best reform is full and timely disclosure of campaign contributions.
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As someone else (me) said, I prefer strong principled positions over "smart politics"
The fact is that the media and the Dems boxed Bush in with all that Enron talk. It was masterfully done, and Bush got some bad advice, IMHO. This is not to say he shouldn't have fought sooner, but we know what he has to deal with, and we should have known we'd take hits. We have a Senate leadership without any guts, and margins so close in the House that 15 or 20 RINOs will kill us. We also let things get too close in the Senate, where Jim Jeffords' treachery gave Daschle enough power to force this though.
Quite frankly, we've dodged a lot of stuff, and had a heck of a batting average to date. Unfortunately, the other side had the passion to use their big advantage against us. Enron happened, then the media, McCain, and the Dems stampeded everything. We just got hammered, and quite frankly, I am not arrogant enough to say that we could overcome a media barrage that would be little more than the 2002 edition of the 1995 budget battle.
I had hoped for a fight, but there was something behind the scenes that happened that ultimately forced Bush's hand on this. Now, we just got handed a lemon. Do we have the character to make lemonade, or do we run home like crybabies?
I'll try to make lemonade, and be thankful this is the ONLY full-fledged defeat we have had to date. By all rights, we should have had a lot more.
So you think its okay to violate the constitution as long as there are not "too many" people watching....
God HELP us..
Teddy Kennedy is a politician, so is Dashle and Gebhard. Using your logic, and the tactics of venerated politicians, I therfore declare that you, sinkspur, are a racist.
This is the stupidest statement I've read tonight (and trust me, thats bad since I've only read one reply and that was from Twodees). You must be on crack.
The Loser column is full of a lot of pricipled guys who ran for office.
No. As in "no embryos will be killed from this day forward."
A reasonable position, as history has borne out.
Are you suggesting that GWB is the only conservative candidate the Republicans have to offer.. get real...
David
And then the Democrats will say..."All Your Base are Belong to Us!" Sorry, couldn't resist.
A veto merely angers the media, fires them up, and possibly triggers a third-party run by McCain which could kill us in 2004 (hello, President Hillary Clinton).
Am I disappointed he signed it? Yes. But I am not angry enough to walk away and give the White House to Al Gore or Hillary Clinton.
I hope something spurs us to action.
I think its time everyone took in a few deep breaths, and found out what exactly the CFR bill is going to do!
Depending who you listen to, it is the greatest or the kiss of death. Ill bet by Friday the whole tone on FR about CFR will change.
It does not matter how much money one raises it is votes that get one elected.
No one on the face of the earth can manufacture votes better than a democrat.
If President Bush signs this bill into law it is the end of the republican party except as a [to be polite]a footstool and whipping boy for the democrats.
Come to think of it, since Gingrich left, that is all the republicans are at this time.
trent lott and the French have one thing in common--their favorite flag color is white.
Just as his father was snookered by the democrats, it appears that the son is going to suffer the same fate.
And to those who think that this law will be a Godsend to the republicans, who do you think is going to be prosecuted for violating it. Hint: It won't be the democrats.
I know, I know, john ashcroft is a.g. and will be in charge of enforcing the law.
Question: Name 10 clinton croneys he has prosecuted since becoming a.g.He himself was an election fraud victim.
I took off my Bush2004 bumper stickers today. I won't forget in 2 1/2 years. My wife and I made 2800 phone calls for him in the 2000 election. I'll be sitting 2004 out. We are really upset.
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