Clinton's Speech Raises Concerns (Mine: Some Mass. Residents 'Get It')

NEWTON - When former U.S. president Bill Clinton comes to Newton Centre today he brings with him not only swarms of supporters and security, but a growing number of dissenters.

A two-year effort and $100,000 was what it took for Temple Beth Avodah to lock in a Clinton appearance. But it's not the former president's mug that got almost 1,100 people to pay $100 a ticket, it's his speech topic.

Clinton is expected to talk about Israel - but whether or not the Clinton administration was really the Israeli ally it professed to be has some Newton residents wondering whether a synagogue appearance is appropriate.

"This is aside from the question of Clinton's morality, but here he is invited to a temple when he's done more to undermine Israel than he did to help," Manchester Road resident Jim Epstein said. "I'm hoping that it might dawn on other Jews that the Republicans, and more particularly President Bush, manifest policies and actions far more in alliance with the interests of Israel and the Jewish people."

Epstein, who plans to attend the event, said in his opinion, the ex-President did more to encourage Israel's enemies and threaten its security than any administration since the creation of the state of Israel.

The Boston Herald reports on last night's speech, in a rather poorly written story:

By Matthew Call
Tuesday, December 10, 2002

Former President Bill Clinton is using his retirement to become a political philosopher of sorts, telling members of a Newton temple last night that freedom will continue as soon as the world realizes it is easier to help than to hurt. [Does this make sense to anyone?]

Since leaving office about two years ago, Clinton has immersed himself in political ideologies of all angles -- having reached the conclusion that for each nation to move forward, it must be willing to be work as an intercontinental team.

"Now that I'm out of office, I have a lot of time to read," said Clinton, quoting political pundits old and new.

Clinton spoke at Temple Beth Avodah in the Oak Hill Park section of Newton on the invitation of synagogue members, most notably Robert Carp who footed a $100,000-plus tab for the appearance. Clinton's 90-minute speech ran the gamut of current affairs, from the United States's policy on helping Third World countries to bringing peace to the Middle East.

It was well worth the $100 admission fee for the crowd of more than 1,000 in the temple's sanctuary, ticketholders said. "It was vintage Clinton," said George Cheevers, a Boston resident and amateur Abraham Lincoln impersonator who trekked to Newton for the talk. "He was articulate and well-versed in the issues."

Clinton spent much of his speech promoting the feel-good properties of world relations. Seeing a glimmer of hope in the disastrous events of the world such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and hoards of nuclear weapons in developing countries, Clinton touched on the theme of countries working together so closely they need each other's success to survive.

"We live in a completely interdependent world," Clinton said. "Our faiths are bound together." [Our faiths are bound together? What the Sam Hill does that mean?]

Since World War II, the emergency powers of the world have been those which seek cooperation from other nations. France and Germany have gone from being bitter enemies to serving as pillars of the European Union. The Irish made peace after realizing it was "stupid" to let its people die in warfare, Clinton added. [The Irish aren't fighting any more? Someone forgot to tell them.]

"The more interdependent we are, the more willing we are to cooperate," he said. "It is true -- we need to cooperate."

While some nations have attacked those values, Clinton has tied them to the future of world peace. "We all do better when we work together," he said. "All the faith traditions teach something like this.

"People have been telling us this for a long time," Clinton continued. "The wider your circle of interdependence, the broader your understanding of who your crowd should be."

Clinton said he has hope for the future in terms of happenstance. "The world is bending toward cooperation" but not necessary because of upgraded morals or a better sense of living, he said.

It is a natural progression of humankind that working together is the easiest and most secure way to live.

"You still have to be hopeful that God has not abandoned us," he said.

Clinton also used some of his time to defend his presidency, which took a hit after the Sept. 11 attacks with criticism his administration did not do enough to contain Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein. Agencies during his two terms thwarted attacks planned for the millennium, captured the masterminds behind the first World Trade Center bombing and broke up several terrorist cells, he said.

"They stopped a lot of big, bad things, but it's cold comfort when one does happen," he said. "It's not as if we're starting from scratch."

Clinton also said he wanted to keep tough on Iraq while other world leaders were growing weary.

"It was like pulling teeth. Everyone wanted to give up."

Clinton said he supports President George W. Bush's rooting out of al Qaeda operatives in Iraq and enforcing a weapons ban.

"I would even support sending more troops."

Yet he critiqued his successor's use of the Homeland Security Bill, which Clinton said should protect more bridges and power plants in addition to streamlining government agencies. The bill should also put an emphasis on creating a new computer network for law enforcement officials, he added.

Sept. 11 terrorists were in the states for two years collecting dozens of address and credit cards while red flags were never raised, Clinton said. Suspicious activity like that should appear on someone's radar screen. [Um, Bill, two years before 9/11/01, you were the president.]

"They're either quite wealthy or they're up to no good," he said. "You could put a little checker in there. Then you just check.

"Everyone of you is in somebody's computer," he added. "We need to use the information technology that our adversaries use."

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