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Bush Extends Offer (Washington, D.C., June 30, 2000) -- George W. Bush said Friday that contributors will raise a projected $115 million for his campaign fund by election day and asked Democratic candidates for suggestions for disposing of the surplus. "This is a lot more than I can possibly use," Bush said. "The news coverage on the fund has exceeded any ad campaign we planned to buy. "If we work together, we may find a mutually acceptable way to spend it." Bush's call for bipartisan cooperation, however, was not met favorably by Democrats. Earlier this year, he mocked his Democratic presidential opponents by making $100 donations to their campaigns and wishing them luck at the primary polls. This latest offer was seen by many as being no more than another taunt, which would be yanked away the moment any financially challenged candidate opted to take the bait. "We've watched too many Peanuts cartoons to fall for that one," quipped Al Gore, still the Democratic frontrunner by a small margin. The Bush war chest is the largest amassed since campaign records have been kept. Democratic hopefuls Gore and Bill Bradley have been able to raise approximately $37 million together. Bush, so solidly bankrolled by contributors, has no need for federal matching campaign funds and has been freed from the accompanying spending controls. Further doubts about the sincerity of the surplus spending overture have been raised by previous comments from Bush as his campaign fund snowballed. Last November, Bush said that would like to establish an outpatient facility for babyboomers who may have experimented with controlled substances during their misguided youths. This February, he expressed an interest in creating a trust fund which could be tapped by poorly connected young people who needed to grease their way into the Texas Air National Guard to wait out an armed conflict. President Clinton's reaction to the Bush offer was a rallying cry for fellow Democrats to "stay the course" despite their financial disadvantages. He pointed to his own experience as an example of overcoming overwhelming adversity. "Don't you believe those people who tell you you're already pushing up daisies," Clinton told a gathering of Democratic candidates and campaign workers in New Jersey yesterday. "Whenever a Republican asks you what you want on your tombstone, you tell him jalapeños and anchovies." Clinton Offers
Clemency (New York, N.Y., Aug. 11, 2000) -- An offer of executive clemency was extended today by President Clinton to selected Democrats serving time in federal prisons. The offer is good for all prisoners convicted of non-violent crimes who have previously registered as Democratic voters in the state of New York. The only other condition attached to the offer was that those released "renounce Republicans and Republican ways" for the remainder of their lives. "These unfortunate men and women have clearly learned their lessons," Clinton said in announcing his clemency offer here at a campaign rally for his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is running for a New York U.S. Senate seat. "I see no reason why they can't be returned to society ahead of schedule and in time for the November elections. They've shown remorse and a strong willingness to become law-abiding, democracy-supporting American citizens." Clinton's announcement drew an immediate storm of protest from Republicans, law enforcement officials and investment brokers. GOP leaders accused Clinton of attempting to bolster the Democratic vote for his wife. Leading House Republicans demanded that the White House provide all documents related to the clemency offer for investigation. "They're still criminals and represent a political threat to the state of New York," said Joseph Gieman, FBI assistant director. "By releasing them in this way, the President is sending the wrong message to criminal-minded Democrats everywhere." The announcement put Wall Street in a tizzy, sending a variety of stocks up and down, but mostly just irritating people in suits. "There are a lot of good Republicans still rotting behind bars for minor infractions like insider trading," observed Hugh Gaines, a senior partner with the investment firm of Greed, Avarice and Cupidity. "Do we have to wait for a GOP president to get them sprung?" Clinton responded to critics by invoking "executive privilege." "My decision was based on merit. Political considerations played no role in the process,'' Clinton responded to the charges. "As you know from prior experience, my authority to grant clemency is not subject to legislative oversight.'' Quayle Seeks Acting Career (Hollywood, Calif., Jan. 1, 2000) -- Further blurring the already indistinct line between politics and entertainment, former vice president Dan Quayle today announced plans to pursue a career on the silver screen. Quayle's announcement closely followed actor Warren Beatty 's long anticipated confirmation that he would seek the presidency. While numerous entertainers have crossed over into politics, this will be the first time that a former vice president has attempted to move into show business. Outgunned by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Quayle previously made history by becoming the first ex-vice president in the last 50 years to fail in seeking his party's presidential nomination. "I think that I proved, during my term in office, that I can be a really funny guy," Quayle told reporters. "After all, who else could get years of laughs just by adding an 'e' to the word potato?" Quayle said that he is shooting for supporting roles in comedy productions, much as he did while holding office. He added that he hasn't ruled out the possibility of leading roles in drama and action films. "There is a time to know when to get on the stage. Thus today, I am announcing I will move to Hollywood to become a movie star," the 52-year-old Quayle said. "It has always been my dream to become president of the United States. It is now my dream to land a role in which I play the president of the United States." In making his announcement, Quayle offered to provide Beatty with political advice in exchange for acting tips and the phone number of a good Hollywood agent. Beatty, who is running as a Democrat, politely declined the offer. [ Home ] |
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