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FEATURE
Pundit Pap
for Sunday May 24th 1998
NEW YORK -- Monday, May 25, 1998 --
Fox News Sunday
Tony Snow intoned his opening voice-over with a touch of McLaughlin-esque forcefulness: "How can we stop gun-toting thugs in the classroom?"
Well, Tony, how about a little more gun control for starters?
Tony's first segment dealt with the latest school shooting incident in Oregon; his three guests were psychiatrist-author Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Oregon Superintendent of Schools Norma Paulus, and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). He was joined in the questioning by Fred "The Beetle" Barnes, filling in for Brit Hume.
Dr. Poussaint made the most wide-ranging observations, replying to Tony's first question about with whom responsibility for the shootings lie by saying "Everyone takes some responsibility -- parents and schools… A child who constantly talks about violence is an emergency and needs immediate help."
In reaction to a question about a "casual" attitude by educators toward issues of violence, Paulus vehemently disagreed with the characterization and cited the fact that an aging educational workforce is not trained to deal with the changing situation of kids writing about not only suicide (as was happening in the 1980s) but violence, as is happening more and more now.
When Fred asked Sessions if schools needed more authority to intervene, Sessions sidestepped the facts and replied that they had the authority in this case (which may not entirely be true), and placed the blame for rising school violence on TV, movies and music for "imparting these images of violence."
Sessions took the easy way out of confronting the issue by once again placing all the blame on entertainment and the media -- and not confronting important issues of good parenting and support for parents who have troubled children and want help, but cannot get it because social services are either unaffordable or nonexistent.
Poussaint agreed with sessions, but only somewhat -- citing the fact that many parents inappropriately bring young children to see violent R-rated movies. Paulus expressed her view that schools and government should "put the money" and effort into the first 8 years of development; she cited the fact that "so many kids are born addicted to drugs."
Tony's practically unbelievable comeback: "It sounds like you're telling parents how to do their jobs."
Sorry to burst your libertarian bubble, Tony, but plenty of parents DO need to be told how to do their jobs!
Paulus replied that that was not what she said (at least not completely), and that we put too much money into "prisons for 15-year-olds" and not enough into classrooms; Poussaint followed up by emphatically stating that good parenting is important but parents need a backup system and (stating the obvious) any child who brings a gun to school needs a psychiatric evaluation.
Tony's follow-up question: "What's wrong with throwing 'em in jail?" You've gotta love the guy -- don't tell parents how to do the job and throw the bad seeds in jail, where they can learn how to go from bad to evil and even more dangerous.
Smart, Tony.
Poussaint's answer: Schools and psychological professionals should work in conjunction with law enforcement. Sessions also suggested that communities pool their many resources "along the lines of private industry" -- not a completely convincing analogy, but we agree that this would be a step in the right direction.
The second segment turned to the latest campaign cash blowup: "Did the President swap security for campaign cash?" WHAT?? You and the whole "Get Clinton" crowd only wish it could be true, Tony. If anyone "sold us down the river" it was George Bush.
Tony's guest for the segment: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), whose drooping jowls, wiry hair and voice make him look more and more like Tricky Dicky each time he turns up on TV. The resemblance is amazing -- I wonder if Bill Safire or Pat Buchanan has ever accidentally called Specter "Mr. President?"
Juan Williams got straight to the point with his first question, on Specter's "pushing here in Washington to have Attorney General Reno mount a special Independent Counsel to look into some of these charges… but you've been frustrated…"
Specter claimed that there was legal foundation to force the Attorney General to move to appoint an Independent Counsel, namely "evidence" that Chinese missiles are pointed at the US and that technology transfers authorized by the President contained "sensitive" technical data.
Of course, he said nothing about the US being a target of China even before Clinton was President. nor did he mention that tech transfers to China began during the Reagan Administration and continued through the Bush Administration -- and that THESE tech transfers may pose genuine threats to American security.
Specter went so far as to say "When you look at Alexis Herman, there is a double standard here" -- typical Specter-speak.
There is no double standard; there are two completely different standards based on completely different sets of facts. And you can be sure that the very independent Ms. Reno is already examining the facts in the so-called "Chinagate" situation.
Specter then segued gracelessly into mention of the Lewinsky controversy, saying that a former Secret Service agent named Fox testified seeing president Clinton and Lewinsky alone together, falling back on the tried-and-false strategy of not only changing the subject but using uncorroborated allegation to paint the President as a "guilty" man.
Don't make it too obvious or anything, Arlen.
Fred "The Beetle" -- make that Fred "The Weasel" -- animatedly asked "How big is the problem of China money in the Clinton campaign?"
Well, Fred, ask John Huang -- he's the one who pocketed two-thirds of the money alleged to have been given to Huang by a Chinese aerospace executive. Right-wingers refer to her as a member of the "Red Army," but from the money she is alleged to have given Huang, she probably spends a lot more time reading The Economist, Jane's and Barron's than Mao's "little red book."
Or ask
The McLaughlin Group
Meet the Press
This Week
-- The Editors
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