by The Editors

Friday, June 25, 1999 -- NEW YORK/WASHINGTON -- President Clinton discussed "opportunities before the nation" at Georgetown University just prior to his press conference this afternoon, his first in many months.

He spoke today intending to "set an agenda" for the coming months.

He started with mention that the economy is growing at 4.3% this year alone -- and that we are on the right track. He first called for an end to petty partisan bickering before mentioning his agenda issues: calls for Medicare changes, the Patients' Bill of Rights, and other programs not locked up in the Congress. He asked America and Congress to turn to broader matters, including fiscal discipline to strengthen our economy.

He made quite an emphatic point about "affordable prescription drugs."

In two weeks he will tour America's "new markets" -- some of the nation's poorest neighborhoods which have not shared in economic progress.

He also talked about youth violence and used the term "Hillary and I" more than once during the first few minutes of his introductory remarks.

He mentioned more hot-button issues: gun control, child safety locks, more gun issues -- and the GOP having blocked the legislation. He claimed that criminals can now store their guns at pawn shops -- a nifty idea for a criminal, and one he probably shouldn't have repeated to teach the more moronic criminals who didn't think about it already.

The first question was on Serbian killings by KLA troops "looking for retribution." The White House is attempting to deal with the problem (but we trust not too hard).

The second question was about a book he is writing on racism in America -- the tone of which attempted to depict it as a "Political Hot Potato." The President laughed and said that he simply had much more to do.

The next question was on partisanship and the lack of progress on anything at all in Congress. Clinton was kind to the GOP in his response.

The next question, which exploited the Chinese spy flap, was about why Secretary Richardson was "resisting" making the nuclear labs independent from Energy Department -- with a separate security system and oversight, although the Secretary would still have jurisdiction over them. Clinton thought that everyone should get together and work it out. He also complimented the Rudman Report. Whether he knew about the spy issue was, of course, the follow-up question.

Clinton said that what he had said was that he didn't know of any actual espionage. What he should have said was that he had been suspicious all along that espionage was going on -- and now that we know about the offloading of files from a mainframe computer to an employee's personal computer... he, in short, pulled a Clinton.

The next question was on Medicare. It was an accusatory question from an AP reporter -- which we found unusual. The reporter basically accused the President of making things worse. Clinton said that his proposals next week will strengthen the Medicare Trust Fund -- but that a prescription proposal must be part of the plan because that could stop hospitalizations and improve the health of Medicare patients. He agreed that if the plan is not structured properly, it could be very expensive to supply them with pharmaceuticals. He added that he believes that 15 million seniors cannot afford the medication they need. "Properly available, and properly priced" were his words.

The next question was on campaign finance reform. He says the GOP leadership will not bring it up for a vote. "All of our people are for it 100%." He added that what has to be done is to keep it on the front burner so the pressure becomes heavy enough that Republicans do the right thing.

The next question framed as a problem for Al Gore -- "Do you think your personal behavior has become a liability to others running from your party?" Whoa! The President said that Al Gore's announcement was terrific. All politics are about the future. All candidates are judged on their own merits. The American people know that the country is in good shape. And Clinton concluded by saying that the best thing he can do is to do the best thing for the country.

The same reporter then shouts a question about Mrs. Clinton. The President says that she has not decided to run yet.

Kosovo was next and Mark Knoller asked if it is not impossible to ask the Kosovars to lay off the Serbs. The President paused, then said we have to get people busy there doing positive things. Then we need to give the Kosovars the help they need to work through these issues psychologically, spiritually and morally. He said that he talked to Elie Weisel about this and that holocaust survivors and South African citizens can help a lot. "We need to be quite imaginative."

Sarah McClendon brought up a national program to educate people on how to be better parents. This is HER program, by the way, not the President's. She wondered whether the President thought this was a good idea. Sarah is very old, and very respected. Clinton said that he and Hillary assumed that people knew how to raise their children, but that nowadays it is a much harder job. "Most parents want to do a good job -- really, really want to do a good job... of course, that is why Hillary wrote her book."

Susan Page of USA Today talked about the higher premiums that could accompany Medicare new pharmaceutical coverage. The President said that if he gave away his entire program, then next Tuesday he would be bereft. The government should offer a drug benefit that will not break the bank.

He then spoke to a question about the surplus. His plan has tax cuts by way of the "USA Accounts" -- inducements to save that are quite progressive. He is not against tax cuts, he said (and has sponsored many cuts aimed at the poor and at education). But he said he wants to take care of first things first: Medicare, Social Security and paying the debt down. "If I want to pass these things, I have to work with the Congress.... The American people want us to keep the economy going and doing these things will keep it going strong... I do not believe it is responsible to have a tax cut and cut education and health care and investments in the environment.

The next questioner said that the President is a polarizing and antagonistic figure. "What do you say to that?" was the gist of the question. President Clinton said that he has tried to develop good relationships with the GOP, "but the right wing does things like accuse him of murder.... We have a new speaker, I had a nice talk with Senator Lott last week." Clinton said that he and his staff have no right to anger or to harbor grudges. He said he would start tomorrow to work with any member of congress -- every one -- to do something that is good for America. But it is true that progressive Presidents have historically always been subject to attack, and Clinton pointed out the vicious attacks against FDR's progressive policies.

"I owe the public my best effort every day and I try not to let my personal feelings get in the way."

Karen Tumulty of Time Magazine -- a pundette who is always mouthing off against the Clintons on cable Bubba-bashing shows -- asked why the President's approval ratings are slightly down instead of up after the Kosovo victory.

Well, the answer is clear to any idiot: the GOP has made certain that even this victory against totalitarianism and Hitlerian ethnic cleansing is tainted by a bunch of crap they began spreading before one bomb was dropped in Serbia -- which should be no surprise, since some of President Clinton's most outspoken critics have taken payoffs in the form of campaign contributions from pro-Serb organizations (people like Indiana thug Congressman Dan Burton).

Tumulty should be ashamed of herself.

The next question was no less slimy, the gist being "don't you have a problem with congressional Democrats because they want to run against a 'do-nothing' Congress?" Clinton said that not all Democrats believe that. "Our obligation is to work for the country." He said that he and Congressional Dems have tried on guns, on campaign finance reform, on many things which the GOP has blocked. He said he believes that it is better to tell the people what you did rather than what you tried to do.

Another reporter asked tobacco legislation and wondered about the Justice Department's supposed case against Big Tobacco. He announced this case during the State of the Union Address five months ago. He backed up this claim and generally said that there is a case, based on Medicare law, against cigarette makers.

A question on polling statistics came from Ken Bazinet of the New York Daily News who asked Clinton if he fears he is beginning a disconnect with his core groups and the American people. The President said that the polls he sees show overwhelming support for campaign finance reform, Medicare, gun laws and education. He didn't know about anything Democrats or his administration are pushing that the public is against. They were ambivalent about Kosovo, but they were also that way about Bosnia, Haiti, and other international problems.

Another reporter then followed up with a stinging question about people's concerns about the nation's moral compass. Clinton answered, "In terms of me, I told the people I was going back to work and to do the best I can about my family life...." He said he does see the public strain despite prosperity and wonders about how the government can help here -- and then cleverly shifted the topic.

In that sense, he continued, there is a moral component to the debate we are having over guns, he said, pointing out that background checks prevent thousands of people who shouldn't get guns from getting them. The other side claims this is an inconvenience. People think that it is a moral issue. His own view is not to pretend that the government can solve all the moral issues -- nor can they dodge the question altogether.

"I tried so hard after that Littleton issue. I did not point the finger. I challenged the entertainment community even though they had [already] done far more than the gun industry.... [On the matter of Clinton's private life] I tired to acknowledge that what I did was dead wrong, and I am trying to remedy that. I think we should stop trying to make points against each other by saying 'I'm better than you are.' In my family, you would have been given a whippin' if you did that."

The answer was classic table-turning by Clinton.

A question on the bombing campaign follower. Clinton said thought that either one of two things would happen once the bombing began -- either that it could take a few days, or much longer if Milosevic dug in. He also said that was surprised that we lost no pilots -- and was surprised and heartbroken about the bombing of the Chinese embassy and the death of civilians, although the Iraqis sustained many more times the civilian casualties. He seemed to almost cry at that point and lost his train of thought -- as if he were speaking to someone at home -- then continued: we saw this through the lens of Bosnia. We are not going to wait a day, once we saw all the soldiers and tanks deployed on the Kosovo border. On the issue of the accidental bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Clinton said the Chinese got the same report that he did.

Someone asked about the agriculture issue, saying the industry is in a death spiral. "You have not spoken to this issue. How can you help to keep those farmers on the land?" (How about sending them to the City?) The President said that we gave farms and farmers $6 billion last year. When the GOP passed the Freedom to Farm Act, Clinton said he had warned them that this would not work if agricultural prices fell. He will, however, recommend more help for the farmers. The GOP act had no safety net for farmers. That was a terrible mistake.

Next came a "Senator Hillary" question -- about using government jets at taxpayers' expense. It was a stupid question. And the President answered that the way she travels is determined by the Secret Service. He added, "You would be amazed how many times we wanted to take the train to NY and the Secret Service would not allow it. "

Some foreign reporter asked how he would feel if someone put a price on his head - like they did to Milosevic. The question was scary -- but the President trumped the question. First of all, he says, we have not put a price on the life of Milosevic - we are not offering a reward to kill him, but to capture him and turn him over to the War Crimes Tribunal. Secondly, NATO did not commit war crimes, NATO stopped war crimes. (We could just barely see the Secret Service moving in on the unknown reporter.) The President went on with his explanation and said he is not concerned about how he will be remembered when he is gone -- "I'm not gone."

A Japanese reporter asks about whether the President will take care of the US air vases in Okinawa before he goes to Japan for next year's G8 conference. The President said he hopes these issues will be resolved by then.

Another reporter asked whether Clinton was "abandoning" Arkansas by moving to New York. He said he planned to spend half his time in Arkansas.

An IRA question -- of all things -- came next. The deadline for disarmament is next Wednesday. "The people of Northern Ireland voted for the Good Friday accords. They voted for peace, decommissioning, majority rule, new partnerships and self government. They were right when they voted for that agreement. I would ask those who march and those who are angry at the march to remember that. I am betting that it will work out." The President added that he has been in constant contact with British Prime Minister Blair and all officials involved.

The books by George Stephanopoulos and Bob Woodward came up. The reporter wondered whether the President could still hold private conversations with aides. The President said he did not feel isolated and had a lot of friends, and claimed he read neither book.

A question about rebuilding Serbia came next -- why the President is saying that the US will not begin to help Serbia until Milosevic is removed. Clinton replied that we could have a reconstruction plan without Serbia, despite what the reporter said. Simply, the relative importance of Serbia would be diminished. Having said that, what the Serbian people decide to do is their own affair -- and they will simply have to come to grips with what Milosevic did in Kosovo. They will have to decide if that is okay. But he said that he wouldn't give them one red cent if they think that's okay, because he doesn't think its okay. He was tough.

Some other reporter said that the Congressional Budget Office "claims" that he is raising taxes. This was a planted question by the ultra right. The Congressional Budget Office is controlled by the GOP. The increased taxes were the Tobacco Taxes that were counted on in this budget, and other tax extension programs that were voted in by Congress.

And that was it. Clinton gave a very strong showing.

Even the pundits had to concede the fact -- talking heads on CNN and MSNBC were surprisingly complimentary, including naysayer Jeff Greenfield who called it the strongest showing Clinton has given in a news conference. The other consensus -- that Clinton has started an issues counteroffensive.

What they're not saying: "Lame Duck" Clinton is not just relevant, he's got clout. And rest assured -- he will wield it.