Posted on 12/04/2002 8:27:34 AM PST by GulliverSwift
NEW YORK (AP) - In his first major speech since the midterm elections, former President Clinton (news - web sites) said the Democratic Party needs to communicate clear, fresh ideas on the economy and national security if it wants to recover from election losses.
Clinton's remarks came during a speech Tuesday to the Democratic Leadership Council, a national network that Clinton helped found in the 1980s to steer the party toward a more centrist image.
He reflected on the mood of the party back then to look ahead to the party's next step.
"We had a strategy rooted in new ideas ... we didn't have to wake up the morning after the election and wonder what it was we were going to do," Clinton said. "We knew what we wanted to do, and we set about doing it."
He suggested the party draft unified plans on national security and reviving the economy — issues on which he said Democrats floundered in their campaigns this year. Republicans increased their narrow margin of control in the House and took back the Senate in the November elections.
"Democrats have to have ideas to win," Clinton said. "Republicans will always have more money, more powerful interest groups, the fervor of right-wing emotion."
The Democratic Leadership Council's ideology of a "third way" between the traditional left and right is credited with propelling Clinton to the presidency in 1992.
The audience of about 200 people at New York University chuckled after Clinton quoted his own 1991 remark about the struggling party:
"`I've read all the people who say the Democratic party is dead, but I respectfully disagree' — I said that on May 6, 1991. I believed it then, and I believe it today," Clinton said.
Much of the party's weakness now, he said, can be blamed on Democrats' failure to stand up for each other when they are attacked by other politicians and "extreme right-wing elements in the media."
"We have to be firm and clear and strong and positive and prepared to defend our positions and those who are brave enough to stick their necks out," he said.
Clinton said the party's national security plan should emphasize action like going after terrorists and planning for specific types of attacks — tasks he said should take priority even over weapons inspections in Iraq.
"Al-Qaida should be our top priority," Clinton said. "Iraq is important, but the terror network is more urgent in terms of its threat to our security."
He said Democrats this year failed to highlight the idea that putting together the newly formed homeland security department should take a backseat to other national security issues.
"We didn't say it in the last election, and if we had, it would have made a difference in some of these races," Clinton said.
Meanwhile, the party's economic plan should stimulate in the short run while being responsible for the long term, he said. It also should include a balance of corporate accountability.
"What we need to do is say, 'What we're after is the abuses, but we want to hold up the entrepreneurial giant that made this economy grow in the 1990s,'" the two-term president said. "We can do it in a balanced way that 90 percent of the American people will approve of and will generate a lot of support for the Democratic party."
You said..."you'd know that he DID blame "extreme right-wing elements in the media"
Clinton's comments, again....
Much of the party's weakness now, he said, can be blamed on Democrats' failure to stand up for each other when they are attacked by other politicians and "extreme right-wing elements in the media."
He did not "blame" the extreme right-wing elements in the media.
Perhaps simple English is bit beyond YOUR grasp.
If you consider Clinton stating that there are "extreme right-wing elements" in the media as some type of an "attack", you're gonna get eaten alive in no time.
Of course he's blaming the "right wing" media. He's saying the Demos didn't stand up to them enough. But why should they? Because he says "right wing" media made them lose.
Of course, it depends on what your definition of "is" is.
Accurately stated.
But why should they? Because he says "right wing" media made them lose.
You just made that up, without any supporting evidence.
He's saying the Demos didn't stand up to them enough.
INaccurately stated.
Clinton said that it was the Dems failure to "stand up for each other", not "to them" as you stated.
Every time I see or hear him in the media, I can't help but think of this:
His everlasting legacy.
But he did want to send black ninjas into his training camp! < / LMAO >
I know, I know. Sounds crazy, but that's actually how people like Dan Rather and Peter Jennings can say there's no such thing as liberal bias in the media and do so with a straight face (and believe it themselves).
There's more than enough factual, properly sourced evidence as to Clinton's miserble existence......nobody needs you to embellish upon the facts......or simply, flay out misrepresent them.
Here's an idea, let's give slick willy a Rush Limbaugh 24/7 gift.
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