Archive [August 1999]

“I feel like I’m on Baywatch!’” — HILLARY CLINTON, NEW YORK BEACH, QUOTED IN THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

So does Bill.

“People in positions of public responsibility are not permitted to have personal feelings that interfere with their obligations to the public.” — BILL CLINTON, PRESS CONFERENCE, TELLING REPORTERS HE IS NOT ANGRY AT “THE RIGHT-WING,” CNN TRANSCRIPT

Noted.

“No one can enter the Lincoln Bedroom without thinking of President Lincoln drafting the Emancipation Proclamation. Or walk into the Map Room without picturing FDR commanding our forces during World War II.” — HILLARY CLINTON, ON THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE WHITE HOUSE, IN PARADE MAGAZINE

Not any more.

“The question is whether Congress will give Clinton the satisfaction of burnishing his legacy by ministering to the poor in the twilight of his presidency.” — MARY MCGRORY, COLUMNIST, IN “CLINTON’S POVERTY TOUR SENDS A WELCOME MESSAGE,” IN THE BOSTON GLOBE

Burnishing his what?

“[T]hat would do a great deal of damage.” — LAWRENCE SUMMERS, CLINTON TREASURY SECRETARY, ON REPUBLICANS’ PROPOSED 10 PERCENT ACROSS-THE-BOARD TAX CUT, ON NBC’S “MEET THE PRESS”

People might be able to keep more of their money! We can’t have that!

“Hillary wants to make sure that she stays within the rules and obeys the law very sincerely.” — GERALDINE FERRARO, ON HILLARY CLINTON’S POSSIBLE NEW YORK SENATE RACE, ON ABC’S “THIS WEEK”

Sort of a new approach?

“I believe in clean water, strong defense and tight money, whatever that makes me, that’s what I am.” — DAN RATHER, ARGUING THAT HE ISN’T A LIBERAL, ON CNN’S “CROSSFIRE”

Pssst! Dan: you’re a liberal.

“The tax-cutters won’t get their way because of their own overreaching greed.” — AL HUNT, DECRYING REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS, IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

You got your White House fax, I see.

“The real issue here is the high level of taxation.” — HILLARY CLINTON, CAMPAIGNING IN NEW YORK, AP

Here’s an idea: Run for office on the promise of a middle-class tax cut.

“[T]hey want huge increases in tax cuts. Do they propose to keep us in debt? Do they propose to basically eviscerate the education and health and environment budgets of the country?” — BILL CLINTON, ON REPUBLICAN TAX CUT PLANS, ON CNBC’S “BUSINESS CENTER”

You forgot to add the bit about Republicans starving children and kicking old people out of nursing homes.

“It’s a silly issue. You have to be born here? Don’t be ridiculous … What for? For what? To learn what?… The issues you can learn in a book. And the people of New York are the people of the United States of America, and which of these candidates has had the experience with the people of the United States of America that she has had?” — MARIO CUOMO, EX-GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, ON HILLARY CLINTON, ON ABC’S “NIGHTLINE”

None. Thank goodness.

“We’re born feeling guilty.” — JAMES CARVILLE, ON CATHOLICS, QUOTED IN THE BURLINGTON COUNTY TIMES

You recovered, apparently.

“I’m so proud of you. God, have you advanced … ‘See, I’m really not just a whole bunch of white men … There’s a woman! Look over there, there’s a black person! Good for us.’” — ANN RICHARDS, FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR, MOCKING OBSERVATIONS THAT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE A DIVERSE GROUP, ON MSNBC’S “EQUAL TIME”

Loser.

“I’m going to the middle on the issues like Clinton did, so I’m safe. I have a Spanish wife, I have a Greek brother-in-law, a Japanese friend,’ and he’ll do the whole shtick, which he’s doing very well. What changes it? The issues, baby, the issues. Where are you on guns? Don’t give me this garbage in Spanish; say it in English.” — MARIO CUOMO, DERIDING GEORGE W. BUSH. CUOMO APPARENTLY CONFUSED GEORGE W. WITH HIS BROTHER JEB BUSH, WHOSE WIFE IS OF HISPANIC HERITAGE, QUOTED IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES

LOSER.

“I think what will matter in 2000 is, let’s get somebody who is a straight shooter. Let’s get somebody whose word is as good as his bond. Let’s get somebody who we know is not parsing words… That’s what Al Gore should be doing right now, is shocking us with his candor and honesty if he wants to separate himself from Clinton.” — WALTER ISAACSON, TIME EDITOR, QUOTED IN THE HOTLINE

So character matters again?

“Many of us think Clinton’s a moral scum, and probably subconsciously, at a minimum, we taint Gore by virtue of his association.” — JAMES WARREN, CHICAGO TRIBUNE EDITOR, ON THE MEDIA, QUOTED IN THE WASHINGTON POST

Remember, folks, it took them seven years to figure this out.

“I would start tomorrow with any member of Congress who wanted to work with me on anything to do something that I thought was good.” — BILL CLINTON, PRESS CONFERENCE, CNN TRANSCRIPT

As long as it’s not tax cuts.

“I shouldn’t do this, because it’s not really presidential, but I’m going to do it anyway.” — BILL CLINTON, MOCKING GEORGE W. BUSH’S “COMPASSIONATE CONSERVATISM,” REUTERS

Talking about putting the last seven years in a nutshell!

“Now, I was — I am very surprised — I was surprised and heartbroken that the Chinese embassy was hit because of the mapping accidents. That did surprise me. I had no earthly idea that our system would permit that kind of mistake. That was the biggest surprise of all… I’m terribly sorry about the embassy. We made our report to — I’ve gotten a report, and the Chinese got — I made sure the Chinese got essentially the same report I did. We didn’t put any varnish on it. And I’m sorry about it.” — BILL CLINTON, PRESS CONFERENCE, CNN TRANSCRIPT

How many apologies is that now? Seventeen?

“When the crises come, you must have [a] frame of reference, a source of strength, an intangible anchor that goes with you, stands by you and props you up on every weak and leaning side. Be it the New Testament or the Old, the Koran or the Torah. Be it Jesus, Moses, Allah or Buddha. Each of us must have that something within that brings balm to our soul and calm to our anxieties.” — VERNON JORDAN, ADDRESS AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY, QUOTED IN THE WASHINGTON POST

Or be it a stonewall.

I believe in individual liberty.” — AL GORE, AFTER EXPLAINING HIS PLAN FOR PHOTO LICENSING OF HANDGUN OWNERS, ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO’S “MORNING EDITION”

Sure you do! ID cards for gun owners is right there in the Bill of Rights.

“She really knows the rope line, all the tricks, all the flatterings…” — WALTER ISAACSON, TIME EDITOR, ON HILLARY’S LISTENING TOUR, ON CNN’S “LARRY KING LIVE”

Like the beret trick, for instance.

“[W]e do not believe that the data support the conclusion that fathers are essential to child well-being and that heterosexual marriage is the social context in which responsible fathering is most likely to occur.” — LOUISE B. SILVERSTEIN AND CARL F. AUERBACH, IN “DECONSTRUCTING THE ESSENTIAL FATHER,” A REPORT IN THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGIST, A JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Liberalism 101, the Manhating Division.

“Soon Al will wake up in bed with a dead fish and a note which says, ‘Al Gore sleeps with the fishes.’” — DICK MORRIS, ON CLINTON’S ANGER OVER GORE CRITICIZING HIS BEHAVIOR, IN THE NEW YORK POST

Hey, you shouldn’t talk about Tipper like that.