Clinton's Problems

by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)

From a Fax, recently sent throughout the Republican House on July 1st, 1994:

"Dear Republican colleague, during a radio interview Friday onboard Air Force One, President Clinton had one of his purple fits when questioned about recent occurrences in his administration. Who can blame him? With all he has on his mind, it's no wonder the President blew a fuse. Think about it.

"Imagine you were the President of the United States and your health care plan was on life support; the dollar was in a free-fall; your staff were stealing towels and taking helicopter joyrides; 87 members of Congress demanded the resignation of your top health official; all 44 GOP Senators demanded you disavow your party's intolerant remarks about Christian activists; that Harry and Louise were back on the air; the stock market was plummeting; interest rates were going up for the fifth time since January; inflation fears had economists worried; Supreme Court nominee Stephen Breyer's investments were under intense scrutiny.

"You put out the tin cup to pay for your various legal defenses; you're contemplating the invasion of a Caribbean superpower: Haiti; Korean policy was being dictated by Jimmy Carter; Paula Jones is getting play with the mainstream press; the first phase of Whitewater investigation is coming to a close with more to come; congressional hearings on Whitewater are coming this August; nobody's denied a single item in Bob Woodward's book; the NY Times accuses the White House of a Whitewater cover-up . . . again; voters don't know what you believe in or what you're committed to; you don't know what you believe in or what you're committed to.

"The decade of greed is finally defined in two words: cattle futures; your party hasn't won a single major election since you took office; nobody likes your welfare plan; members of your own party are running from you like scalded dogs; you're Leno's and Letterman's number one source for material; 65% of the American people say the country's on the wrong track; and character does matter, after all.

"So, if you were President, don't you think you'd have a purple fit, too?"

Rep. John Boehner

Scott Ostrander: scotto@cica.indiana.edu