Forum: Presidential debate

Honesty and optimism are Dole's biggest assets

According to the Los Angeles Times approximately 89 percent of all newspapers are liberal or have some kind of democratic slant on topics. With this sort of influence over politics it takes no special calculus formula to figure out why Republicans have been having a rough time in this year's projected polls.

Consequently, this article is perhaps an attempt to equal out this trend by saying that despite his age, Bob Dole is the best choice for America.

There are obviously many differences between President Clinton and Dole, but perhaps the biggest one deals with the issue of character and honesty.

It is a fact that Clinton has pardoned witnesses from testifying at the Whitewater trials. It is a fact that when ever Clinton does something ethically questionable as in File Gate or what have you, it seems to be down played by most media.

For further information on this topic, the Dick Morris issue of Time Magazine could be found influential come election time.

In the same previous situation, if Bob Dole was president and the same circumstances occurred, the people would hear about it directly.

Direct questioning and public lynching would probably have resulted from this sort of situation. Yet during President Clinton's term, the people of America seem oblivious to the past situations surrounding President Clinton's ethics.

On the other hand, maybe people do know about Whitewater, File Gate and other actions, but they quite simply do not care about them. This is an altogether frightening situation if in fact people are aware of Clinton's past political problems, but still choose to vote for him because the voters are liberal.

This liberal or democratic type of rationale should still have some sort of tie in with morals and ethics, political labels aside.

There is no doubt that Clinton is a great politician, but do great politicians make good presidents?

Not only is Dole qualified to be president, but his optimism and desire to truthfully do the right thing for America should be considered his biggest asset.

One of the biggest issues in the upcoming election is affirmative action. Clinton opposes programs like Prop. 209.

Diversity is one of the great things about America, but to give people special privileges because of their race could be classified as the foundation of racism.

Dole backs Prop. 209 as a notion best for the people as a whole.

Another main issue in the upcoming election is education. Clinton currently has a school voucher program which tells minorities where to go for their education, regardless of where they want to go.

Right now, millions of welfare children have to get their education from inner city public schools. Dole's stand on school vouchers, gives each student a chance to go where ever they are qualified to go.

Although the economy is visibly in better shape, should Clinton be given all the credit for it? City governors, Republicans and Democrats alike have directly made more jobs available for the people of their communities.

Bob Dole is honest. Bill Clinton is not. Bob Dole has not been involved in any kind of scandal. Bill Clinton been involved in many. And Bob Dole should be elected.

James Rice is a reporter for the Daily Forty-Niner.