Even a few Republicans seemed relieved that Vice President Al Gore dodged a bullet when Attorney General Janet Reno opted against requesting that an independent counsel be named to investigate his fund-raising practices.
"I feel happy for Al Gore that he doesn't have to have this hanging over him as he runs for president, and frankly, I'd rather have Al Gore run than somebody else," Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, said. (This Week, ABC, 11/29)
Reporters quickly noted the impact on the 2000 presidential campaign. A Baltimore Sun headline announced, "Reno's Decision Major Relief for Gore 2000 Campaign." (11/30) The New York Post reported that Reno's Nov. 24 decision "means Gore likely will head into the 2000 presidential race without the dark cloud of an independent counsel hanging over his head." (11/25)
Perhaps the most immediate effect of Reno's Thanksgiving-eve gift to Gore was on potential Democratic challengers. Rick Berke of The New York Times quoted a Gore adviser as saying it would be a "suicide mission" for any Democrat to run against Gore. (11/25)
House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt's presidential ambitions could be a casualty of Reno's move, one of the Missouri Democrat's top New Hampshire supporters acknowledged. "Had Janet Reno ruled differently, I think it would've been a more positive step to get into the race," Jim Demers said on a Manchester television station. (Close-Up, WMUR-TV, 11/29)
But Sen. Robert Kerrey's political director said the potential fund-raising investigation never was a factor in the Nebraska Democrat's decision-making. "If you are going to run against Al Gore, you'd better have a pretty good message and a pretty good agenda. And it can't be that he's under investigation," Steve Jarding told USA Today. (11/25)
Staying on Message
While Gore's potential Democratic foes may end up backing off, Republicans thinking about White House bids are likely to try to keep the fund-raising issue alive.
Steve Forbes on Reno's refusal to step up an investigation of Gore: "This is a very disturbing development and one that could have serious consequences for the administration of fair and equal justice in this country." (Forbes press release, 11/24)
Sen. John McCain of Arizona: "It is very unfortunate that the attorney general has blatantly disregarded the recommendations of the director of the FBI, Louis Freeh; U.S. Attorney Charles LaBella; and other Justice Department officials that evidence exists that warrants the appointment of an independent counsel." (McCain press release, 11/24)
From the Fourth Estate
Editorial writers also jumped on the bandwagon to decry Reno's decision.
The Boston Globe: "Reno's error in failing to appoint an independent counsel . . . is based on a flimsy rationale that amounts to a daydreaming defense. . . . Reno did not have to find conclusive evidence against Gore, only a reasonable possibility that Gore lied. . . . This amazing conclusion essentially buys Gore's ignorance plea." (11/27)
The Christian Science Monitor: "The attorney general should also ask an independent counsel to investigate the whole sordid question of solicitation and acceptance of illegal foreign contributions by the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton-Gore campaign." (11/27)
The Detroit News: "It seems obvious that the attorney general has decided to recast the law in such a way as to keep prosecutors away from Bill Clinton and Al Gore." (11/27)
The Salt Lake Tribune: "The fund raising for the 1996 Clinton-Gore campaign illustrates how candidates and parties have outflanked, even flouted, the campaign finance laws. . . . This situation, where the attorney general has an obvious potential conflict of interest, seems tailor-made for an independent counsel." (11/28)
Newsweek's "Conventional Wisdom Watch": Gore "now must face CW indictment: He's criminally boring." (12/7)
Pundit Watch
George Stephanopoulos led the pundit defense of Gore: "There was no credible evidence that the vice president broke the law. No one accused him of lying, which was the question on the table, and no one accused him of it." (This Week, ABC, 11/29)
Mark Shields, on Reno's decision: "I think it probably gave Al Gore an enormous advantage heading into 2000. I think if he had had an independent counsel appointed, it would have taken a lot of steam out of his candidacy." (The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer, PBS, 11/27)
Paul Gigot of The Wall Street Journal: "It's one thing to name an independent counsel in the case of, say, a Henry Cisneros, a Cabinet officer who resigned. It's a lot more politically difficult if you name a special counsel against the man that most of the people in your party think is going to be the nominee." (The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer, PBS, 11/27)
Al Hunt of The Wall Street Journal: "What Janet Reno has done in this whole thing is create a license to steal and cheat and do everything in 2000, which has already begun. She should have followed the advice that Charles LaBella, the special prosecutor, [gave] and tapped a special counsel to investigate everything in '96." (The Capital Gang, CNN, 11/28)
Gore's Campaign Team
With the scandal news turning to his favor, Gore is ramping up his presidential bid. He is ready to "start showing why he is the overwhelming favorite to win" the Democratic nod, the Detroit Free Press reported. (11/27)
John King of CNN was among the first to report news of Gore's burgeoning national campaign staff, including White House political director Craig T. Smith as campaign manager. King: "The vice president obviously is looking to somebody with presidential experience, winning presidential experience, as he builds his team for Campaign 2000." Three who have served Gore as chief of staff will be on his management team: Peter Knight, Roy Neel, and Jack Quinn. Boston political consultant Michael Whouley also plans to move to Washington next year to join the Gore campaign. (CNN, 11/30)
Also at the top of Gore's team: veteran consultants Robert Squier and Marla Romash. With the Washington Bigfeet stomping into place, presidential campaign observers will next be looking to see who runs things in all-important Iowa and New Hampshire, and other key states such as California.
Never Mind
There is no secret deal for Michigan Gov. John M. Engler to take over the Republican National Committee in a challenge against current Chairman Jim Nicholson, according to columnist Robert Novak, who first reported the possibility of such a GOP scheme. Novak: "I think for now, and probably permanently, they had given up the idea of changing the national chairmanship. But believe me, there was a real plan under way whereby John Engler would be the general chairman, and Nicholson would be replaced as national chairman by Wayne Berman, finance director for the Republican Governors Association, but that's abandoned. Engler decided he didn't want to do it, and they have now decided to be supportive of Jim Nicholson." (Inside Politics, CNN, 11/20)
Heaven or Hell?
Texas Gov. George W. Bush visited Israel, in what some observers called a bid to heal a "raw spot" with the American Jewish community, according to Morton M. Kondracke of Roll Call. Following a 1993 news media interview with Bush, the Houston Post reported, "One doctrine of which Bush is certain is that heaven is open only to those who accept Jesus Christ."
Ken Herman of The Austin American-Statesman reported that "Bush's 1993 comments obviously remain on his mind." During a meeting of Republican governors last month in New Orleans, Bush joked to reporters about plans for his Nov. 29 trip to Israel, Herman reported. "As he gazed out a hotel hallway at the Superdome and waited for an elevator, Bush--clearly going for a laugh at his own expense--said the first thing he was going to say to Israeli Jews was that they were all 'going to hell.'"
Anti-Defamation League National Director Abraham H. Foxman called Bush's New Orleans quip "inappropriate." Foxman: "Religion is serious. . . . Comedians can joke about it. I think serious people, people in leadership positions, people who set a role model for behavior and values--that's something not to joke about." (12/1)
Toying With Jesse
Minnesota Gov.-elect Jesse Ventura's camp "is looking for ways to market him, raise some money, and maintain a good image," and is considering "everything from coffee cups and comic books to beer and clothing." But one good merchandising bet may be an action figure--modeled after one made for a Ventura campaign ad in which it battled "the Evil Special-Interest action figure."
Ventura adviser Dean Barkley: "We want every person in the world who wants a Jesse Ventura action figure to have one under their Christmas tree." Barkley said Ventura's allies are "moving as fast as their lawyers will allow," hoping to have the merchandise ready for Christmas shopping. (Associated Press, 11/26)
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