MONDAY RNC BRIEFING October 28, 1996 This week's Briefing focuses on three aspects of the latest Clinton fund-raising scandals. FYI Zeifman: Probable Cause for Clinton Indictment "Sadly, as a life-long Democrat and chief counsel of the House Judiciary Committee at the time of the Nixon impeachment inquiry, I cannot in good conscience vote to re- elect Bill Clinton...Having long championed traditional Democratic causes, I simply cannot accept Mr. Clinton's shameless election year surge to the right as his chosen means of winning a second term. And like most if not all traditional Democrats, I have grave reservations about the Clintons' morality and ethics. In my view there is now probable cause to consider our president and first lady as felons, who are likely to be indicted after the Nov. 5 election." --JEROME M. ZEIFMAN, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/25/96 In Clinton Vs. Dole, Perot Chooses Dole "You should never let anybody be president who does not have a strong moral-ethical base. [Whoever is president] is the commander in chief of our armed forces, and he can send our sons and daughters off to fight and die. That should be a test everybody applies: Would I let that man -- whoever that candidate is -- send my son or daughter into combat? And smooth talk is not the answer to our problems. Certainly Senator Dole understands combat. He has certainly paid a terrible price, and if you were limited to those two...I think every American would pick [Dole] because he understands what he's doing." --ROSS PEROT, NBC'S "MEET THE PRESS," 10/27/96 $100,000 1-BR Apt. W/D, D/W, W/W -- Call (202) 863-8000 "[The latest reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission] show that contributors to the DNC include a striking number who have the same address: 430 S. Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. That location, listed by 27 individuals and 10 corporations who gave almost $300,000 to the DNC, happens to be the Democratic headquarters. Although it is impossible to determine whether the donors are U.S. citizens or residents, many of them, who have given between $250 and $100,000, have foreign surnames and can't be found in computerized U.S. phone databases. In any case, FEC rules state that if a party knows a donor's given address is incorrect, it could be in violation for filing false contributor identification." --U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 11/4/96 Broder: 'Most Ethical Administration' is 'Most Morally Lax' "There's plenty to find fault with in the fundraising in both parties, but I think when you have the involvement with official appointments to the Commerce Department posts, when you have meetings with the president, you're dealing with something else. What drives me crazy is that these folks just seem to think, 'So what?' I mean, the FBI story is of a similar character. Seven hundred or 900, depending on who you believe, FBI files sitting in the White House for two years and they say, 'Well, nothing wrong was done.' In this story, they are saying, 'Prove we gave them something in return.' This is the most morally lax standard I have ever seen imposed by an administration on its own people." --COLUMNIST DAVID BRODER, "MEET THE PRESS," 10/20/96 Clinton-Gore: Grip-and-Grin and Cashing In "Look what happened here. You had this family in Indonesia make its connections with the Clintons in the 80s. They raised a lot of money for them. They put their man in the Commerce Department, this John Huang. He gets top secret clearance. He is privy to all the American positions on all trade negotiations. And then after a year and a half of doing that, he leaves the job in the Commerce Department and becomes a big fundraiser. And starts doing this funny money stuff that finally gets caught and as soon as they get caught, with a quarter of a million dollars coming in phony, they give it back. But what troubles some of us is that it goes to the top. This was money that was raised by bringing the South Korean businessman straight to the president and having the president shake his hand and then he writes out the $250,000 check." --COLUMNIST WILLIAM SAFIRE, "MEET THE PRESS," 10/20/96 Faith and Charity "Vice President Gore pressed his palms together in meditative style as he addressed a group of Asian Americans on April 29 at the Five Contemplations Hall of a Buddhist temple near Los Angeles. The event was intended as 'community outreach,' he recalled this week. 'It was not billed as a fund-raiser,' and 'no money was offered or collected or raised.' But if Gore did not hear the cash register ringing, he was one of the few at the Hsi Lai Temple who didn't. At his table was Jessica Elnitiarta, an Indonesian American businesswoman who has given the DNC at least $250,000 this year from personal and business accounts. Other heavy hitters from the Asian American community attended the affair, orchestrated by well-known Democratic fundraisers. The Democratic National Committee's financial department had booked Gore for the luncheon and the next day logged in much of the $140,000 it says it raised...Among the questions are how Buddhist monks and nuns living on $40 monthly stipends came up with $5,000 contributions, why the noncitizens among them would donate when they cannot vote, who at the DNC approved the event and why the White House would dispatch someone as high-ranking as the vice president to the affair." --THE WASHINGTON POST, 10/25/96 The Invisible Fundraiser "On Monday, President Clinton's Press Secretary Mike McCurry laughingly told reporters that his boss's controversial fund-raiser John Huang was too busy to talk to the press. Yesterday morning, federal district Judge Royce Lamberth ordered U.S. marshals to go get Mr. Huang. As we went to press last night, the Democratic Party's most famous fund- raiser was a fugitive from justice...when [the marshals] showed up at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee yesterday afternoon, Mr. Huang was nowhere to be found, and a committee lawyer professed perplexity at their assignment. Just another day living with the Clinton Administration in Subpoenaville, joy riding through the nation's laws." --THE WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL, 10/24/96 Clinton Ducks Campaign Finance "President Clinton continues to be dismissive of both the campaign finance laws and the electorate - or, at any rate, that part of the electorate that would like to hear his view on campaign finance. A vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee who was formerly a political appointee for the Commerce Department appears to have raised a bundle of campaign money from foreign sources, at least some of it in circumvention of the law. What does the president think about that? What might he seek to do in a second term not just about foreign contributions but about the broader breakdown of the law so evident in this campaign?...Mr. Clinton appears to think he can stiff the public and deflect the issue at least until after the election, now less than two weeks away." --THE WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL, 10/23/96 Champion Flip-Flopper "It was President Clinton who came into this campaign with the hard-won reputation as a champion flip-flopper. This very issue of campaign finance is one of those that helped him earn the title. He claimed to favor it, but when he had a Democratic Congress through which he might successfully have pushed it, he let the issue slide. In raising money for the current campaign, moreover, he has been his own object lesson. He has taken the lead in making a mockery of the law even while preaching the need for reform." --THE WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL, 10/23/96 Clinton's Fair Warning: 'I'll Do What I Did in '92' "In the 1992 campaign, candidate Bill Clinton promised tax relief for the middle class. A year later, he was claiming he hadn't really meant it. Now he's insulting us by repeating the promise...Take his August comments to Dan Rather: 'I'm prepared here and now to say I'll do what I did in '92; I'll try to do everything I say that I'm going to do. And I have absolutely no intention of raising taxes.' Let's get that straight. Clinton says he'll try just as hard to keep his '96 promise as he did to keep his '92 promise - the one he is most famous for breaking. Only Bill Clinton would promise to be as resolute as he was when he broke a promise. He might as well have said, 'I won't raise taxes. If you need reassurance, just look at the last time I said I wouldn't and did.' " --INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY EDITORIAL 10/23/96 Pulling a 'Perfect Clinton' "One can almost imagine the conversation around the Clinton campaign table: Let's see, is there any stone anywhere that we have left unturned? Is there some GOP position, some vulnerability of our own that we haven't covered yet with some sort of proposal or tax break? Drugs! And lo, this past weekend, parents everywhere were treated to a big story by newscasters or their morning papers: President Clinton had proposed that all teenagers applying for a driver's license should be tested for drugs...Here in a single proposal we have what a candidate in another election called 'pulling a Clinton.' It's expedient, but so shameless that you almost have to give it points for brass. This is the very same White House that insisted that several of its own aides with a history of serious drug use be hired over the objections of the Secret Service." --THE WALL STREET JOURNAL EDITORIAL, 10/22/96 The 'Being There' President "[Clinton is] a 'Being There' president, a voluble fellow who's stumbled into the right place (The White House) at the right time (after his predecessors put the economy back on track, defeated communism, stopped Saddam and began to dismantle trade barriers). But even if you believe Clinton has been a superb chief executive for the past four years, ask yourself how he will perform in the next four if he is suddenly faced with serious foreign and domestic crises. And he will be. By the simple mathematical principle of regression to the mean, Clinton's luck can't hold out. Apres Nov. 5, le deluge. In fact the best case for electing Bob Dole is that, because of his long experience and the strength of his character, he will be a better man to have in the White House when all hell breaks loose." --COLUMNIST JAMES K. GLASSMAN, THE WASHINGTON POST, 10/22/96 CALENDAR OCTOBER 31 RNC Chairman Haley Barbour is holding a press conference, 2 P.M., RNC headquarters, Washington, D.C. Contact: Adriene Davis (202) 863-8550 31 GOP-TV's "Rising Tide" invites Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Wayne Allard, New Jersey U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer and Tarrance Group pollster Ed Goeas. Contact: Ashley Barron (202) 863-8769 NOVEMBER 5 Election Day CAPITOL HILL WATCH o House and Senate are adjourned until January. FOCUS: A Trifecta of Sleaze If ever there was an administration to which the term "sleaze" applied, it's Bill Clinton's. On a nearly daily basis, a new Clinton administration scandal lands on the front page. The latest ethical outrages involve illegal campaign contributions. The White House, as usual, denies any wrongdoing-just as it did with Filegate, Travelgate and Whitewater. This time, though, the press and federal officials are following a money trail that leads straight to the Oval Office. The following are but three of the paths. First, Vice President Albert Gore tells us that when he pressed his palms together and addressed a group at a Buddhist temple last April he was performing "community outreach." The only outreach going on was into people's pockets. Gore's prayers were answered-the event raised $140,000 for the Democrat National Committee. Gore, meanwhile, insists he didn't know it was a fundraiser. Odd, the monks and nuns knew, especially the woman who said she was given $5,000 in small bills and told to write a check to the DNC. "If Gore did not hear the cash register ringing," reported The Washington Post, "he was one of the few in the Hsi Lai temple who didn't." (10/25/96) What Gore does know is that it's illegal to hold a fundraiser at an institution recognized by the IRS as a religious organization. When the Los Angeles Times reminded the vice president of the federal election laws, the DNC returned $15,000 of the $140,000. Second, the DNC official at the center of what is now called the Clinton-Indonesia Connection has disappeared and is being sought by U.S. marshals. DNC Vice Chairman of Finance John Huang, who continues to receive his DNC paycheck, checks in with his office by phone from time to time. Where's Huang? First, his lawyer says Huang would be happy to testify-but not until Wednesday, Nov. 6, the day after the election. Then, following a public outrage, the DNC agrees to allow Huang to testify -- but not on anything concerning the DNC, the Clinton-Indonesia connection or the $226,500 from 31 contributors who listed the DNC as their home address. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Michael McCurry wears a wide grin as he tells reporters he hopes the FEC will issue a full report on the Clinton-Indonesia connection before the election-knowing the FEC takes months, if not years, to settle such matters. Such arrogance caused one outraged reporter to bellow: "Extremely cynical performance, Mr. McCurry!" Laughing out loud, McCurry replied, "I don't know about that. I've seen worse. I've done worse!" Third, Bill Clinton invited Jorge Cabrera-a twice-convicted drug dealer now serving 19 years in a federal prison after being caught with three tons of cocaine-to the White House after he gave the DNC $20,000. Whose fault was it that cocaine dealers are welcomed into the White House, where they happily pose for pictures with Hillary Clinton? The Clinton/Gore campaign blames the Secret Service. According to them, it's the Secret Service's fault-not Clinton's greed-that Cabrera attended a White House party, which leads one to wonder how the president dares to trust the protection of his own life and that of his family with an agency he deems so incompetent. Who in the White House overruled any objections the Secret Service had in allowing Cabrera inside? (This is the same administration that overruled the Secret Service and permitted people with recent histories of drug use to work at the White House.) Clinton officials aren't saying. And who ordered the Justice Department to refuse to release a photo of a smiling Cabrera and a grinning Gore taken at a Miami fundraiser? Only after ABC News reported the stonewalling did the Justice Department do the right thing and release the photo. Bad as these scandals are, even worse is the Clinton administration's arrogant attitude and flagrant stonewalling. November 5 is our one chance as a country to say, Enough is enough! Bob Dole, whom even Democrats praise as a man of his word, said it best: "We cannot say we want integrity in public life and then reward its absence. A president who has betrayed your trust has not won your vote. It's that simple." MAJORITY QUIP "I guess Saturday, during his weekly radio address, President Clinton called for requiring teenagers to pass a drug test...before they can get a driver's license. Wow! You know what that means? That means there's a higher standard to drive a car than there is to work in the Clinton White House." --JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW," 10/21/96 TALKING POINTS A Trifecta of Sleaze A trail of dirty money leads straight to the Oval Office. Here are but three of the trails: o Albert Gore attending a $140,000 DNC fundraiser at a Buddhist temple and calling it "community outreach." O A DNC finance vice chairman at the center of the Clinton- Indonesia fundraising scandal is being sought by U.S. federal marshals. Huang's lawyer said he'll appear to testify-the day after the election. Now he agrees to testify -- but only about the Commerce Dept. o The White House claims it was Secret Service incompetence-not Clinton's greed-that allowed a twice- convicted drug dealer who contributed $20,000 to the DNC to attend a White House party. Bob Dole said it best: "We cannot say we want integrity in public life and then reward its absence. A president who has betrayed your trust has not won your vote. It is that simple." SURVEY SUMMARY DOLE NUMBERS WIRTHLIN POLL OF 841 LIKELY VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/18/96- 10/20/96 Who is your choice for president? Bob Dole 40% Bill Clinton 47% TARRANCE GROUP POLL OF 1,000 REGISTERED VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/21/96-10/24/96 Who is your choice for president? Bob Dole 38% Bill Clinton 47% REUTERS/ZOGBY TRACKING POLL OF 900 LIKELY VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/21/96-10/23/96 Who is your choice for president? Bob Dole 36% Bill Clinton 45% CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP TRACKING POLL OF 757 LIKELY VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/21/96-10/22/96 Who do you think will "provide the best moral leadership for the country"? Bob Dole 42% Bill Clinton 38% NBC/WALL STREET JOURNAL POLL OF 1,008 REGISTERED VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/19/96-10/22/96 Who do you think is stronger at being honest and trustworthy? Bob Dole 44% Bill Clinton 19% Who do you think is stronger at being consistent and standing up for his beliefs? Bob Dole 41% Bill Clinton 30% Who do you think is stronger at being sincere? Bob Dole 35% Bill Clinton 29% PEW RESEARCH CENTER SURVEY OF 1,546 REGISTERED VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/14/96-10/20/96 Who would the phrase "honest and truthful" better describe? Bob Dole 42% Bill Clinton 26% Who would the phrase "keeps his promises" better describe? Bob Dole 36% Bill Clinton 32% STATE BY STATE (FROM THE HOTLINE, 10/25/96) Who is your choice for president? ALABAMA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/21/96-10/22/96 Bob Dole 47% Bill Clinton 41% IDAHO MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/8/96-10/10/96 Bob Dole 52% Bill Clinton 28% INDIANA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/14/96-10/16/96 Bob Dole 44% Bill Clinton 38% KANSAS MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 9/21/96-9/23/96 Bob Dole 51% Bill Clinton 39% MISSISSIPPI MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 9/25/96-9/27/96 Bob Dole 49% Bill Clinton 40% NEBRASKA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/14/96-10/16/96 Bob Dole 49% Bill Clinton 35% NORTH CAROLINA CBS POLL, CONDUCTED 10/21/96-10/22/96 Bob Dole 49% Bill Clinton 43% NORTH DAKOTA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 9/30/96-10/1/96 Bob Dole 47% Bill Clinton 33% SOUTH CAROLINA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/17/96-10/18/96 Bob Dole 51% Bill Clinton 41% SOUTH DAKOTA MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 9/30/96-10/2/96 Bob Dole 44% Bill Clinton 41% TEXAS MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/7/96-10/8/96 Bob Dole 50% Bill Clinton 41% UTAH DESERET/KSL POLL, CONDUCTED 10/7/96-10/10/96 Bob Dole 44% Bill Clinton 35% WYOMING MASON-DIXON/PMR POLL, CONDUCTED 10/1/96-10/2/96 Bob Dole 46% Bill Clinton 36% GENERIC NUMBERS REUTERS/ZOGBY TRACKING POLL OF 900 LIKELY VOTERS, CONDUCTED 10/20/96-10/22/96 Which party do you prefer to have a majority in the Senate? Republican 44% Democrat 36% Which party do you prefer to have a majority in the House? Republican 41% Democrat 37%