WSN Special Report

WASHINGTON DC: The 1992 elections will be seen as a watershed year for political discourse for years to come as the first leaders born after WWII take control of the helm of the ship of state.

Although some may fear that youth won over experience Clinton & Gore promised to hold true to the principles that have guided this country since the beginning. The vox populi spoke in greater numbers than seen for nearly 30 years as voters were urged by everyone from rock stars to religious leaders to exercise the right to vote

Grace under pressure

President Bush like the true statesman that he is conceded defeat graciously. His Patrician upbringing was in evidence as he offered sincere congratulations to his opponent and promised to work with the next administration to ensure a smooth transition for the benefit of the Democracy.

Bush’s love of country and desire to “do the right thing were never more in evidence than Nov3 as he made his concession speech.

As the head of the Grand Old Party Bush thanked the party war horses who had been with him in success and defeat throughout his political career.

The lesson of history is clear in Bush’s defeat. Just as the British turned Churchill out after WWII the U.S. electorate let Bush know that they were grateful for his “Cold War” win but that his focus on foreign policy blinded him to the economic crises in his own back yard.

Republican Strategists failed to “find a message” that would convince voters that “four more years” would be worth the chance given the record of the last 12 years of Republicans heading the executive branch. Arguments that blamed Congress for gridlock back fired when Bush’s veto record and the numbers in the new Congress showed the Democrats would continue to hold the majority Voters questioned how an administration that failed to compromise with the legislature for the past four years could hope to turn the tide in the next four.

Feisty to the end

The spoiler was Ross Perot. When grassroots volunteers made sure the billionaires name appeared on state ballots Democrats and Republicans realized that change was in the air.

Getting the “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore” group as well as those who were looking for some plain talk Perot helped keep the focus on the economy the deficit and the desire of Americans to deal with problems once confronting them at home.

His paranoid claims of Republican dirty tricks leading to his July ship jumping were doubted by many but his respectable 17% of the popular vote let the major parties know that their hold on the presidency was tenuous.

Feisty as always Perot conceded that he lost the battle but not the war. His offer to assist the Clinton administration and Clinton’s acceptance will give the benefit of these plain speakers ideas to all.

High Hopes and Brave Hearts

As the voices of supporters sounded out “We want Bill” in the streets of Little Rock there was no doubt that this new generation was what the voters wanted. As Clinton stepped up to make his acceptance speech the “Baby Boomers” crossed the line from adolescence to adulthood.

“My fellow Americans” Clinton began and it was hard not to be reminded of another young and handsome president whose words inspired a generation Clintons personal and political resemblance to his hero J.F.K. was evident in his speech.

“We’ve heard the Clarion call for a new beginning” “We come with high hopes and brave hearts to seek the best those committed to rolling up their sleeves and going to work the time to cast blame is past now is the time to assume responsibility” This harkened to a time when a president said “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”

Clintons offer of a “hand up not a hand out” and his praise of a diverse groups working together to “Give our future back” was vintage Martin Luther King hitting somewhere between “I have a dream” and “Keep hope alive.”

Gore followed with a conciliatory nod to the old guard when he said “age doesn’t change what we believe our beliefs are the same as for fathers but age offers a different perspective and desire to go in a different direction.” This election affirms this great experiment (Democracy) A peoples sovereignty is all important The founding principles of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness remain at the heart of this country’s citizenship.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 13, 1992