CLINTON STORMS GOP STRONGHOLDS.Byline: Ron Fournier Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Sweeping across the South in a difficult bid to claim Republican strongholds, President Clinton on Saturday accused Bob Dole of practicing ``the old politics of division'' on affirmative action affirmative action, in the United States, programs to overcome the effects of past societal discrimination by allocating jobs and resources to members of specific groups, such as minorities and women. and immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. . ``Here, at the end of the election, some people are tempted to take advantage of these issues for political (gain),'' Clinton said. He devoted his weekly radio address and a rally at the Alamo Alamo Eighteenth-century mission in San Antonio, Texas, site of a historic siege of a small group of Texans by a Mexican army (1836) during the Texas war for independence from Mexico. to rebutting Dole's end-of-campaign call to end affirmative action and crack down on illegal immigration "Illegal alien" and "Illegal aliens" redirect here. For other uses, see Illegal aliens (disambiguation). Illegal immigration refers to immigration across national borders in a way that violates the immigration laws of the destination country. . More broadly, he also challenged GOP attacks on Democratic crime and welfare stances. Addressing immigration and affirmative action last week, Dole said bluntly, ``They're wedge issues.'' The White House said Dole's comments pitted Americans against Americans for political gain. ``He publicly expressed his pride in dividing America, which is distasteful, at best,'' press secretary Mike McCurry said. The Dole campaign said the Alamo remarks displayed ``typical Clinton hypocritical flair.'' Spokeswoman Christina Martin Christina Martin (Born - January 1980) came third in the 2006 Funny Women Awards. She has been writing features and articles for Viz Comic since April 2006 and has recently started writing for New Humanist magazine. added: ``He'd rather scare us than justify his continued support of divisive (racial) quotas.'' With the Alamo's white stone walls forming a backdrop, Clinton declared, ``When we come together in search of common ground, we are always, always stronger as a nation.'' In 1836, 189 Texans fighting for independence defended the Alamo against more than 4,000 Mexicans. The Mexicans won; all the Texans were killed. But their bravery was celebrated, and ``Remember the Alamo'' became a rallying cry Noun 1. rallying cry - a slogan used to rally support for a cause; "a cry to arms"; "our watchword will be `democracy'" war cry, watchword, battle cry, cry catchword, motto, shibboleth, slogan - a favorite saying of a sect or political group 2. when Texas fighters marched to victory six weeks later. In a subtle reminder of the age difference between him and Dole, Clinton used the phrase ``old politics'' or ``old labels'' more than a half dozen times. Clinton said that before he was elected in 1992, political divisiveness had rendered Congress incapable of acting on important problems that frustrated many Americans. He claims to have struck ``the common ground of politics'' on crime, welfare, race relations race relations Noun, pl the relations between members of two or more races within a single community race relations npl → relaciones fpl raciales and budget issues. ``Instead of bringing people together around common values, the old politics of division tried to drive wedges between us, to take advantage of our fears. We must never let that happen again,'' he said the radio address. By not mentioning Dole by name, Clinton hoped to appeal to voters weary of attacks leveled by both campaigns. Yet the president didn't shy away from Verb 1. shy away from - avoid having to deal with some unpleasant task; "I shy away from this task" avoid - stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something; "Her former friends now avoid her" language that Republicans might consider divisive, accusing the GOP of endangering the environment, schools and the entire federal budget. Clinton, whose speeches are getting more rambling and disjointed with every stop, confused even his aides at one point. ``Why is the election in doubt? Why aren't we ahead in Texas in the polls? . . . It is because we've practiced the politics of division for so long. We are trying to turn our opponents into aliens.'' Some aides thought Clinton was referring to polls showing a tightening of the Texas race. But McCurry said Clinton was simply mimicking Republicans who are worried about their standing in the state. Cruising into the final weekend still confident of victory, Clinton was visiting Texas, Louisiana and his home state of Arkansas. He was stumping for Democratic congressional candidates in all three states. The president hooked up with Hillary Rodham Rodham is an English surname which may refer to a number of persons or places. People Family of Hillary Rodham Clinton
Arkansas is solidly Clinton territory, but Republicans stand a good chance of claiming the seat of retiring Sen. David Pryor, D-Ark. State Attorney General Winston Bryant needs a boost from Clinton in his race against Rep. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark. Whitewater, the series of controversies that has claimed the careers of several Arkansans, was on the minds of Clinton and the statewide candidates. The president thanked Pryor and Sen. Dale Bumpers, D-Ark., for their support in Washington during ``some of the most overbearing and destructive tactics I have ever seen coming from the other side.'' Bryant called Whitewater a tool of Republicans and special prosecutor special prosecutor: see independent counsel. Kenneth Starr ``to bash and belittle be·lit·tle tr.v. be·lit·tled, be·lit·tling, be·lit·tles 1. To represent or speak of as contemptibly small or unimportant; disparage: a person who belittled our efforts to do the job right. our president and the state of Arkansas.'' An unusually small crowd greeted Clinton in his hometown, but several thousand were on hand hours later for a late-night rally on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans. Urging the Democratic faithful to turn out at the polls, Clinton said: ``Will you stand with us? We need you!'' As the band played a march, fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to exploded above the river and Clinton shook hands with dozens of people in the crowd. Louisiana has been considered a tossup state since early in the campaign. Clinton was ending his day in Tampa, Fla., where he hoped to shore up his bid to win the normally Republican state. He planned events today in West Palm Beach, Fla., New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire New Hampshire, one of the New England states of the NE United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts (S), Vermont, with the Connecticut R. forming the boundary (W), the Canadian province of Quebec (NW), and Maine and a short strip of the Atlantic Ocean (E). . CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) President Clinton, at an Alamo rally, criticizes Bob Dole's stands on illegal immigration and affirmative action. Associated Press |
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