DOLE SAYS ECONOMY `WEAK'.Byline: Brigid Schulte Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire Last week, Bob Dole told American voters to wake up. Now, he wants them to worry that fiscal disaster is just around the corner. ``It doesn't take a team of economists to tell you what happens when you mix slow growth with increased taxes,'' Dole warned a rally of about 1,000 supporters in tobacco country in Tennessee. ``That's the recipe for economic collapse.'' Dole described the economy under Clinton as ``barely afloat,'' ``weak'' and ``limping.'' ``If this is a recovery, I can hardly wait for a recession,'' Dole said. ``My economic plan is designed to steer the economic ship the other way.'' Dole quickly went through a litany litany (lĭt`ənē) [Gr.,=prayer], solemn prayer characterized by varying petitions with set responses. The term is mainly used for Christian forms. Litanies were developed in Christendom for use in processions. of recently released government figures to prove his point, including Tuesday's report that economic growth in the July-September quarter fell to a 2.2 percent annual rate from the 4.7 percent rate in the April-June quarter. The White House called the report good news, and many private analysts agreed that it showed that the economy is not overheating Overheating An economy that is growing very quickly, with the risk of high inflation. , thus reducing pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. But Dole saw it differently. ``So all this false and empty talk about the so-called Clinton recovery comes to an end. It ended today, with today's announcement,'' Dole said. ``Take off the mask. It's not Halloween, but take off the mask. The economy is not good.'' In concentrating on the economy, Dole did not totally abandon his recent theme of hitting Clinton for his campaign fund-raising fund-raising, large-scale soliciting of voluntary contributions, especially in the United States. Fund-raising is widely undertaken by charitable organizations, educational institutions, and political groups to acquire sufficient funds to support their activities. controversies. But he left the dirty work to Donald Rumsfeld, national campaign chairman, who issued a statement calling on Clinton to stop ``stonewalling'' and answer questions. ``Delaying, attacking the accusers and belated be·lat·ed adj. Having been delayed; done or sent too late: a belated birthday card. [be- + lated. pious pi·ous adj. 1. Having or exhibiting religious reverence; earnestly compliant in the observance of religion; devout. See Synonyms at religious. 2. a. calls for campaign finance reform Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns. is not good enough,'' Rumsfeld said in a statement released to reporters. ``What is needed is some honest answers - before Election Day.'' On Thursday, Dole will campaign in Florida with former Presidents Bush and Ford, aides said. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (color) Bob Dole and his wife, Elizabeth, acknowledge supporters during a stop in Clarksville, Tenn. 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. |
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