Clinton Says Top Priorities Are Education, Work

[Clinton] ASHLAND, Ky. (AllPolitics, Aug. 25) -- In an exclusive interview with CNN, President Bill Clinton said his two main priorities in a second term would be to promote education and to put welfare recipients to work. He also criticized GOP nominee Bob Dole for lacking vision.

While "our economic house is in order," the president said, not all Americans are taking advantage of "this new global economy." That's why he's stressing education and work.

"My first priority is education, is making community colleges universal in four years, as high school is today, with a $1,500 refundable tax credit for the first two years of education after high school," he said, "and making college available to everybody by a $10,000 tax deduction, hooking up all the classrooms to the information superhighway and passing other educational initiatives.

"My second priority, for the same purpose, to hook everybody into it," he said, "is devising ways to move people from welfare to work, so that this doesn't turn out to be just a cruel budget cut, welfare reform, but we actually create jobs for people to move from welfare to work....And creating incentives to focus on the inner cities and the isolated rural areas, which have been left behind. Those are two big priorities we have to focus [on], and we can make a real difference if we do."

After praising Dole's record, as he often does, Clinton faulted the GOP nominee for lacking vision and for being a partner with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whom Democrats are painting as the GOP boogeyman.

"Here, right before the general election, long after he (Dole) was the nominee, he adopts an economic theory that he had rejected all his public life -- this big tax cut, which we can't afford," Clinton said. "So I would say the idea -- the theory of his campaign is the biggest weakness. (359K AIFF or WAV sound)

[Clinton and CNN anchors] "The other weakness, I think, is the record that he and Mr. Gingrich established in the two years they were in control of Congress," the president said. "I think they were wrong on a lot of things, and...the first two years of my administration, the things they fought me on, I think the evidence has proved that I was right and they weren't."

Dole today again hammered the Clinton Administration for recent figures showing increased use of illegal drugs among teens. While acknowledging he had reduced funding for the drug czar's office, the president responded with candor: "Whatever we've done has not worked, and we all need to face that, but I don't know that placing political blame helps us very much," he said. "If anybody has got a better idea, I'd be happy to look at it." (104K AIFF or WAV sound)

Clinton grew animated when questioned about the ongoing Whitewater probe, especially for colleagues who have incurred considerable legal expenses. Clinton said he felt "terrible" about it, saying, "I'm going to help pay their legal bills if it's the last thing I ever do ...."

He also said he thinks these people should be reimbursed for their legal fees with government funds.

"If people have never been accused of doing anything wrong, there's no evidence that they did anything wrong, they never agreed to plead guilty to any crime, they never agreed to do anything, and they've got big bills just because (Whitewater chairman Sen. Alfonse) D'Amato's committee called them three, four, five times, you bet I would support legislation to pay their bills," the president said. (151K WAV sound)

Clinton said earlier he would support legislation to pay legal bills of former White House travel office chief Billy Dale, who was acquitted on charges by the Clinton White House he misused travel office funds.

On a personal level, the president said he and First Lady Hillary Clinton had talked seriously about adopting another child -- now that Chelsea is less than a year away from college. And what will he do after he leaves the White House, at age 50 or 54? After joking he might join the seniors golf tour, Clinton suggested he and the first lady could open a joint law practice.

Clinton Says Top Priorities Are Education, Work

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