Perot Assails Status Of U.S. Economy

By Wendy King/AllPolitics

WASHINGTON (Oct. 16) -- "We have more debt than we have money in print," said Ross Perot, assailing the status of the American economy. "We have serious problems."

Perot's appearance and the town hall-style question-and-answer format on CNN's "Larry King Live" was designed to be similar to the second and final presidential debate. Claiming the government's debt is out of control, Perot said, "A baby born tonight will pay an 82 percent tax rate" to pay for it when he grows up.

Perot also railed against the Washington establishment, saying that while policy-makers in Washington were essentially good people, "they are trapped inside a bad system. Both political parties are bought and paid for by the special interests that fund campaigns."(128K WAV sound)

Perot aired a half-hour "infomercial" on prime-time television on NBC earlier Wednesday night, charging Clinton with accepting millions of dollars from foreign nationals and using more than $30 million in Democratic party funds for his re-election campaign.

Neither Clinton nor Dole adequately addressed the issue of campaign finance reform, a Reform Party staple, Perot said. What America needs, he added, is "a whole new standard in government."

Perot cited the report released last week by Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, which accused both the Republican and Democratic parties of criminal use of campaign funds. "The only people that count should be the voters," he said. "We need a party that belongs to the people."

Perot reached out to various parts of the population, asking those in the armed forces to "make one more mission" and calling on 18- to 35-year olds to show up and vote "because we're working night and day so that they have a better country," Perot said. (96K WAV sound)

He also touched on NAFTA, foreign policy and crime, saying the country ought to be "run for the benefit of law-abiding citizens."(96K WAV sound)

"We will change the course of this great country to make the 21st century the greatest in our history," Perot said. "I can't stand to stand on the sidelines... knowing our children and grandchildren won't have the opportunities we have."

Perot Assails Status Of U.S. Economy

Related Stories: