Naturalization Abuses?

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Oct. 29) -- The Clinton Administration's top immigration official on Tuesday rejected Republican allegations of government tampering with the naturalization process to allow immigrants with criminal records to win citizenship to benefit Democrats at the polls. Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Doris Meissner said there had "absolutely not" been any political pressure exerted to approve naturalization of aliens. She called the GOP charges "exaggerated," and said an internal review shows only a "tiny fraction" of new citizens have criminal records. The Republican-controlled House Government Reform and Oversight subcommittee is examining FBI criminal background checks on more than 50,000 newly naturalized U.S. citizens to determine whether any were granted citizenship in a pre-election rush.

Gore v. Gingrich

SEATTLE (AllPolitics, Oct. 29) -- Vice President Al Gore returned to the Pacific Northwest Monday and today to deliver a scathing report card on the Republican-led Congress and support local candidates. In an energetic and passionate speech in Seattle, Gore urged voters to turn out on election day and cast the GOP out of office. "It depends on you electing Democrats! It depends on turnout! It depends on you!" Gore said. He reserved his most scathing attacks for House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "I want you to keep fresh in your minds what happened after the Republicans gained control two years ago and embarked on an extremist course," Gore said. Washington state sent six Republican freshmen to Capitol Hill in 1992, but those freshmen are in close races this year.

Kemp v. Gingrich

SUN CITY, Ariz. (AllPolitics, Oct. 29) -- It's not surprising that Vice President Al Gore has been criticizing Newt Gingrich. That his opponent is doing the same thing may be. But that is what GOP vice presidential nominee Jack Kemp is doing by laying partial blame for the Republican party's election woes on shoulders of the controversial House speaker and his role in the federal government shutdowns. "I think the mistake was allowing the government to be shut down... My friend Newt, I believe, sent a wrong signal," Kemp said. Kemp said that the budget battles also opened the door for Democratic candidates to accuse Republicans of wanting to cut Medicare. "The fear campaign being waged against the Congress has been outrageous," Kemp said. But Gingrich isn't taking Kemp's words personally. He said, "I'm glad Jack is talking about Medicare... I agree with Jack that it is wrong for Bill Clinton to use Medicare to deliberately scare 85- and 95-year-old senior citizens."

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