Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Perot, Stockdale statements differ on character, defense, Date: Thu, 29 Oct 92 14:38:17 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \HD Perot, Stockdale statements differ on character, defense, other issues \BY Major Garrett \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES For all of its rhetoric about straight talk, Ross Perot's campaign has a hard time keeping its message straight. Mr. Perot has faulted President Bush on matters of trade, economics and foreign policy. And though he said earlier that Bill Clinton's policies would lead the nation toward "socialism," his critique of Mr. Bush has been far more damning. But his running mate, Adm. James Stockdale, has been far more critical of Mr. Clinton. Adm. Stockdale attacked the Arkansas governor's involvement in anti-war protests, arguing they prolonged the Vietnam War, and has questioned his proposed military cuts. In a sharp departure from the man he calls his "boss," Adm. Stockdale has said the so-called character issue is relevant. Additionally, he expressed strong reservations about the environmental policies of Sen. Al Gore, Mr. Clinton's running mate. Even Mr. Perot's top aide, Orson Swindle, has been a persistent critic of Mr. Clinton. He recently said the governor's economic policy would be a "disaster" and has recommended that voters who do not support Mr. Perot should back the president. Mr. Perot and his running mate do agree that neither party has offered credible plans to balance the budget or eliminate the $4 trillion national debt. They say Washington will not change significantly if either is elected and both are adamantly pro-choice. Here's a synopsis of how Adm. Stockdale differs with Mr. Perot: * Character: "I think there is a case to be made for putting emphasis on character over these issues that we've been batting back and forth," Adm. Stcokdale said in the vice presidential debate. "Character of the leaders is the big variable in the success - long-term success - of an administration." Mr. Perot has said he would rather avoid discussion of the candidates' characters. * Defense: "Governor Clinton's plan is almost twice as much a cut as either one of us. I've been through the end of World War II and the surprise beginning of Korea to see how we . . . overcut the defense budget in the first place. I think that should be eyed with great suspicion," Adm. Stockdale said. Mr. Perot's agenda calls for $40 billion more in defense cuts than Mr. Bush proposed for 1993-1997. Mr. Clinton seeks $60 billion more in defense cuts than Mr. Bush over the same period of time. * Environmental policy: "I've read Senator Gore's book about the environment and I don't see how he could possibly pay for his proposals in today's economic climate. You know, the Marshall Plan of the environment and so forth," said Adm. Stockdale, referring to a proposal by Mr. Gore to devote $100 billion to combat pollution worldwide. He uses this figure as being roughly equivalent to what the nation spent in the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe. While he did not say the United States should bear the entire financial burden, Mr. Gore's book said the Marshall Plan should serve as a "model and inspiration." Mr. Perot has offered little guidance as to his own environmental policies. In a race in which undecided voters have been shifting among the president, Mr. Clinton and Mr. Perot almost nightly, and where pollsters expect many voters to decide at the last minute, these rhetorical nuances may be significant. "He's not your typical running mate in that he will not say exactly what the candidate says," said Martin Anderson, a scholar at the Hoover Institution and a longtime friend of Adm. Stockdale's. "I think he's incapable of lying." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM