>Sender: >To: >X-Original-Message-ID: <021e01bf11d6$07f714d0$9acf69cf@pacbell.net> >From: "Peter McWilliams" >Subject: Pineapple, anyone? >Date: Fri, 8 Oct 1999 14:42:34 -0700 >X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 >X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 > > >WHY BOB DOLE NEEDS VIAGRA -- AND A GOOD IMAGINATION... > > >Los Angeles Times > >Thursday, October 7, 1999 > > >Dole Promises Anti-Drug Fight > > >By SANDRA SOBIERAJ, Associated Press Writer > > > > > > WASHINGTON--Taking a stand at the Mexican border, Republican >presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole today promised a strong fight against >illegal drugs and an unhesitating cutoff of U.S. aid to any foreign country >that fails to cooperate. > "President Elizabeth Dole will lead a crusade with the goal of a >drug-free America," Dole said in remarks prepared for delivery at >Borderfield State Park on the California-Mexico border. > "I do not and will not -under any circumstances -support the >legalization of marijuana or any other drug," she said. As for Clinton, "he >lacks the moral authority to send a message that drugs aren't cool," Dole >added. > The get-tough address is her third in a rollout of what aides call the >four cornerstones of her campaign: education, national defense, drugs and, >still to come, taxes. > Her campaign hoped Dole's focus on illegal drugs would earn her credit >for leadership on an issue that voters do not rank as a priority public >opinion polls. > "Pundits and pollsters tell me that drug abuse is not an important >issue. But I don't get my passion from polling," Dole said. She noted >studies that show a doubling of teen drug use since 1992, the year Clinton >was elected. > With her back to Mexico, Dole stood about 30 feet from the border fence >as she made her remarks. Afterward, a Dole campaign worker slipped a copy of >her speech through the fence to a Mexican reporter. > About 20 people, mainly campaign workers, looked on from the California >side. About 10 people watched from the Mexico side. > On the international front, Dole said Clinton has rendered hollow the >United States' "certification" process, whereby foreign countries with lax >counter-narcotic efforts are supposed to be punished with economic >sanctions. > In March, Clinton certified Mexico as an ally in fight against drugs >despite its disappointing record of extraditing of drug criminals and a >declines last year in cocaine and heroin seizures. > "It is time we throw down the gauntlet and cease timid negotiations >with foreign governments that cannot or will not put a stop to the >production or smuggling of drugs," Dole said. > "Mexico, long a close friend and important neighbor, needs to extradite >drug lords to the United States and make a concerted effort to reduce the >flood of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and crack across the border." > She opposed any increases in U.S. military aid for Colombia until it >reclaims a zone where Dole said the government has ceded control to >"narco-guerillas." > Dole said she would meet personally with all foreign leaders in an >effort to foster counter-narcotic cooperation. But if all else fails, she >pledged to cut aid to countries that "do not vigorously combat the drugs >that are destroying our communities and killing our young people." > Trying to break through with limited cash in a Republican nomination >race dominated by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Dole presented her >drug-fighting experience in a way that served to remind voters of her >executive and public-service credentials. > During her tenure as secretary of Transportation, Dole said she >instituted random drug testing of all rail workers after a deadly rail >accident was blamed on operators found to be using marijuana and alcohol. >She also made the department the first civilian agency to begin random drug >testing of its 30,000 employees in critical safety and security positions, >such as air-traffic controllers. > On Wednesday in Kentucky, in the heart of tobacco country, she >criticized a Justice Department lawsuit against tobacco companies that seeks >to recover billions of dollars that taxpayers have spent on smoking-related >health care. > She said the government should instead focus on making sure that more >than $240 billion cigarette-makers already have agreed to pay the states is >spent on anti-smoking education for children. She also called for an all-out >effort to prevent tobacco companies from selling cigarettes to young people. > > > > > >================================================================ > >This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to > the mailing list . >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: