EDITORIAL
Ross returns to run
really relevant race
He’s buaaaaack. Ross Perot has answered the call of
"good, decent people” and has agreed to rescue the
presidential campaign from the clutches of the
issueless two-party monster.
Perot said he intends to force a debate on the is
sues. but only on those issues he decides are deserving
of his attention. That eliminates discussion of Bill Clin
ton’s draft record. George Bush’s knowledge about
Iran-Contra and Dan Quaylc’s intelligence.
However, it also eliminates any meaningful discus
sion of health care, education, poverty, the environ
ment, energy consumption and a myriad of other is
sues. Perot is a businessman, and as such, his focus is
on the fiscal health of the country.
Few would argue that uny issue is more important
than the nation's economy. However, health care, edu
cation, etc., are all issues that depend upon a strong
economy, and vice versa. But Perot is attempting to run
a single-issue campaign, and the American people
(hopefully) will vole for the candidate who offers the
best complete package of ideas.
Perot's late entry into the campaign must be
viewed with skepticism, if not suspicion. As voters
may recall. Perot dropped out of the race in July when
the media began investigating his background. In the
months since then, both Bush and Clinton have under
gone a grueling vivisection of their personal and pro
fessional lives. Meanwhile, Perot has been left virtually
unscathed, with the exception of having broken some
hearts with his initial pullout.
With less than a month to go before the election the
Perot campaign needs to be examined with a micro
scope. Allegations of Perot's use of private investiga
tors to spy on his employees is one of many questions
worth looking into. Perot's 800-number, through which
he tallied calls urging him to run, did not tally calls
urging him not to run. Rather, those calls were counted
as "Run. Ross. Run!”
Is Perot on an ego trip? Perhaps, but then again,
what politician isn't? Only someone with an enormous
sense of scif-importanco could survive the electoral
process that the media have created. And while there is
no legal requirement that politicians submit to for be
ing grilled alive, it is only fair that each candidate goes
through the same process, good or bad.
A best-case scenario has Perot forcing a debate on
the issues between Bush and Clinton. A worse-case
scenario has Perot becoming the central issue and dis
tracting Bush und Clinton from a meaningful debate.
Perot can't win, and he must be aware of that fact.
Whether his entry is the result of an overblown ego. or
a true desiro to help the country, remains to be seen.
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Whole story
"Activists vow to protust In
effort to save timber" read the
headline on an Associated
Press wire reprint In the Emer
ald Northwest news story
(Sept. 2B). However, the Emer
ald failed to reprint the entire
article, as recorded In The
Keglsler-Guani [R-G, Sept, 26).
"Log-truck driver Jim Kin
caid of Williams, who is out of
work, took part in a tour of the
(Sugarloaf Umber) sale Thurs
day pul on by the Forest Ser
vice. About 70 environmental
ists and a few other timber sup
porters joined the tour."
This was the final paragraph
of the Emerald article. To con
tinue ...
" 'Cod gave everything on
Earth for man to use,' he said. '1
think it's a damn good timber
sale. They'll be using helicop
ters to lift the logs out. There
isn't going to bo a lot of de
struction.'
"Environmentalist Lou Gold,
who spends his summers atop
Bald Mountain as the self-ap
pointed guardian of the North
Kalmiopsis Roadless Area, said
heavy logging already has se
verely hurt the urea.
" ' rhoro is this ocean of dev
astation out there, and this is
tho only Island of wholesome
ness.' ho said.
"There were no takers when
he offered a $100 bill to anyone
who could show hirn a 500
year-old tree in tho tree planta
tions surrounding the Sugarloaf
Sale."
End of AP story as printed in
The Register Guard.
Sadly, the editors of the Em
erald chose not to inform us of
these additional facts. Although
not un originally well-written
particularly balanced piece of
writing, it Is important to pro
vide) context to people's opin
ion and actions.
John Organ
Political Science
Don't delay
By now you probably know
the ASUO has boon working
hard getting students registered
to vote, hleven thousand letters
and cards wore mailed out. We
have also done wookend drives,
door-to-door, tables and mom.
All we am asking is for you to
register and vote. It only takes a
minute and the ASUO will
even pay for the postage.
Why are we doing this? Be
cause this election contains bal
lot measures that directly affoct
all of us as students. We are
also looking at candidates who
have different attitudes about
education.
Voting is tho most powerful
way as individuals we can
shape our government. It is our
way to let our officials know
what we want and what we
don’t, but you can’t be u part of
the process if you first don’t
register.
You have until (Jet. 13 to reg
ister. But don’t delay, register
today.
Bobby Lm
ASUO President
John Thomas
President, Student Senate
Bob started it
I disagree* with the editorial
tho Emerald ran on Oct. 2. It
road. "Packwood, AuCoin run
empty race."
You are correct in viewing
this race as one devoid of con
tent. What you failed to look at
is tho history of Dob Pack
wood's political career. Ho has
a well-developed pattern of ma
nipulating political campaigns
to ensure that important issues
am not discussed.
This is what ho does. He
raises ungodly amounts of
money in between his six-year
oloction cycle, und then uses
that money to Intimidate and
discredit his opponent.
This year he began his at
tacks on Les AuCoin oven be
fore tho contested Democratic
primary was completed. Ho re
alized ho could nut compete
with AuCoin on their records,
so he has deluged the air waves
with character assaults on Au
Coin Do you expect the Au
Coin campaign not to point out
this history of manipulation?
Boliove me, Les AuCoin win
ning this race is contingent
upon Rim forcing Bob Back
wood to discuss the issues. He
does not have tho money nor
the desire to play those mind
less games. I would expect the
Emerald to realize this.
Ryan P. Dackert
Political Science
Trap-setter
Bob Packwood has set u trap .
for voters. He runs vicious, neg
ative ads to which AuCoin
must respond or risk our be
lieving Packwood's claims.
Then the two are seen as equal
ly annoying and trivial.
Packwood needs to divert
our attention because if wo vole
on the basis of how the candi
dates stand on issues, ho will
lose.
AuColn was a loader in pass
ing the Oregon Wilderness Act
Packwood wants to overturn
the Endangored Specios Act.
AuCoin voted against the MX
missile and Star Wars exotica
Packwood supported them. Au
Coin wants a 60-percent cut in
defonso spending, >vith the
money to go to education, child
health, and similar programs
Packwood opposos any such
cut. AuCoin favors banning log
exports. Just last month Pack
wood blockod passage of a log
export bill.
AuCoin fougbt for years for
cable TV regulation. Packwood
voted against this consumer
protection bill (could his vote
have anything to do with the
S45.000 he's accepted from the
cable TV Industry?).
Packwood's gambling that
you'll look no further than TV
ads. After all, a campaign treas
ury of millions of dollars of
out-of-state money can buy lots
of ad agency talent. Don’t let
him buy your vote. Look at the
rocord and vote for Les Au
Coin.
Patricia Daniel*
Comparative Literature