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Pakistan Link – October 25, 1996 Why we should re-elect Bill Clinton? By Ras H. Siddiqui On Election Day this November 5 , the clear choice for the Pakistani American Community should be Bill Clinton. And there are not one but many reasons why we in particular and the United States as a whole should choose the Clinton-Gore ticket over Dole-Kemp. Bill Clinton has a lot more than relative youth going for him in this election. If some Pakistani Americans have not noticed the US economy is booming, interest rates are low for mortgages, the business environment appears sound and the Dow Jones is over a record 6000. If this is compared to the last Republican Administration of George Bush, why would we want to change? The prime strategy of the Dole campaign is the 15% Tax Cut that is promised to working Americans. In addition to this cut a balanced budget is also sought. How the two shall meet is anybody's guess. If we have forgotten the days of "trickle down economics" which were not exactly the good old days for many working families, let us not refresh our memories with the huge deficits and government borrowing leading to a giant increase in the national debt. One point that can be made here is that some of us would rather have a job and pay our taxes at current rates (for which we get services from the government in return, unlike some countries). The other option could possibly be happiness with a 15% Tax Cut in the unemployment line. The second area of concern is supposed to be the "character" issue. Travelgate, Whitewater and personal life are brought into the limelight, time and again.. The "sleaze factor" associated to the current White House is relatively benign if compared to let us say the Reagan Presidency when this description took root. Reagan also happened to be a pretty popular leader in spite of questionable practices (Iran-Contra etc.) during his presidency. Bill Clinton may have been a Liberal in his recent youth but he is today a political moderate. He can best be described as a "middle of the road" Democrat who has shown surprising fiscal conservatism and does not come even close to the "tax and spend" President that he is being made out to be. On his private life I believe that at times he falls back on basic honesty and his Southern sense of humor with the "didn't inhale" episode etc. Playing the saxophone on a television show is just a part of his personality, which should not impact his current accomplishments. They make him more popular in my book. His recent veto on recognition of same sex marriages makes him more of a family values President than we have give him credit for. The current backlash on the issue of immigration in this country has been fueled in part by the right wing conservative elements in this society. Immigration today is at center stage as is welfare reform and possibly minority rights. Proposition 187 passed in California was supposed to address illegal immigration problems but has miraculously snowballed and has started to impact legal immigrants as well at the national level. The Clinton Administration appears to be a lot more aware of protecting legal immigrant's rights than the other camp. Pakistani Americans are most concerned about Islam and Pakistan. In these areas let us remember that action (although late) was taken by a Democratic White House in Bosnia to broker a shaky peace there. In spite of strong opposition the Clinton White House sent American troops in large numbers to Bosnia protecting Muslims from further elimination. This action should have been taken by the Bush Administration. In the Middle East, the commitment to the Peace Process involving Arafat and the current Netanyahu Government remains. The highly efficient and effective Jewish Lobby in this country (as opposed to the much smaller Muslim effort), also appears to support this process for now or at least has not been able to sway things more Netanyahu's way. The Clinton Administration has been careful in handling the recent crisis and has shown that it is willing to play a more neutral role for Israeli-Palestinian peace. A welcome ambassador to Pakistan-America (and Muslim-American) relations has been the First Lady Hillary Clinton. Her visit to Pakistan and her acquisition of a South Asian wardrobe are not the issue. The fact is that the Clinton household is familiar with us as a people (our culture and religion) and has encouraged us to participate in the political and social environment by visiting with us. At a recent gathering for the Tim Johnson campaign to defeat Larry Pressler in South Dakota, the President showed up to greet the supporters of this effort, most of whom were Pakistani Americans. His concern for South Asia was well received at this occasion. Let us hope that a second Clinton term brings us closer to a resolution of Kashmir. It sure is refreshing to know that the awareness of South Asia's problems is there, and that with the support of friends of Pakistan on Capitol Hill maybe a peace process for the region can also begin. The President lent his support for the Brown Amendment and relations between Pakistan and the United States have improved since the Bush Administration. To conclude we have a people person in the White House, who has good success with the economy as many of us are better off (especially in California) then we were in 1992. He is familiar with Pakistan, the first lady and Chelsea have visited there already, and we have seen the President commit himself to a more active role in South Asia . So Pakistani Americans should support him in November. He has my vote and I hope that he has been able to earn yours. But no matter who you prefer PLEASE GO OUT AND VOTE on November 5th. |