June 28 / Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 right by the seniors in this country and that thing to make America a better, stronger, more we have paved the way with the prescription united place.’’ drug program. This man symbolizes that. There If he wins, it will go like a rifle shot across are a thousand other issues that we’ll be voting America. And if we don’t succeed in getting on. this done between now and November, because But you just remember this. When you talk they think their phrases that the pollster gives to people about the elections, say, ‘‘Well, you them will substitute for deeds, you can be sure know, I went to this party for this fellow, if he gets elected, it will happen, and it will Schweitzer. He’s from Montana, and he’s doing be a much better country. these crazy things for these people to prove Thank you very much. to them we’re getting the shaft on prescription drugs for seniors. But what it says is, he wants NOTE: The President spoke at 8:08 p.m. at a pri- to do something with our prosperity. He wants vate residence. In his remarks, he referred to re- to do something for people who need help, not ception hosts Beth and Ron Dozoretz. Mr. just for those of us who can afford to come Schweitzer was a candidate for U.S Senate in to an event like this. And he wants to do some- Montana. Remarks at a New Democrat Network Dinner June 28, 2000 Thank you very much. I have here in my you said about me, you know, when we started hand a Mont Blanc pen left on this platform, in ’93, we carried the economic plan by a vote— I presume by Simon—[laughter]—who could just a vote. As Al Gore says, whenever he voted, not afford one of these when he worked for we won—in both Houses. And I want to pay me. [Laughter] I am really proud of you— special tribute to those of you who were there [laughter]—and I thank you. You’ve been great. then and who were part of the whole idea base This is really wonderful. of the New Democratic movement. And I want Now, I don’t know how well the rest of you to say a special word of appreciation to my know Senator Lieberman. I think I know Sen- friend and neighbor of many years Dave ator Lieberman reasonably well—30 years worth McCurdy, who was a big part of that. I thank of reasonably well. And normally he’s so laid- you so much. Thank you. back and so buttoned-down and so controlled. We have all these people running for office And that’s the image of the whole New Demo- today. I guess I want to say a few words about crat crowd. But when he gets in front of a all of them. And I’ll come back to that. But New Democrat group, he becomes positively let me begin by saying that I hope this group ebullient. [Laughter] I mean, you could mistake will stay together after this election. And I hope him for Chris Dodd up here, the way he was that it will become a constant vehicle to merge talking. [Laughter] It was amazing. politics and policy in the best way. Listen, this deal he did tonight is a big deal. In Washington, we have too many people who Getting the disclosure of these secret commit- do policy but don’t do politics. And then we tees is a big deal for America, and we thank have people who do politics but don’t do policy. you. This is great. And this could really influ- And really it only works if you do both. There’s ence the outcome of some of the elections this nothing wrong with politics. I’ve always sort of year, and more importantly, it could ratify a enjoyed it. [Laughter] And I think I’ve embar- principle that we all, in both parties, say we rassed a lot of people because I’m not ashamed believe in, which is full disclosure. So now we’re of it. I love politics. I love the system. If it going to be given our chance, and it’s a great weren’t a pretty good system, we wouldn’t be thing. around here after over 200 years. It’s really Let me—I thank all the rest of you for com- nothing more than saying you like people. ing. I want to say, Joe, of all the nice things You’re interested in what they have to say, and 1338 Administration of William J. Clinton, 2000 / June 28 you think everybody counts. But we need a But what I want to say to you is our contin- place where people can be brought together ued progress depends upon ideas, continuous with their ideas and their legitimate political movement, and good politics. And that means, aspirations. among other things, that the people who are And I said this when the DLC had its sort here tonight who are up for reelection have of every-decade meeting to figure out the char- to be helped. And you’re helping them here, ter for the organization up in Hyde Park the but I don’t want you to stop here. I’ll just men- other day. But let me just remind you what tion a few. the New Democrats have wrought in the last First of all, Governor Nelson from Nebraska 7 years. back there—most people say we couldn’t hold In addition to the dramatic turnaround in the Bob Kerrey’s Senate seat, but he’s going to hold fiscal picture of the country that Senator it. And I served with him for many years as Lieberman mentioned, we had the family and Governor. I have enormous respect for him. He medical leave law; welfare reform; 100,000 po- will be a genuine New Democrat in the Senate. lice; the Brady bill; doubling the earned-income He needs your help to win. tax credit; going from one to 1,700 charter I think in some ways, the ultimate test of schools in this country; all the trade initiatives, whether you can combine fiscal conservatism, including now over 280 separate trade agree- social liberalism, and astonishing personal cour- ments; the empowerment zone program and the age, will be whether Chuck Robb will be re- reinventing Government program, both of which elected in Virginia. And I think you can help were strongly pushed by the New Democrats, him. which the Vice President led; and of course, my personal favorite, national service, where Debbie Stabenow is going to give us a seat now 150,000 young people have followed Alan in Michigan. But she’s in a hard race, and she Khazei and City Year’s lead to go out across needs your help. Cal Dooley has to fight in this country. every election he ever runs in. [Laughter] And And they built a great, broad bipartisan sup- he spent a lot of time with this New Democratic port. Former Senator of Indiana, Republican Network. I just want to say one thing about Senator Dan Coats had a great article in the Cal. Hill newspaper yesterday talking about how he He spends a lot of time that he doesn’t have changed his mind about AmeriCorps, that we to spend, working on getting us all together were never interested in supplanting the civic for trade, working on getting us all together sector of our society but wanted to strengthen for the New Democratic Network. Whenever it and support it. And that’s exactly what the they need any of us to get together, and all national service has done. So you can be proud the rest of us will come when we’re asked, Cal’s of that. there doing the asking. He comes from a tough In this year alone, we’ve had the Africa/Carib- district. They’ve been very supportive of him, bean Basin bill. We are about, I believe, to and very understanding, but he needs and de- pass the China trade bill. We have the bill to serves your help. Because all the times he’s been help Colombia, which I strongly believe is a out here working to get us together—and half New Democratic measure. We took the earnings the time to do things we should have done limit off Social Security. And we still have a on our own without his having to ask us—he chance, in addition to passing this campaign fi- could have been home getting votes. So I want nance measure, to expand the earned-income you to help him. He needs it. Thank you. tax credit again; to pass the new markets legisla- I want to thank all the rest who are here. tion, which has broad bipartisan support; to do I want to mention one or two others. But I more to close the digital divide and reduce hate thank Adam Smith and my Congressman, Vic crimes in our country; to pass Senator Snyder, who’s here, and Bob Etheridge, my Landrieu’s great initiative to permanently set longtime friend from our education days, and aside massive funds to protect precious lands Loretta Sanchez, who made Orange County safe along our coasts and throughout the country for- for Democrats—[laughter]—and Jim Davis and ever. And we’ve got this possibility for paying John Larson and Ron Kind and Jim Moran and the country out of debt, for the first time since my good friend Harold Ford.