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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 15, 1993                   TAG: 9303150572
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

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PUT ASIDE PARTISANSHIP

THERE IS little doubt that many epithets and nicknames can, and will be, applied to President Clinton because of his reversal of campaign positions and decision to impose new taxes on the middle class. They may well be deserved, although we should have long ago learned not to put our trust in politicians.

Epithets and polemics, however, do not feed the bulldog. Clinton is our president, and our government continues to face a severe economic crisis.

If he has proven unworthy of our trust, it is up to us to turn to our congressmen and senators and urge them to fashion an economic package that will in fact reduce the deficit at whatever the cost, and answer the rapidly building unemployment resulting from defense reductions, increased automation, and the long-term changes in our industrial base.

All should be able to agree on the simple earmarking of proposed tax increases to reduction of the national debt, to curbs on government spending, and to a realistic understanding of just what government can afford to do in the way of health care, relief of poverty and other social ills.

The choice is not, as Clinton declares, between his plan and doing nothing. Reasonable legislators who choose to place their country above political expediency can, I am certain, lay aside their liberal or conservative views in the national interest and craft a workable scheme to restore financial vitality to our government and assist those who cannot provide for themselves.

If they are so bound up with their partisanship that this is not possible, then I fear for the future not only of this administration but of our free government itself. CABELL F. COBBS ROANOKE

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