Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 14, 1993 TAG: 9306140575
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRFAX LENGTH: Long
What his speech and the "United We Stand America" banner haloing Perot's pint-sized frame are about, says the businessman-turned-crusader, is people "being so well informed that you cannot be influenced in how you vote by a Willie Horton ad."
Score one against George Bush and the GOP.
Bill Clinton's turn is coming. Ditto Congress. Ditto the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ditto lobbyists for foreign governments, spendthrift congressmen, and pesky reporters.
It is 15 months since the billionaire Texan burst onto the American political scene with all the force and unpredictability of a Panhandle dust storm. And this Friday evening appearance in a crowded suburban high school gym is proof aplenty that his ideas and charisma are swirling still.
Along the way, the message has shifted, coming down finally to this: no longer do Perot and top lieutenants talk about electing him president. Instead, as they plan for a state convention in Charlottesville next month, their stated aim is to influence the political agendas and candidate selection of both major political parties.
His immodest goal, says Perot, is that by the time of the 1994 elections, "United We Stand America" will "at a minimum be the swing vote in every congressional race" in the county.
And he hints at yet another hope: erasing the skepticism about himself and his followers rampant in some quarters. He tells his audience "My dream is that in the not too distant future . . . America will look on you like they do the Salvation Army," as individuals engaged in "selfless service to our country."
This is a far journey from last fall, when "Perot for President" bumper stickers dotted the country. Still, many of his admirers continue to wish for a Perot presidency.
"He's an American hero. He speaks with conviction and his motives are true," said Julie Marnell of Fairfax, who voted for Perot last year and would gladly do so again.
But the more common sentiment appeared to be that of Bill Marin, a self-employed graphic designer. "I think the guy's totally interesting," said Marin. As for a second run for President, "I don't think that's his strength . . . . His impact is in changing Congress."
Tom Overocker, Perot's chairman in Virginia, concurred: "If he has to run for president in 1996, we've failed."
Toward avoiding that end, "United We Stand America" conventions are being organized this summer in every state.
The time and date of Virginia's convention is still unsettled, but the aim is not. Delegates will set a state agenda and will seek to avoid the tone of internal bickering and dissent that plagued early organizational efforts.
"If people weren't by nature dissenters, they wouldn't be part of our organization," said Overocker, a former real estate appraiser from Reston, downplaying turmoil. To be sure, he said, there were three state chairmen in the first five months of the Perot presidential bid last year. But the fourth - Overocker - has been in office almost a year.
The organization's control by citizen volunteers highlights disagreements, he said. "A decision could have been made to create an organization, and then say `come play ball.' Or you could create a skeleton and let the people flesh it out. That's what we chose."
With characteristic punch and plain-spoken humor, Perot outlined a dozen or so prospective aims for national officials who want "United We Stand America" support. Among them:
A President should develop an "overall economic plan," one that phases in a balanced budget.
He or she should agree to an audited financial report at regular intervals, saying whether the goals are being met.
Congressmen and senators should support a balanced budget amendment, a line-item veto (allowing the president to veto individual spending projects), and term limitations that kick in if the country isn't on schedule financially.
Presidential and congressional salaries should be cut by 10 percent and staff costs by 25 percent.
Political action committees should disband and lobbying generally be curtailed.
Perot, who spoke for about 75 minutes Friday and took no questions, toned down recent criticism of President Clinton and even poked a bit of fun at himself. He recounted the observation of one commentator that Perot would like to be "the corpse at every funeral and the bride at every wedding."
In the last two weeks, the Clinton administration has been saying, "we've got to get organized, set priorities. We're moving in the right direction," he said.
The "bad news," Perot quickly added, is that he still isn't happy with the government response in matters from health care to the economy.
He urged his listeners to speak up about their own discontent. "Both parties desperately want all of you," he said.
\ UNITED WE STAND AMERICA\ WESTERN VIRGINIA MEETINGS\ \ Bedford 3 p.m. June 26 at Liberty Park Lake.\ \ Marion 2 p.m. June 26 at the Smyth County Courthouse.\ \ Radford 7 p.m. June 26 at the Radford City Courthouse.\ \ Collinsville 1:30 p.m. June 27 in the board room of the Henry County Administration Building.\ \ Roanoke 7:30 p.m. June 29 in the Roanoke City Council chamber.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB