Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504100055
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA LENGTH: Medium
Jumping into the battle for public opinion for the next 100 days, Clinton gave the strongest defense yet of his decision to order a top-to-bottom review of such programs - already under fierce assault from the Republican majority in Congress.
``We have to realize that there is a real problem out there. We can't deny that,'' Clinton said.
Clinton had been expected to focus his speech, to a meeting of the state Democratic Party, on a repetition of his problems with remaining items in the GOP ``Contract With America,'' and his vow to veto programs that make large cuts in education, environmental and other social programs.
He did that at first. But, confronted with hundreds of activists in the audience waving green signs proclaiming ``No Retreat - Stand up for Affirmative Action,'' Clinton launched into an impassioned defense of his decision to review affirmative action programs.
``We don't have to retreat from these programs. ... But we do have to ask ourselves: Are they all working? Are they fair?
``This is psychologically a difficult time for a lot of white males, the so-called angry white males ... most of them are working harder for less money than they were making 15 years ago.''
His words at first drew chants of ``no retreat, no retreat'' from the sign-waving activists.
``Don't scream; let's talk,'' he said at one point. ``That's just what they want us to do. They want to get this country into a screaming match. ... We have to lower our voices.''
As he spoke on, making his case, the chants receded; finally, his words drew widespread applause from the audience of several thousand Democrats.
An initiative proposed for the 1996 ballot in California would repeal state affirmative action laws for government employment, contracting and university admissions. The proposal, drafted by two college professors and supported by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, requires 600,000 signatures to qualify.
Supporters want the Legislature to vote to put the issue before voters next March - at the time of California's newly shifted presidential primary. Failing that, supporters say they will qualify it themselves for November 1996.
Early statewide polls show it has strong support.
Clinton said Democrats can't allow themselves to be forced into a position by Republicans of defending programs that may be indefensible and should recognize that there are many examples of reverse discrimination in the country against white, often middle-aged males.
``What we have done is to give more opportunities to women and minorities. This is a very good thing, and we should not stop doing it,'' Clinton said. At the same time, he told the audience, ``we do not need to say that we're insensitive'' to the concerns of those who feel they have been the targets of reverse discrimination.
At issue are over 100 programs, many of them begun in the Nixon administration a quarter century ago, that give preference to women and minorities in housing, education and employment.
Clinton had planned to deliver a major affirmative action speech later in the month.
But his spokesman, Mike McCurry, said Clinton wanted to ``speak to the frustrations of the angry white male'' population sooner rather than later. ``Ninety-nine percent of the people we've talked to in the last 24 hours were ready for him to address that issue today,'' McCurry said.
by CNB