ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, November 21, 1996            TAG: 9611210072
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO 

THE COST OF CARRYING FLORIDA

You'd like to think a presidential campaign would leave the nation better off, having clarified the big issues and major choices facing the country and offering a mandate of sorts for leadership in the next four years. Alas, this isn't always the case.

This year's election was less edifying than most, not only because it left so little of a mandate, but also because both candidates did much they shouldn't have in efforts to attract votes.

The Republicans, for example, revived supply-side economics in hopes that a tax-cut giveaway would buy support. But even they couldn't rival President Clinton's drive to do whatever it took to win re-election, never mind the implications for governance.

Bringing up campaign analysis may seem like old news. But on a host of issues from immigration and Medicare to deficit reduction and foreign policy, the election has enduring consequences - not all of them helpful.

Consider tomatoes.

Clinton wanted in the worst sort of way to win Florida's 25 electoral votes. His efforts to scare the elderly about GOP designs on Medicare helped. His willingness to sign legislation that attempted to force other nations into supporting a boycott of Cuba was an obvious attempt to pander to Cuban-Americans.

Then there was this little trade deal on tomatoes.

It seems Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor put heavy pressure on Mexico to boost prices on its export tomatoes. Result: Florida's tomato crop, the largest in America, can sell at inflated prices too.

Never mind efforts to lower trade barriers and, in particular, the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has boosted agricultural commerce with Mexico and Canada. The Commerce Department, whose politicization is clear for all to see, launched an aggressive investigation into dubious charges that Mexico was dumping its plump tomatoes in the United States at low prices with the help of cheap labor.

Never mind that the International Trade Commission ruled the Clinton administration's strategy a violation of global trading rules.

The point is, Clinton won Florida. And you are paying more for tomatoes.

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