THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 7, 1994 TAG: 9409070572
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GREG SCHNEIDER AND MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Yes, the senator said what it sounded like he said.
Faced with a question during Tuesday's debate about what entitlements should be cut to reduce the federal deficit, Sen. Charles S. Robb came out with this line:
``I would take food from the mouths of widows and orphans if I had to try to solve this problem.''
Robb immediately acknowledged that it was a tough line.
``It's a stupid line, that's what it is,'' L. Douglas Wilder shot back.
``It's, it's the only, but, but, lemme, lemme, th-this is the reason we don't solve the problem,'' Robb stammered.
``You may want to elaborate on that, senator,'' moderator Judy Woodruff said.
``Obviously, I'm not being literal in that,'' Robb finally said. ``But we clearly, we clearly have to make tough choices, and we can't always duck when you ask somebody where they're going to cut.''
He had been frustrated, Robb said later, because his opponents weren't specific about cuts. Robb was trying to get across the point that every entitlement - Social Security, Medicaid, welfare - ought to be exposed to the budget ax.
But it didn't come out quite right.
``I frequently say that (line) in discussion with members of the Senate,'' Robb explained after the debate. ``They know I'm saying that in jest, but we've got to make tough choices.''
His opponents saw the humor, but for all the wrong reasons.
``I'm not sure he's got enough time left in his term to explain that one,'' J. Marshall Coleman said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Independent Senate candidate L. Douglas Wilder, left, independent J.
Marshall Coleman and Republican Oliver L. North listen to Democratic
Sen. Charles S. Robb in Tuesday's debate at Hampden-Sydney College.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES DEBATE by CNB