THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120430
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GREENVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Possible presidential candidate Jack Kemp says the Democratic Party has ``lost its way'' and that voters in the 3rd District ``could perform no greater service to America'' than to elect Walter Jones Jr. to Congress.
Kemp, a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was the latest in a long line of Republican heavyweights to campaign for Jones, who is challenging Democrat Rep. Martin Lancaster in November.
The Democrats, Kemp said Monday night, have ``wandered off to the left. I know they talk right when they're running for re-election, but they walk left. The Washington Post said the Clintons have their right turn signal on, but they're turning left. You can get arrested in Greenville, N.C., for that.''
Kemp said there is a `` sea change'' taking place in North Carolina, as well as American politics, led by what he termed ``progressive conservatives.''
``You can have conservative values, and believe in conservative ideals, but at the same time, be progressive in terms of working for change and progress and a better future,'' Kemp said.
Kemp has long been an advocate for expanding the base of the GOP. He touched on that theme Tuesday, using a parable from the New Testament to illustrate his point.
``The Good Shepherd left 99 to look for one that was left behind,'' he said. ``We need a Congress that understands, and particularly a Republican Party, that understands that if we want this country and this community to move forward, we can't leave anyone behind. We have to have a compassionate heart for the poor, the downtrodden, the left behind, the left out.
``Poor people don't want welfare. They want jobs, and education and opportunity and a shot at the American Dream.''
Kemp told the audience to concentrate on the 1994 election, not two years from now.
``Don't worry about '96, take care of 1994,'' he said. ``Republicans have spent too much time worrying about the White House. You ought to worry about Congress. Every stupid idea of the last 40 years - other than Clinton's health care package - has come from the United States House and Senate. If you want to change America, change the Congress. Send Walter Jones to Congress in 1994.''
Kemp said conservative ideals aimed at giving Americans a ``shot at the American Dream'' could work in Haiti, and he criticized President Clinton's Haiti policy.
``That desire is in eastern North Carolina, and it's in East L.A. and in East Harlem. It's the desire of people to have their shot at the American dream. Really it's a universal dream. It'll work anywhere. It would've worked in Haiti if we didn't have a President invade them and occupy them. He couldn't take over health care, which is 14 percent of our economy, so he took over 100 percent of theirs.''
Kemp also made reference to Clinton's comments on the failure of health care reform.
``The President runs around blaming Rush Limbaugh for the loss of the health care package. I've never seen a president whine like this president,'' he said.
Kemp praised Clinton's actions in the latest Iraq crisis, but said the administration has a problem.
``Within one year, defense spending as a percentage of our economy, is lower than it was before Pearl Harbor. In two years, he has lost, I think, a lot of respect that we gained during 12 years of Reagan-Bush around the world.''
In a news conference after the speech, however, Kemp said the Iraq crisis should not be viewed in a political context.
``I support the president when he is doing the right thing,'' Kemp said. ``And I think he is doing the right thing. You've got to put the country ahead of party. I don't think the politics either matter that much, or have much consequence.''
As for his presidential aspirations, Kemp said he would make that decision next year.
``I'm going to make that decision in 1995, not '94,'' he said. ``I don't want to take away from the shot that (Republicans) have in picking up the House and the Senate. To me, that's more important than the White House.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Jack Kemp, above, was in Greenville campaigning for Walter Jones
Jr., who is running for the House.
by CNB