THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509280016
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
There's a world of difference between the majority and the minority roles, between governing and playing the gadfly.
Speaker Newt Gingrich made his reputation as a bomb thrower and insurrectionist. So there was some concern whether he'd be a sober and responsible when entrusted with power. For the most part, he's behaved with suitable restraint in guiding his conservative revolution.
But he slipped badly recently by suggesting the government might default on its obligations if a budget deal couldn't be struck. The remark sent a shiver through the bond market. Foreign investors have begun looking at investing in U.S. debt as a far riskier proposition.
Loose lips move markets, in other words. Gingrich tried to back off the next day, but the damage was done. He must learn to watch his tongue since he's no longer just making up good sound bites. He's influencing events.
Sen. Jesse Helms is having even more trouble adapting to a governing role. For years he's been notorious as Senator No - an obstruction to Democratic plans for foreign policy. He's used his mastery of parliamentary procedure to gum up the works and extort concessions.
Now, however, he's in charge of foreign relations for the Senate and as such represents, in some sense, U.S. policy to the world at large. But old habits die hard. Helms is still up to his old tricks. He's halted all business at the committee he's supposed to be running. He's frozen 400 State Department promotions. Thirty ambassadorial nominees are in limbo. One embassy in seven lacks an ambassador. A dozen treaties and international agreements are stalled, including pacts on strategic arms and chemical weapons.
Why has Helms virtually shut down foreign policy in the Senate? Not because he opposes the nominees or the treaties in question. He's simply holding them for ransom. He wants to reorganize the State Department by folding agencies for arms control, foreign aid and information into it. The Clinton administration opposes those changes. To get his way on this particular issue, Helms is willing to bollix up foreign policy in general.
When Helms indulged in these antics as a quixotic minority senator, they could be dismissed as one eccentric's crusades. Now, Helms is seen as speaking for the Senate, for the majority Republican Party and for the United States.
His hijinks are bad for the orderly conduct of policy, bad for the morale of those trying to execute it and bad for the country if foreign powers conclude such buffoonery constitutes U.S. policy. Helms must learn how to act more like a leader, less like a loose cannon. by CNB