THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 TAG: 9608280412
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MEREDITH COHN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 56 lines
President Clinton's promise four years ago to ``end welfare as we know it'' has been kept, said Timothy Stokley, explaining why Clinton deserves to be re-elected.
The Democratic convention in Chicago was one day under way, and the views of strollers and shoppers in Greenbrier Mall reflected more on the president's past acts than on what he could face in the next term.
From a mall bench, Stokley and his friend, Marie Griffin, both 63, agreed that fixing the system to end ``cheating and laziness'' is among Clinton's most important accomplishments.
``I raised nine children, and I never got a welfare check,'' Stokley said. Griffin raised eight on her own.
Both said there had been hard times for them. They know others have fared worse.
``Welfare should help the ones that really need it,'' Griffin said. ``The difference between the parties is that the Republicans wanted to take that away, too.''
Waiting for her son across the mall, 41-year-old Laura Wilkins, said she works full time while attending classes. She also wants President Clinton to get tough on the welfare cheats who get her hard-earned tax money. But she trusts the president to remember the truly needy.
``He's against people taking advantage of welfare,'' she said. ``But he still has compassion.''
Others said their reasons for supporting the Democrats are different but still personal.
Erica Zysk, 17, said although she isn't old enough to vote, ``I like the president because he pushed the minimum wage'' through the GOP-led Congress.
As an office assistant, she'll get a raise.
And as the leader of a local group for the needy called Christian Action, Richard Hassell, 89, said peace is most important to him.
``Clinton believes in peace for everyone,'' Hassell said. ``He doesn't believe in letting people starve here or overseas.''
But at least one woman at the food court said that's all an act.
``He has no compassion,'' said 73-year-old Shirley Becker. ``He supports abortion and I could never vote for him.''
Becker said the Democrats feigned caring for the disabled by inviting paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve to speak at their convention.
``That's not what they believe in,'' she said. ``They used him. But he was very good anyway, the best part of the convention . . . I guess I can thank the Democrats for that.'' ILLUSTRATION: THE VIEW FROM HERE
Laura Wilkins
Erica Zysk
Richard Hassell
Shirley Becker
KEYWORDS: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION 1996 by CNB