Climb Out of Mire With a Political Walk in Woods

On Wednesday morning after New York’s primary, Ed Rollins and I debated the results on CBS. Rollins was in Flagstaff, Ariz., while I sat in Washington. The inevitability of Clinton’s nomination was evident to both of us.

Then, in answer to a question about George Bush’s strategy against Bill Clinton in the fall, my friend Rollins said, “George Bush, will not use character as an issue in the fall campaign.” My response was, if Rollins believed that, then it was time for him to exhale whatever he was smoking in Flagstaff.

Clinton’s “character” will be the merciless centerpiece of the Republican general election campaign.

Dirty campaigning has been getting the GOP into the White House for at least the last 24 years. Why should this election be any different? Republicans have been looking at Democratic candidates and seeing communists in the ‘50s, hippies in the ‘60s, pacifists in the ‘70s, minorities in the ‘80s. The first presidential election of the ‘90s is likely to be innovative only in the worst possible way.

GOP glee at the prospects for November is understandable. Draft questions? Womanizing? Financial dealings? Evasive answers? Hillary as first lady? There’s no doubt the dirt has been sufficiently plowed this spring to allow for a full fall harvest. The question for Clinton is, can he nip this poisonous political fruit in the bud?

Interestingly, in the midst of the clamor about Clinton’s problems, there has been a less noticed family saga unfolding in the Bush household. And we’re not talking about a “Bonanza” episode. A smattering of the published reports:

-- Neil Bush and the savings-and-loan scandal. A pathetic $50,000 contribution to a $50-million settlement of a federal lawsuit involving the Silverado Savings and Loan, where he was a director. Silverado’s failure cost taxpayers an estimated $1 billion.

-- Prescott S. Bush and ties to the Japanese Mafia. The President’s older brother was hired as a consultant by a firm known to be controlled by the Japanese mob.

-- Jeb Bush and the S&L; scandal. The federal government has paid out $4 million to make good on an insolvent Florida thrift’s loan, the proceeds of which went to a partnership involving the President’s son.

-- The arrest of William LeBlond. The President’s former son-in-law was arrested in Massachusetts in 1989, on drunk- driving and drug-possession charges.

Do I suggest stooping to the Republicans’ level? Maybe, but let’s hope not. I propose a more diplomatic solution.

First, let the Clinton campaign hire five of the best investigators and accountants they can find. Send them out to collect information on the Bush family’s less than glorious excursions into the gray areas of business and the law. In short, let them compile the same book on the Bushes that I believe already exists at the White House on the Clintons.

Then one of the Clinton campaign’s heavies--say Los Angeles attorney Mickey Kantor or campaign strategist James Carville (the sort of guy who likes this kind of work)--requests a private meeting with Secretary of State James A. Baker III. It could be a long walk along the C&O; canal or, for those with an arms-control bent, a walk in the woods.

The message delivered is simple: If the Bush campaign, including any of their so-called independent committees, open up on Clinton’s character, the gloves come off. S&L;, BCCI, Tokyo Mafia--it all surfaces. And here’s a copy of our information that we’d like you to take back to the family. Make sure George W. Bush Jr., the most astute politician among the boys, sees it. In fairness, we want the family to look at it. The last person in the world we want to hurt is Barbara Bush.

I’d stress that Democrats don’t want to use this stuff. I would add that this country deserves a real debate this fall. Any mudslinging will undermine the validity of the mandate for whoever wins the election.

Carville, the Ragin’ Cajun who the Bush campaign particularly fears, might end the meeting with the hope than none of this should ever see the light of day. But, with that menacing Cajun glare, remind Baker that, if we have to, we will.

Who knows, this dive into sleaze may produce an election that no one expects and the American people badly need. Not one that turns even more voters off, not one that raises events that have nothing to do with where this country is heading and the leaders it needs to get there. Hell, if this standoff works, we might even have a discussion on the issues.