‘Sweet’ Reno Has Wrong Job, Gramm Says

Janet Reno is “a very sweet lady,” but should not be attorney general because she cares “more about day care than . . . about violent crime,” Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.) said Friday.

“I believe some people should have that priority, but I do not believe they should be attorney general of the United States,” Gramm said in a speech to the Republican National Committee.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Gramm said he did not mean to sound condescending.

“I wish more people would call me sweet,” he said with a smile. “I don’t understand why they don’t. . . . In fact, of all the Cabinet officials, I like her personally better than any of the rest.

“The point is maybe a person with her perspective should be head of Health and Human Services,” Gramm continued. “But I want the chief law enforcement official of the country to be more concerned about prosecuting criminals than about child care.”

Reno has not said she thinks day care is more important than prosecuting violent crime. But she has said she believes that a root cause of crime is the lack of day care and other social services for low-income children.

Gramm said he thinks child care is “an important part of the puzzle, but it is not her part of the puzzle.”