GOP Ad Targets Clinton’s Talk on Tax Increase

The Republican National Committee announced Friday that it will begin airing a television advertisement this weekend featuring President Clinton’s statement that his 1993 tax increase was too large.

With the words “Bill Clinton on the largest tax increase in American history” superimposed on the screen, the 15-second ad shows the President telling a group of Democratic Party donors Tuesday in Houston: “You think I raised your taxes too much. It might surprise you to know that I think I raised them too much too.”

A voice-over says: “Republicans agree. That’s why we intend to keep our word and give middle-class families a real tax cut.”

After the late-night speech in Texas, Clinton said he had not meant to repudiate his policy and fully stood behind it. But Republicans gleefully seized on the remark anyway.

White House Chief of Staff Leon E. Panetta, reacting to the advertisement, said: “We’d love to have a debate on taxes.”