Clinton Asks 'Benefit Of The Doubt' on Medicare," read a Reuters dispatch last week. And with that wonderful headline, THE SCRAPBOOK hereby inaugurates a semi-regular feature on Inappropriate Clintonian Rhetoric. The president, to an audience of labor unions, said that in any future argument with the Republicans in Congress, "All I ask you is to look at the performance of our country over the last six years, and give us the benefit of the doubt."
We have slightly different advice for members of Congress. As you negotiate with the president on Medicare and other serious issues in the months ahead, whenever he asks you to give him the benefit of the doubt: Don't. Make doubt your friend. If the president makes a commitment, get it in writing . . . with a notary seal . . . and preferably with some of the president's personal funds in escrow.
As always, readers are invited to mail especially striking examples of Inappropriate Clintonian Rhetoric to THE WEEKLY STANDARD, Attn: SCRAPBOOK, 1150 17th Street, NW, Suite 505, Washington, D.C. 20036.