One of the least edifying spectacles in Washington these days (always excepting the White House is watching Republican contortions over what to say about the presidential zipper problems. Newt Gingrich counsels his colleagues to stay mum; Arlen Specter gives aid and comfort to the Clintonistas; Dick Armey (following Tom DeLay's lead) lectures schoolchildren on the shamelessness of the president.
But if you're looking for the epicenter of GOP confusion, look no further than Frank Luntz, the consultant who takes credit for having drafted the Contract With America. Luntz, who makes a living putting words into the mouths of lawmakers, has given very strict orders to Republicans in Congress on how to talk about Clinton and scandal. The only problem is, he keeps changing those orders.
Just days after the Monica Lewinsky affair broke, Luntz rushed out a memo to congressional Republicans calling on them to "refrain from commenting on the latest allegation against President Clinton." Why? Because, wrote Luntz, " if you comment, you will take a nonpartisan, non-political situation and make it both partisan and political."
Fast-forward to late March. Luntz, in a "confidential" memorandum widely distributed to reporters, changed his tune. "To everything, there is a season, " waxed Luntz, so "the season of silence must end." Luntz argued that Republicans did the right thing by not rushing to judgment (read: following his original advice), but now "it would be wrong to allow Bill Clinton to escape responsibility for his actions." As a service to Republicans, Luntz also included two pages of questions for them to ask in public. Included were gems like "When will Americans finally hear the truth?" and "What example is Bill Clinton setting for our children?"
Stop the presses! Luntz has now changed his tune again. As of the first week in April, he believes Republicans should focus on policy disputes they have with the president, emphasizing tax reform, the IRS, and Social Security. "Some Republicans keep waiting for the other shoe to drop on Clinton," Luntz told the New York Times. But "Bill Clinton is a survivor." Yes, and among the many other things he's survived is Frank Luntz's advice.