BILL CLINTON: Fact Sheet - 9/22/92 September 22, 1992 CLINTON VERSUS CLINTON WHETHER BILL CLINTON IS DISCUSSING HIS OWN PAST OR OUR NATION'S FUTURE, HIS ONLY CONSISTENCY IS HIS INCONSISTENCY. AS A CIRCUS ACT, CLINTON'S ADAPTABILITY WOULD BE IMPRESSIVE. BUT AS A PROFILE IN POLITICAL COURAGE, HIS STRADDLES AND WAFFLES PROMISE A FUTURE OF INDECISION AND DRIFT. Hikes in Fuel Efficiency Standards: "We'll accelerate our progress toward fuel-efficient cars and seek to raise the average goal for auto- makers to 40 miles per gallon by the year 2000." [Speech at Drexel University, 4/22/92] o Four months later: "I strongly believe we have to raise the mileage standards. But I have never said that I didn't think there was more than one way to approach it. I thought that the goal was a good goal. That's what I said in April." [Speech to Detroit Economic Club, 8/21/92] Going to War in the Persian Gulf: "I guess I would have voted with the majority if it was a close vote. But I agree with the arguments the minority made." [Arkansas Gazette, 1/15/91] o Sixteen months after the President's decisive victory: "I supported the Gulf War." [Los Angeles Times, 7/31/92] The North American Free Trade Agreement: " ... I think it is imperative that we make alliances with Mexico." [Southwest Times Record, 6/2/91] o But once the President makes that alliance possible: "I am reviewing [the NAFTA Agreement] carefully and when I have a definite opinion I will say so." [Speech to Detroit Economic Club, 8/21/92] Disappearing Middle Class Tax Cut: "I want to make it very clear that the middle-class tax cut, in my view is central to any attempt we're going to make to have a short term economic strategy and a long-term fairness strategy ... " [ABC News, Primary Debate, 1/19/92] o "But to say that this middle class tax cut ... is the center of anybody's econom[ic] package, is wrong." [ABC News Democratic Candidates' Debate, Dallas, 3/5/92] New Payroll Taxes: "We don't need to lead with a tax increase that asks hard working people who already pay too much for health care to pay even more ..." [Bill Clinton for President issues paper] o "There will be a buy-in tax, which they can call a payroll tax." [USA Today editorial meeting, 8/12/92] On His Draft Deferment: "[Clinton] says that, because of his willingness to be drafted, he never enjoyed a ROTC deferment." [Pine Bluff Commercial, 10/29/78] o "My deferment was withdrawn in October, I was put back in the draft pool." ["Nightline," 2/12/92] # # #