Former GOP, Democratic Chairs Lock Horns in IOP Debate

The former heads of the Republican and Democratic Parties sparred yesterday at a debate at the Institute of Politics (IOP).

Haley Barbour, who oversaw the "Republican Revolution" in 1994, and Steve Grossman, who helped in the first re-election of a Democratic president in 52 years, were part of the study group led by IOP Fellow David Pryor, a former U.S. senator and governor of Arkansas.

The debate, entitled "How the Republican and Democratic Parties see the Elections of 2000," included issues such as the economy, Kosovo and hate crimes.

"The 2000 elections are very important. The stakes are very high," Barbour said.

Barbour said that presidential, congressional and state elections were likely all to be closely contested in 2000. As a result, he said it might be possible for one party to sweep to power in all three arenas.

And, since three or four Supreme Court judges could be retiring during the first four years after 2000, this presidency has acquired additional long-term significance.

Grossman agreed, adding that division within the Republican Party would help the Democrats.

"All the marbles are on the table," Grossman said. "And there is an ideological food fight for the soul of the Republican Party. I feel good--not overconfident, but good--about our chances in 2000."

The elections should focus on the economy and taxes, Barbour said, because these issues are often the bread and butter of campaign politics.

"Did we spend 30 years balancing the budget to let the government spend it immediately?" he said.

Grossman agreed that the economy should be an important issue, but also said that President Clinton was responsible for tax reform and that Democrats had shed the image of "tax-and-spend liberals."

"It is the Democratic Party that has been thoughtful and fiscally responsible in tax reform," Grossman said.

He cited the Earned Income Tax Credit, the lifetime learning credit and other tax cuts as evidence of Democrats' concern for "real economic progress."

Barbour disagreed, blaming Clinton for what he saw as a tax problem in the country.

"Since Clinton has come into power, the [Gross Domestic Product] has increased 16 percent, personal income had increased 17 percent and the personal income tax has increased 43 percent," he said.

Grossman said the issue of a minimum wage was part of any discussion about taxation, saying Republicans were ignoring the concerns of working people.

"I know what it is like to pay a minimum wage, Haley," Grossman said. "I run a business. [An increased] minimum wage is not going to undermine the wonderful growth that we have had for the last six and a half years."

Grossman talked about the difference between Democrats and Republican in the area of hate crimes.

"There are only 10 states that have [gay] employment discrimination laws," Grossman said. "We are trying to pass a national discrimination employment law."

Barbour said that he did not discriminate against anyone, on any basis, and that there should not be any categories for "special" crimes.

"If my son was killed, should his murderer get a lesser sentence because my son wasn't a homosexual?" Barbour asked.

Grossman countered by saying that racism and bigotry existed in the workplace, despite the fact that the owner of a particular business may not be biased.

"It is a fact that people discriminate against gays and lesbians," Grossman said. "You may be a wise employer and treat your employees equally. But there may still be discrimination against some of your workers."

The two also debated the conflict in Kosovo.

"I think it is a tragic calculation that Clinton has sacrificed our honor and credibility on this issue," Barbour said, adding that the United States had no nationalinterests in Kosovo.

"What about Rwanda, East Timor, NorthernIreland, and Turkey? What about Sierra Leone,where more people have been killed there in themonth of January than have been killed in Kosovoin the last five years?" he said. "We have nobusiness in Kosovo."

"We do have a national interest in Kosovo,"Grossman countered. "America stands for something.There are big multinational corporations in Russiaand other countries that the IMF bails out, and wegive [the IMF] a lot of money. But when it's avicious tyrant going willy-nilly on the people ofSerbia, why don't we care?"

The two also gave their thoughts on the 2000election.

Grossman said that the key to winning theelections would be grassroots politicalorganizing, targeting specific voting groups anddemographics.

The outcome, he said, would be good forDemocrats.

"As many Democrats will tell you, we are hopingfor an election that will result in a Speaker[Richard] Gephardt," Grossman said

"What about Rwanda, East Timor, NorthernIreland, and Turkey? What about Sierra Leone,where more people have been killed there in themonth of January than have been killed in Kosovoin the last five years?" he said. "We have nobusiness in Kosovo."

"We do have a national interest in Kosovo,"Grossman countered. "America stands for something.There are big multinational corporations in Russiaand other countries that the IMF bails out, and wegive [the IMF] a lot of money. But when it's avicious tyrant going willy-nilly on the people ofSerbia, why don't we care?"

The two also gave their thoughts on the 2000election.

Grossman said that the key to winning theelections would be grassroots politicalorganizing, targeting specific voting groups anddemographics.

The outcome, he said, would be good forDemocrats.

"As many Democrats will tell you, we are hopingfor an election that will result in a Speaker[Richard] Gephardt," Grossman said