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Here is an old ad for Ban Lon shirts:
By Marc Humbert, Associated Press, 8/10/2000 14:23
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Blending her unique roles as first lady and U.S. Senate candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton plans a high-profile romp through the opening stages of the Democratic National Convention.
The four-day tour de force has some Democrats privately grumbling, particularly over her tapping into her husband's Hollywood connections to raise money for her campaign at a time when they want the focus on Vice President Al Gore.
Glitzy fund raisers, receptions and a prime-time address to the convention on Monday night, just before her husband takes the podium, are on tap for the first lady.
That is a marked contrast to the low-profile and brief appearance by her Republican rival, U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, at last week's GOP convention in Philadelphia. He spoke to the New York delegation and never made it to the convention stage.
The hoopla begins for the first lady on Friday afternoon when she and President Clinton, aboard Air Force One, land in Los Angeles. She is to be whisked off to a taping with Jay Leno for that night's ''Tonight Show'' on NBC.
On Saturday, more than 1,000 contributors will mingle at a Los Angeles mansion for a ''Salute to the President'' hosted by comic book magnate and ''Spider Man'' creator Stan Lee. The first couple will be entertained by a host of music industry stars, including Cher, Diana Ross, Michael Bolton and Stevie Wonder. Gregory Peck, Whoopi Goldberg and John Travolta, among others, will speak.
The event, plus another smaller affair on Sunday, will pump more than $1 million in hard and soft money contributions into the first lady's campaign, said spokesman Howard Wolfson.
Sunday, the first lady plans to attend an event at Sony Pictures Studio hosted by major Jewish organizations and a later reception for New York's convention delegates.
Monday, as the convention formally opens, the first lady will take the stage at about 10 p.m. Eastern time for a 15-minute speech looking back on her years in the White House and boosting her own campaign and Gore's.
''I'm a little nervous,'' she conceded Tuesday during a stop in Albany. ''What I'm really looking forward to is a chance to thank the American people for just the extraordinary experience I've been privileged to share.''
But Clinton said she also planned ''to talk about a lot of issues that are of concern to me, (and) have been for 30 years.''
On Tuesday morning, in a plan worked out with the Gore campaign aimed at getting the high-profile distractions out of town, the Clintons will leave Los Angeles.
One Democrat heavily involved with convention planning, but speaking only on condition of anonymity, said Thursday that there has been tension over the first lady's money raising for fear that it will hurt other Democratic fund-raising efforts.
Wolfson dismissed such concerns.
''Thanks to the strong Clinton-Gore economy there is more than enough (money) to go around,'' the first lady's spokesman said. ''California is a very big state and people are anxious to show their support for both the vice president and Hillary.''
The Lazio camp jumped on the first lady's fund-raising plans.
''Hillary Clinton has become the Regis Philbin of secret soft money ... This is a sad continuation of the Lincoln Bedroom and White House coffee scandals,'' Lazio campaign manager Bill Dal Col said Thursday.
''It's a perfect fit for her, spending so much time out there'' added Lazio campaign spokesman Dan McLagan. ''She's doubtless more comfortable in Los Angeles with her left-wing pals and Hollywood stars.''
While in Philadelphia for one day at the GOP convention, Lazio attended several fund-raising events for his campaign.
The convention speech allows the first lady a rare opportunity for a U.S. Senate candidate to have a prime-time television appearance just before the president takes the stage.
''Lazio was the little man who wasn't there,'' said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, which has been monitoring New York's Senate race. ''She will have a major role at the Democratic convention ... This says, `Hey folks, I, Hillary Clinton, have got stature.'''
That stature hasn't exactly propelled Clinton past Lazio in the polls. A Quinnipiac poll out Wednesday had Clinton at 46 percent and Lazio at 43 percent, a statistical tie given the poll's margin of error.
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What Democrats Say About Secretary Cheney
Senator Al Gore
"SEN. GORE: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And Congressman Cheney -- or
Dick -- let me add my congratulations to those you've already heard, and my
words of welcome to your family. And we're not going to take him completely
away, I'll say. He's already worked pretty hard as a member of the House and
he won't be gone entirely. But, I want to tell you how much your colleagues
and former colleagues who had the privilege of serving with you in the
House, as I did, before coming to the Senate, respect you and wish you well
in this new endeavor to come. I applaud the choice and congratulate the
President for the choice, and pledge my best efforts to work with you as you
undertake an extremely difficult challenge at a difficult time, quite
frankly, with all of the changes in the world and all of the budget
pressures here at home."
"Sen. Albert Gore of Tennessee, a Democratic member of the Armed Services
Committee who served with Cheney in the House, said: 'I know of no reason
why he shouldn't be approved, but I will reserve judgment until the
hearings. . . . He is a good guy. I like him a lot, and he is well liked by
his colleagues.'"
Representative Tony Coelho
"'Few people in Washington understand the executive and legislative branches
of government as well as Dick Cheney,' said Rep. Tony Coelho (D-Merced), the
majority whip who ranks third in the House leadership. 'This is a smart move
on the part of the President but a great move on behalf of the country.'"
Senator Sam Nunn
"In terms of qualifications, Congressman Cheney, I believe, is highly
qualified to be Secretary of Defense. He has had a distinguished 20-year
public career, serving in senior leadership positions in both the
Legislative and Executive branches. Beyond his leadership and management
experience, he has substantial expertise on national security and
intelligence matters. His high standards of personal conduct and integrity
will, in my view, help restore public confidence in the integrity of defense
management. He has my strong support, and I intend to vote for him for the
position of Secretary of Defense."
"The committee also discussed Representative Cheney's medical condition in
both public and executive sessions. The committee concluded that there is no
medical reason that would preclude Representative Cheney from serving as
Secretary of Defense."
Senator George Mitchell
"Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine said Cheney had 'served
with distinction' in Congress. He promised to work with Nunn to ensure the
nomination gets 'prompt consideration' by the committee and the full Senate.
Senator Tim Wirth
"Sen. Tim Wirth, D-Colo., said, 'He's a very able and impressive person. ...
He's one of the smartest people in Congress.'
Senator Charles Robb
"'An excellent choice,' said Sen. Charles Robb, the freshman from Virginia
who was one of the last Democrats to announce his opposition to Tower."
Senator James Exon
SEN. EXON: "And I happen to feel that we should also salute the President
for his prompt move to bring about the nomination of Dick Cheney, whom I
think will do an excellent job in that very important position. And I simply
second the remarks that both of you have made. And I'm looking forward to
casting my vote in support of this nominee."
Senator Robert Byrd
Mr. BYRD. "Mr. President, I support the nomination of Mr. Cheney for the
post of Secretary of Defense. It is a pleasure to support a nominee whose
background and experience are well known to all of us. It is well known that
he brings substantial experience in the national security and intelligence
fields. He served on the House Intelligence Committee and on the committee
investigating the Iran arms-for-hostages scandal. No serious questions have
arisen in the course of the Armed Services Committee investigation and
hearings over Mr. Cheney's fitness for the office, or his integrity, or over
the issues related to conflict of interest. On the contrary, I think the
record is clear that by virtue of his temperament, his character, his
experience, his commitment to public service, that this is an excellent
nominee. I welcome his nomination, and I look forward to a solid working
relationship with him in sorting out the very difficult issues on national
security that we face in the light of our fiscal constraints."
Senator Jim Sasser
Mr. SASSER. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of
Representative Dick Cheney to be Secretary of Defense. I have known and
worked with Dick Cheney for several years. He is a man who I am pleased to
support for this crucial position. Representative Cheney is a man of
dedication, honor, and integrity. Combined with his experience in public
service and his expertise in areas of national security and intelligence,
Representative Cheney's personal attributes will enable him to perform his
duties as Secretary of Defense in an exemplary manner. I believe that he has
the ability to restore public confidence in the Department of Defense and
the officials who operate it.
Source: George W. Bush for President
Texas under Governor Bush:
America under Clinton-Gore:
What did Arkansas look like when Al Gore joined Bill Clinton in 1992?
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