Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Carolina News 1 News Analysis E-scandal could hurt Gore in general election There was e-mail and e commerce. Now, there’s the first e scandal. And it might hurt Vice President A1 Gore’s chance to win the White House—or leave him unscathed. Conven tional wisdom used to state that the candidate hit by a scandal is in trouble. Howev er, Republicans in Congress have now proved mat a scandal, handled incorrectly, can back fire with surprising intensity, as happened when they almost lost control of the House in 1998 after clumsily handling the impeachment saga. Now, Gore feces questions that could seriously undermine his candidacy or cause him little or no damage heading into November. The key is in how Gore and the Republicans handle the looming con troversy over e-mails and campaign fi nance reform. The newest “scandal” deals with e maii glitches in both the White House computer system and the system used by the vice president’s office. The sep arate system for Gore’s office was set up because aides thought that the White House system was inferior to the one they could set up themselves. Like the White House, that system had a glitch that prevented e-mails from going to archives set up for historical purposes— archives that have doubled as convenient ways to fulfill subpeonas. The main issue with the White House glitch — whether contractors who dis covered the bug were threatened by administration officials — doesn’t ap pear to touch Gore in any way. Gore’s biggest threat is that the e mails lost from his office include those he wrote during the 1996 campaign fi nance scandal. Gore, who has already come under fire for endorsing campaign finance reform despite the scandals, faces further damage on the issue. To fight the allegations, Gore must take a few steps tom straight from the books of Bill Clinton and John McCain; • Paint Republicans as the bad guy. Mention Dan Burton more often than Republicans do. The House Government Oversight Committee Chairman is the perfect equivalent of Ken Stan; he has relentlessy investigated the Clinton ad ministration on so many issues, it’s hard ly news anymore. • find as many of the missing e-mails as possible—and leak them. After leav ing the White House, Paul Begala re vealed that he used to leak potentially damaging evidence to the press before the administration’s enemies could, di minishing the story’s impact. His fa vorites? The Wall Street Journal, which puts politics on the bade page of its front section, and The Associated Press, whose stories rarely run on the front page of the national papers (The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, etc.) • Continue to borrow from McCain. Gore has admitted to being an “imper fect messenger'' on campaign finance re form. However, like McCain, Gore needs to appear truly sorry for it. When asked what his biggest mistake was at a South Carolina debate, McCain mentioned meeting regulators looking into the af fairs of Charles Keating — a reference to his own involvement in the “Keat ing Five” campaign finance scandal. It was hailed as part of McCain’s “straight talk” approach, which attracted millions to the maverick’s cause. Republicans must be more careful if they wish to hurt Gore, but they can’t remain silent. »Hit hard, but not too hard. Ham mer Gore on campaign finance, but don’t head over the Ken Starr ledge. Accuse Gore of hypocrisy without sounding shrill. Do a lot of implicit criticism that allows voters to find the “hypocrisy” for them selves. • Get McCain to bash Gore. During the primaries, McCain vowed that he would “beat Al Gore like a drum” if he were the GOP nominee. Bush needs Mc Cain’s support more for Gore's detri ment than for his own good. If McCain can continue to hammer Gore, it will blow Gore’s attempt to assume the senator’s mantle. • Use it to tie Gore to the past eight years. Geoige W, Bush has already be gun to mention that the only way to end the investigations is to “elect somebody different.” It’s a good strategy—again, as along as it’s not overused. Bush should continue to implicitly link the e-mail mess to Lewinsky, Filegate, Travelgate, etc. Clinton never paid for his troubles politically; 2000 might be the year in which the bills come due, since Gore doesn’t have the perceived economic record that Clinton had in 1996, when he ran for re-election, and 1998, when he escaped a crippling blow from the Lewinsky scandal. Gore’s newest situation could be nothing more than a bump in the road. It could also be a political land mine. How he and his opponents handle it will decide whether it will kill his candidacy — or make his job that much easier. Brandon Larrabee If is a sophomore I journalism major. He can be reached by , e-mail at gamecocknews ©hotmail.com Carolina Classics USC Football Recruiting Hosts & Hostesses Invite vou to an Informational Social on Wednesday March 29fh 7:00-5:30pm at the Golden Spur, Russell House PETA objects to North Alabama's live mascot College Press Exchange Florence, Ala. — When Leo II, the University of North Alabama’s-hon mas cot, died earlier this month, students mourned by showering his cage with flowers and notes. Campus officials immediately start ed preparing for his replacement, Leo III, but put their plans on hold when members of People for the Ethical Treat ment of Animals roared with objections. “Using wild animals as props is ridiculous,” said Jennifer O’Connor, a PETA caseworker. School officials are quick to say that Leo II received better care than many humans do. While a lion’s life span is usually eight or nine years, Leo II lived to be 12, and his predecessor, Leo L h ved to be 14. Both died of natural causes. The Leo compound, located on cam pus between .the president’s home and the university’s administration building, also isn’t so shabby, school spokesman William Jamigan said It has air condi tioning, heating and a 1,800-square-foot exercise area. The 560-pound Leo II often could be heard roaring on campus throughout the day — and he traveled in a custom built vehicle nicknamed the “Win’-a bago.” PETA isn’t moved by the cheery stories. One student wrote the animal rights group to report that other students had thrown rocks at Leo. In response to angry letters from PETA, Robert Potts, the university’s president, formed i committee made up of administrators, alumni, students, fac ulty and the local newspaper publisher to determine whether any future Leo should be a real lion or a student dressed as one. The committee’s recommendations are expected by the end of May. USCPD from page 1 USCPD’s officers receive is “second to none.” He said the USCPD’s officers are trained far beyond what is necessary. CALEA has been in existence since 1979 and was formed by several other law-enforcement membership associa tions. The other major law-enforcement associations involved in forming CALEA include the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organi zation of Black Law Enforcement Ex ecutives, the National Sheriffs’ Associ ation and the Police Executive Research Forum. CALEA is an independent accred iting organization consisting of 21 mem bers, 11 of which are practitioners. The remaining 10 are assigned by di rectors of four affiliated associations. Other accredited university police departments include the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill’s agency and the University of Florida’s depart ment. Army School from page 1 nior who plans to participate in the fast told the Springhillian. “I don’t want any one else to have to go through this. Go ing hungry for two weeks is a small price to pay, considering what these people have been through.” The school is not new to contro versy. In November, 12,000 people ral lied outside its base. About 4,000 crossed lines onto the base — a federal of fense. About 70 protesters were ar rested. Among those apprehended was actor Martin Sheen, who has said he also will participate in the upcoming fast. Prayer from page 1 The universality of prayer is the fo cus of the breakfast. “These spiritual disciplines have been practiced by adherents of virtually all religions throughout history to get in toi^ with that which is perceived to be the cen ter of reality,” Evans said. According to Evans, prayer and med itation are two different paths to that cen ter. He said those who pray seek to re spond to the divine will, while those who meditate can attune themselves to per sonal and natural rhythms. “Thus, prayer and meditation are ‘cen tering’ activities which refresh the human spirit and focus attention on that which is perceived to be of central importance,” Evans said. Palms will address the religious tra ditions of USC. “As a university, we pursue und^ standing and truth, applying reason aim holistic, rational perspectives that are not dogmatic and doctrinaire. Open to the means by which truth is sought, we ac knowledge and respect the religious tra ditions and spiritual lives of our stu dents, co-workers and fellow community members,” Palms said. The breakfast is sponsored by the Of fice of the President, the Carolina Chap lains Association, the Division of Student and Alumni Services, and the Department of Religious Studies. Tickets are available for $5 at the Rus sell House Information Desk. read it. *’ live it. be it. Wh&&5amecock I OFFICE or — —~ Based on survey data collected by the USC Office of Alcohol & Drug ALCOHOL Programs from a random sample of USC students in November, 1998. Funding by SC DAODAS Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Project. <-L-1-k—