UNITED WE STAND WANTS U.S BACK ON TRACK

Published: Friday, December 25, 1992
Section: FRONT , page A22
Type of story: Letter

© 1992 Landmark Communications Inc.

Regarding your editorial ``Little Rock love-in'' (Dec. 17), I must admit I too was impressed with the visual and symbolic quality of Bill Clinton's economic summit as a staged public-relations event.

I'd like to point out some details which I feel demonstrate the potential for conflict with Congress which the incoming administration may have in regard to pragmatically dealing with the federal-budget deficit:

1. Ross Perot, by mutual consent with the summit organizers, chose not to attend in order to avoid a media circus, which could have detracted from the serious business at hand. However, I find it astonishing that Peter Peterson, one of the most highly regarded economists in the country, was noticeably not invited to participate. Mr. Peterson is executive director of the Concord Coalition, an organization with similar economic views to those of United We Stand, America, but with recognized leading Democrats involved. Was the lack of an invitation due to the fact that his views are outside the traditional ideology of the Democratic Party? Where is the Democrats' much-touted party unity now that the elections are over?

2. When John White, Mr. Perot's economic adviser, finished his presentation on the drastic need to reduce the deficit, the gathering demonstrated its appreciation by showering him with stone-cold silence. I believe it is obvious that Mr. White was invited only as a political payback for his last-minute endorsement of Mr. Clinton, of which I'm equally sure he is now having second thoughts.

No one is hoping Mr. Clinton has success in office more than the members of United We Stand, America. Our primary goal is to bring excellence to government by empowering the general public to encourage pragmatism and courage in elected officials. The American people have resoundingly stated that they are willing to accept reasonable sacrifice in order to assure their children's future. United We Stand, America is quite eager to help Mr. Clinton succeed in putting America back on track in any way we realistically can. We believe we can contribute best by using populist pressure to help him prevent an entrenched, spending-crazed Democratic Congress and a bureaucracy-laden executive branch from using our tax dollars to fatten themselves, and, thus, further erode our economy.

MICHAEL E. RAU

Communications director

United We Stand, America/Virginia

Richmond, Dec. 18, 1992