[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               WHITEWATER IS AN INSIDE-THE-BELTWAY ISSUE

  (Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, how many people outside the beltway of 
Washington, DC, care about Whitewater? Zero. More and more, Whitewater 
becomes an inside-the-beltway issue raised by those who oppose the 
President but cannot criticize him on the substance of his policies.
  Mr. Speaker, I was in New Mexico this weekend, and not one 
constituent in a variety of meetings--close to 2,000 constituents whom 
I was--raised the subject of Whitewater. But they did raise the subject 
of health care, the subject of crime, of education and the economy. 
That is what the American people elected us to work on, not worry about 
Whitewater, where a special counsel is already investigating.
  In fact, a recent poll suggests that 68 percent of the American 
people think the Republicans are attacking the President and the First 
Lady unfairly.
  What are the facts? First, nobody has suggested that the Clintons 
have done anything improper or illegal.
  Second, special counsel Robert Fiske is doing his job. He has 
subpoenaed White House staff and is zealously pursuing the facts. The 
White House is fully complying.
  Third, Mr. Fiske has stated that he does not want the Congress to 
interfere with his investigation. Mr. Fiske is a Republican.
  Fourth, the President has reacted to the issue properly, appointing a 
special counsel to look into the matter. Any comparison between 
Whitewater and Watergate is irresponsible and politically motivated.
  Mr. Speaker, let us get on with the problems of the day.

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