Foreign Policy: An issue in campaign
Karen Boothe, 9/23/96

Pocketbook issues dominate election year campaigns while more global issues and foreign affairs policies remain rather elusive. But as Minnesota Public Radio's Karen-Louise Boothe reports, some foreign affairs matters are playing a role this election:

Surveys suggest Americans are uncertain about the nation's role in a changing world. FEW see vital American interests at stake in distant conflicts in obscure places and fewer STILL would risk American lives for such things as enforcing peace in places like the balkans, haiti or Somalia. An exception comes with debate over military action against Iraq. AND in cases of the economy local business and labor interests perk up as evidenced in the first debate between U.S. Democrat Senator Paul Wellstone and his Republican challenger former Senator Rudy Boschwitz:

Bite: #2339 excerpt from debate....man asks question, and the candidates give short answers...linking issue to Mn concerns.

Senator Paul Wellstone, and challenger Rudy Boschwitz...addressing the ONLY foreign affairs question raised during their first debate.

If Foreign Policy as an election year issue has been dwarfed by the hot buttons of taxes, job growth, welfare and health care, consider this: As we head into the 21-st Century, the United States faces momentous decisions like devising post-Cold War security in Europe, managing ties with Russia and China, keeping Bosnia and Mideast peace processes alive and persuading Congress to stop slashing the diplomacy budget.

But Hamline University professor, Nick Hayes says these and other world issues are lacking in this year's election campaigning:

Bite: 2341 I'm deeply disturbed we have a rhetoric of bridging to the 21-st century, there's nothing wrong with that. But the real int'l issues of the 21-st century aren't there because virtually every one is going to be global. the way things are going american troops are going to be more committed to regional conflicts and environmental problems are going to be more globally complex.

Hayes says President Clinton seems more intent on managing the IMAGE of his foreign affairs policies rather than actually engaging in discussion of them. A case in point, is a recent press conference statement by President Clinton following his decision to deploy U.S. troops to Kuwait:

Bite from clinton's press conf. Tues. Sept 17-th 2345 explaining u.s. position

Hayes compares this year's Clinton election strategy with that of four years ago when he was running against THEN President George Bush:

Bite: 2342 clinton, in his campaign against Bush tried to drive home at least three major foreign policy issues. if you'll remember, then we were talking about the pacific century, nafta and military's role in the ex-yugoslavia. THIS year, it's all conspicuously absent and clinton somehow tries to project a minimum that we're managing a few crises.

Hayes says Clinton and Dole ought to be more hotly debating the nation's role in NATO and the United Nations. The SAME goes for local races too...particularly that among Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone and his challengers, Rudy Boschwitz and Dean Barkley. So, what list of campaign questions should Minnesota voters seek answers on before voting?

Bite: 2343 number one, what are american's security and military committments be they in nato, europe, asia or the middle east. secondly, mn is a state that prides itself on its environmental heritage and such issues are clearly global in nature. third, is the issue of immigration and finally...the issue of maintaining a competiveness in industry and export trades.

HAYES AND OTHER Experts say, not only must the president and Secretary of State bring energy and activism to the job of foreign policymaking, but they must be able to define a broad strategic vision for U.S. policy. The SAME goes for congressional and STATE leaders too. And if you think foreign affairs begins and ends with NATIONAL politics, Hayes reminds us that the late former Governor Rudy Perpich is remembered by MANY european leaders as a leader of state who was a GLOBAL visionary.

SOC