U.S. Presidential elections

The salient characteristic of the TV coverage of the campaigns for the U.S. presidential elections is that real issues of the people's economic life are addressed foremost in the platforms of both the Republican and the Democratic parties.

After the San Diego Republican Convention and the Chicago Democratic Convention, sixty-seven days remain before the presidential elections on Nov. 5. Until then the two contenders and their running mates will continue their nationwide campaign tours.

Although slight similarities are visible between some core issues expounded in the Republican and the Democratic platforms, the essential differences are clear. Bob Dole proposed a fifteen percent tax cut across the board while maintaining a balanced budget. This was ridiculed by the Democrats, arguing that such scheme will benefit only the wealthy, and that it will sharply cut Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor, and jeopardize the environment plan. A 580-billion deficit will result from such tax cuts. It will give rise to high interest rates and the economy will slow down.

On the part of the Democratic platform, new features emerged into the limelight of Bill Clinton's acceptance speech, dealing with family values, education and well-being of children, and the vision of working together to build the bridge leading to the 21st century. Interestingly, the concept of family values, good education and well-being of children is the central theme of Hillary Rodham Clinton's first book It Takes a Village.

Ironically, just before Clinton's speech, the public was shocked by the report on a sex scandal involving Dick Morris, master strategist for Bill Clinton, whose role was meticulously exposed in Bob Woodward's book The Choice. The exposure of the scandal in the Star tabloid led to Morris's resignation.

In response to speculation that the resignation will adversely affect the outcome of Clinton's campaign, George Stephanopoulos, senior adviser to the White House, was quick to assert in a talk- show with Larry King that it is Bill Clinton who decides the victory, not the strategists.

We anxiously look forward to watching the exciting three-way debate of the contenders to the race: Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and Ross Perot, the billionaire from Texas and the candidate of the Reform party, that will be televised worldwide prior to the elections.

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