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11 May 2000

Excerpt: President Clinton May 11 Interview on China PNTR

(Clinton:  "We'll get the votes" for China PNTR) (580)
President Clinton acknowledged May 11 in a radio interview that the
administration doesn't have the votes yet to win passage of permanent
Normal Trade Relations (NTR) status for China.
But, added Clinton, "I think we'll get the votes, because I think it's
the right thing for the country."
Clinton spoke with Diane Rehm of National Public Radio.
Following is an excerpt from the President's interview:
(begin excerpts)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
The Oval Office
For Immediate Release
May 11, 2000 3:00 EDT
Radio Interview of the President
by Diane Rehm of WAMU National Public Radio
Q: It looks as though the normalized trade relations with China isn't
likely to go through. Would you agree with that?
THE PRESIDENT: I'm not sure yet.
Q:  You're still not sure?
THE PRESIDENT: We don't have the votes yet. I think we'll get the
votes, because I think it's the right thing for the country. But I
think it will be -- I won't know for a few days yet.
Q: If you do, how might that hurt or help Mr. Gore in his bid for the
presidency?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think that, on balance, it will help him
because he's been a very strong supporter of this agreement and
generally of our trade policy. And even though some of the strongest
elements of the Democratic Party and some of our best friends are on
the other side of this fight, it shows that he's willing to take an
independent stand to do what he believes is right. And I think that's
very, very important.
I think that's something people will look to, and they might compare
that, for example, with Governor Bush's going to Bob Jones University
and defending his outreach to Jerry Falwell and the members of the far
right and his party, and conclude that -- our people, the people that
we're disagreeing with are good folks, and we're proud to have them as
a part of our party, we want them to -- but we need a president who
will make an independent judgment from time to time.
Q:  So you think it's not going to hurt him?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I think it's a net plus. I think that -- let me
just say this -- I think the reverse is it would be a problem for our
country. That's the most important thing. I think it would be a big
problem for our country if it didn't pass, because it would increase
the chances that something bad would happen in that area; it would
give aid and comfort to the reactionaries in China; and it would make
it possible for people to question whether the Democrats were running
away from our global responsibilities.
Right now, that's the burden the Republicans have to bear, because
they defeated the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. They opposed our
efforts to lead a global march on ending the testing of nuclear
weapons. And I think that was a terrible mistake by them, so it's a
problem they'll have to come to grips with. I just don't want to see
our party responsible for walking away from another big opportunity
and responsibility of the United States.
(end excerpt)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)