President Clinton is on the verge of becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of national politics. He gets no respect. You expect that from his Republican adversaries, but yesterday his party's leader in the House of Representatives "dissed" him by upstaging his presidential tax cut.
The president had let it be known Monday that he would make a bold bid for political respect by announcing on Thursday night his plans for that middle class tax cut he had promised as a campaigner in 1992.
Only a few hours after stories to that effect appeared in the press, Rep. Richard Gephardt announced in a speech a tax cut of his own. Not only that, but when asked, "Does the program for the Democrats in Congress coincide with that of the president? . . . Doesn't your program need to be in tandem with President Clinton?" -- he added insult to injury. He answered:
"We have been communicating, talking, working with the White House on this and a whole range of issues and we will continue to do that. But as I said, . . . House Democrats ultimately will propose what we believe is best for the American people. We will try to work in tandem with the White House . . . But again, House Democrats are an independent organization and we will present what we think is best for America's workers." He also said, "Our agenda will come from America's houses, not from the White House."
Bill Clinton doesn't need this. Last week his best friend and appointee to the Justice Department, Webster Hubbell, admitted in court stealing from clients and law partners and pledged to cooperate with the Whitewater independent counsel, who may be looking for material embarrassing, to say the least, to Mr. and Mrs. Clinton. Then the president had to fire his surgeon general for endorsing discussions of masturbation in schools. He also had to endure strong criticism from moderates of the Democratic Leadership Council persuasion, some of whom are said to be looking at his poll numbers and considering challenging him in 1996.
The key numbers are those in a Times-Mirror Poll last week that said 66 percent of Democrats wanted to see such a challenge. A poll this week (CBS/New York Times) showed the president's job approval rating was down to 38 percent, with 49 percent of those polled saying they disapproved.
This lack of respect by the public and by party leaders could begin to feed on itself, and grow, unless the president can devise ways to re-establish control of his own agenda and base. Maybe he'll start tomorrow night with a good speech.
JTC