Bill Clinton: “I think there is something to that. But you know, it was interesting; as I understand it, one of the reasons this came…”

“I think there is something to that. But you know, it was interesting; as I understand it, one of the reasons this came up-- from what my Republican friends in the Senate say--is that the Republicans were worried that the Democrats would keep beating on this next year if they didn't bring it up and dispose of it this year, and they were afraid it would be a political issue. I never wanted it to be a political issue. I never wanted the Chemical Weapons Treaty to be a political issue. I never thought this stuff would be a political issue. I always thought we'd have a bipartisan consensus to do what had to be done. So they may have made it a political issue now, and it may or may not have any impact. But I will say this. I will say again--I believe the American people eventually--I think they will stay where they are, and I think we'll eventually get this treaty ratified. But it may be in every democracy--you know, the people decide what they care about. I told Senator Lott that I did not expect that this would ever be such a big issue. I think it might be now, and the people have to decide. This is part of the choices a free people make, and it's an important choice, and we'll just see what they do. Yes, go ahead. Protests at the World Trade Organization Meeting in Seattle”