Bob Dole: “as the Whitewater controversy grows, it is not surprising that the political charges are heating up as well. Last week…”

“as the Whitewater controversy grows, it is not surprising that the political charges are heating up as well. Last week, President Clinton himself made the unfortunate claim that Republicans are somehow responsible for the latest Whitewater woes, stating that we have acted in a ``fairly blatant, bald, and totally political way.'' And yesterday, White House aide George Stephanopolous forgot the presidential campaign was over, suggesting on national television that Republicans are somehow ginning up Whitewater for our own political advantage. Mr. President, notwithstanding these charges, which I reject, it is the Democrat Congress that continues to block Whitewater hearings. It was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee who played ``political tough guy'' when he tried to intimidate Senator D'Amato with a threatening letter notable only for its clumsiness. It was not a Republican National Committee newsletter that ran editorials with titles like ``Slovenly White House Ethics,'' ``White House Ethics Meltdown,'' and ``Mr. Nussbaum Goes--Not the Mess.'' That is the New York Times and the Washington Post. And, Mr. President, the biggest political players in town are apparently in the White House itself: In travelgate, and now in Whitewater, White House staff have played with fire, showing a brazen willingness to mix politics with law enforcement.”