William R. Richardson: “I have just returned from New Mexico, where I literally met with thousands of my constituents at a wide array of events.…”

“I have just returned from New Mexico, where I literally met with thousands of my constituents at a wide array of events. Let me say that not one single constituent of mine raised the so-called Whitewater issue. What they wanted to talk about was crime and education and health care. The Whitewater issue appears to be a beltway issue. A recent poll came out this morning--68 percent of the American people think that the other side, our friends on the Republican side, are unfairly piling it on the President. Madam Speaker, middle America does not care about Whitewater, they care about health care, crime, the economy. The time has come for us to spend full time on these issues. They sent us to deal with these issues. Madam Speaker, despite the other side's efforts to try to embarrass the President, middle America knows the facts about Whitewater. Under no circumstances has there ever been any direct involvement or impropriety by the President or the First Lady. There has been no allegation that they have done anything wrong, let alone illegal or improper. Madam Speaker, some are saying there is a similarity between Whitewater and Watergate. This is absurd. This is patently absurd.”