on the media
John Carroll commentary: The Clinton Campaign Ads Scandal

Earlier this month, Attorney General Janet Reno called for a 90-day inquiry into whether President Clinton violated federal election law by using ads funded by the Democratic National Committee, or DNC, to bolster his 1996 reelection campaign. The inquiry could lead to the appointment of an independent prosecutor by the Attorney General, which would be the eighth time Reno has taken that step. Commentator John Carroll says in Clinton's case, the Attorney General just needs to go to the videotape.

When it comes to appointing special prosecutors, Janet Reno has been a human Pez dispenser over the past five years. But not concerning Bill Clinton's 1996 reelection campaign. Like a swimmer approaching a chilly pond, Reno has dipped her toe into three initial inquiries about Clinton's advertising practices during the campaign - without calling for an independent counsel. Now, though, Reno may actually take the plunge, having announced that new information has become available to her.

On the surface, at least, Clinton's activities seem ripe for investigation. The President allegedly coordinated and benefited from so-called "issue ads" run by the Democratic National Committee, thereby circumventing spending limits on candidates who accept federal matching funds. Ads funded by political parties and special interests are supposed to focus on issues without supporting or opposing the election of a particular candidate.

As for the Clinton/DNC ads, you be the judge, since Reno would rather not. During the spring of '96, the DNC ran this TV spot, which juxtaposed a flag-framed President Clinton against a grainy image of Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich.

America's values. Head Start. Student loans. Toxic cleanup. Extra police. Protected in the budget agreement. The President stood firm. Dole-Gingrich's latest plan includes tax hikes on working families. Up to 18 million children face health care cuts. Medicare slashed 167 billion. Then Dole resigns, leaving behind gridlock he and Gingrich created.

Compare that to this Clinton/Gore campaign ad, which features what's supposed to be Bob Dole's packed-up Senate office.

He told us he would lead. He told us he could do his job and run for president. That he was a doer, not a talker. Then he told us that he was quitting, giving up. Leaving behind the gridlock he helped to create.

Labeling Bob Dole a quitter was arguably the low point of a Clinton reelection campaign that never got much above sea level in the first place. Especially when the labeler was a man who dodged his own commitment to serve in ROTC and ran for president in 1992 despite having promised to serve out his term as governor of Arkansas.

Regardless, the question is whether Clinton coordinated the DNC ads to benefit his reelection campaign. According to Bob Woodward's 1996 book The Choice, Clinton personally supervised the DNC ads and even edited the scripts. You don't get much more coordinated than that.

In addition, Woodward says the president's control of DNC advertising dollars gave Clinton an extra $25 million over the spending limit he accepted along with federal matching funds. Other estimates go as high as $42 million. You don't get much more benefit than that.

Of course, Clinton's defenders say that Bob Dole did much the same thing with Republican party funds. Then again, Bob Dole isn't president. Sometimes, you can win for losing.

John Carroll is a reporter and media critic for WGBH-TV in Boston.

On the Media with Brian Lehrer airs on Sunday at 4pm and 10pm on Radio New York, AM820.

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