Editorial: Bush continues his silence

Thursday, March 9, 2000 | 9:39 a.m.

The results from the Super Tuesday primaries ensured that Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush will be the presidential nominees of the Democratic and Republican national parties respectively. Now each candidate will look ahead to November, hoping to build a winning coalition that will allow him to capture the White House.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday, Bush said his biggest hurdle would be "convincing the American people that I've got the right judgment to be the president." Turning to the general election, Bush added that it's "way too early to develop a thoughtful strategy. You have to think it through a little more." While everyone agrees the nominees should offer reasoned, substantive positions, Bush shouldn't use this as an excuse to shy from taking stands on controversial matters. What has especially irked Nevadans has been Bush's dogged refusal to address the biggest federal issue facing this state: Congress' insistence on burying high-level nuclear waste in Nevada despite strong geologic evidence showing its dangers.

This state's voters already know where Gore and the Clinton administration stand -- they oppose efforts to undermine the scientific investigation under way to determine Yucca Mountain's suitability to store 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste. Repeatedly the Clinton administration has vowed to veto these Republican-inspired plans. For instance, the Senate earlier this year voted 64-34 in favor of a bill to send nuclear waste to Nevada by 2007, but the majority still fell short of the two-thirds necessary to override a presidential veto. Despite the fact this seemed to doom the legislation's chances, the Sun's Mary Manning reported Tuesday that the House may vote on a similar bill, possibly as early as April. The Republican-sponsored legislation in the House would allow 44,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste to be shipped to Nevada by 2003. The nuclear power industry hasn't shown any signs of conceding the fight, heightening Nevada's concerns about who will be elected the next president.

So far Bush hasn't directly answered questions about specific proposals in Congress to send nuclear waste to Nevada. His Nevada campaign officials offer vague assurances, insisting that Bush wants science, not politics, to determine whether a repository is built here. But this is an empty promise devoid of specifics. Don't forget that the nuclear power lobby also repeats the mantra of "science, not politics" while it simultaneously tries to strong-arm members of Congress into weakening the standards of the scientific investigation so that it can guarantee a repository is built in Nevada. Like so many Republican members of Congress, Bush doesn't want to offend the nuclear power industry, which has been a big contributor to his campaign. But if Bush continues his silence on this important issue he will create the impression in Nevada that, if elected, he w ould be the nuclear power industry's friend in the White House.

Bush's comment Wednesday that his biggest hurdle would be convincing voters he has the right judgment to be president certainly will be true in Nevada. So if he fails to be forthright with this state's residents about nuclear waste storage, Bush shouldn't be shocked if Nevadans ultimately reject his candidacy. After all, Nevada's only shot at receiving fairness, in what largely has been a rigged process, has been the fact that for nearly eight years the current occupant of the White House has been willing to stand up for the rights of a small state. There is no political gain to be won by this policy -- it's just doing what's right. In case you're still wondering, George W. Bush, that is what presidential judgment is all about.