Clinton: Bush is robbing from poor to give to rich

Kirsten Searer

Monday, June 28, 2004 | 11:01 a.m.

Former President Bill Clinton had harsh words for the Bush administration at a fund-raiser Sunday in Las Vegas, arguing that Bush and his supporters are funneling the nation's wealth to the upper class while letting crucial programs suffer.

The Bush tax cuts have placed such a burden on the national budget that funds for after-school programs, police officers, benefits for troops and even national security measures have been compromised, Clinton said.

"I believe that this is a very important election," Clinton told a crowd of about 350 Democratic loyalists at the Rio. "You've got to understand that the new Republicans are way to the right of anybody you've ever had running this country before."

He said they "never saw a tax cut they didn't like."

"They basically don't care what happens to all these poor people because they think the only thing that really matters is to concentrate as much power and wealth in the hands of the good guys as possible, people who share their values," he said.

The $1,000-a-plate dinner, along with a private reception, raised an estimated $500,000 for the Democratic State Party, said party spokesman Jon Summers.

Yier Shi, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, responded to some of Clinton's criticism by saying that the Bush administration has fully funded money for police officers and increased money for education through the No Child Left Behind initiative.

"President Bush inherited a downward economy from President Clinton, and President Bush's tax relief for American families has finally seen results with 1.4 million new jobs being created this year," Shi said.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., would increase spending by $1.9 trillion, Shi said.

"The best way to grow the economy is to put more money in people's pocketbooks and grow jobs," Shi said. "That's what President Bush is doing."

Clinton said Bush has convinced Americans that he can provide important services while cutting taxes.

"It sounded almost too good to be true, and sure enough, it was," Clinton said.

"They call themselves conservative," Clinton said. "I actually think they're rather radical. They make me look like Calvin Coolidge when it comes to the budget."

He pointed to massive cuts either instituted or proposed in the federal budget, saying public safety, education, defense and security is suffering.

He made several cracks about the budget, saying Republicans' spending habits made them look like "kids that get their trust fund too early," and saying that, now that he is in a higher income bracket, he gets more tax benefits from the administration.

"You know how mean they were to me, and all of the sudden I get out of the White House, get rich and I'm the most important person in the world to them," he joked.

Most Americans would vote for Kerry if they realized how many problems are going on, he said, asking the Democrats to spread his message.

"Your country is on the line, and this state -- this state -- can make all the difference," Clinton said of Nevada's five electoral votes.

If Kerry takes Nevada, Clinton said, "we'll probably win the election."

Clinton closed with remarks on Yucca Mountain, saying the Bush administration wooed Nevada voters with "sweet noises" and then turned their backs on the state.

"If you vote one more time for this administration, they will think you are voting to greenlight this," he said.

Clinton, who barely mentioned his newly released book, did sign a few copies when Democrats swarmed him after the speech.

Gwen Harper, a former teacher in the audience, said Clinton's argument helped "solidify" her support of Kerry.

"He always comes back with detail," she said of Clinton. "It comes off the cuff and it's wonderful."