Paul Kirk, Looking Like a Jerk

Paul Kirk, Looking Like a Jerk

Friday, April 25th 1997 — Yesterday, former Democratic Party chairman, Paul Kirk, suggested that President Clinton withhold support for Democratic congressional candidates unless they commit to campaign reform. Huh?

"The president has been accused by some as appearing disingenuous in calling for campaign reform on the one hand while actively raising new campaign funds on the other," Boston lawyer Kirk said. "In my view, with less than 50 legislative days left until his July 4 target, it is time for the president to take a 'tough love' approach with Democratic congressional candidates."

So what's going on? Here's Paul Kirk, a former Chairman of DNC who presided over the mega-growth of both the DNC's Business and Finance Councils, and my host at many big ticket dinners, weekends away with senators and house members, and a lot of other very costly gimmees. Paul is generally a nice guy.

Could he be stalking?

Methinks so. Kirk must have known his remarks - critical of Clinton - would drip on the back of Al Gore in future. So who is Kirk supporting?

Take your pick. It might be Dick Gephardt or perhaps he's hoping for the return of Jimmy Carter's old Veep - you know, what's his name who's spent the last few years in Tokyo.

As an old friend of Kirk, I'd advise him to keep his mouth shut or focus on the other party's malfeasance in campaign fundraising. Kirk, of all people, knows the value of money in politics.

Shame on him.

Not that Kirk has any power. He's been in Boston too long and his suggestions are not worthy of much consideration. The importance of his remarks are not what they say, but why they were said at all.

And...a next day applause for Trent Lott for reversing himself on the Chemical Weapons Treaty yesterday. He had the guts, even if he had to make presidential retreading the rationalization.