Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 17

OPINION Coming Monday Our endorsement for U.S. Senate B3 Sunday, October 29, 2000 Associate Editor Thomas W. Still. (608) 252-6110 Wisconsin State Journal Editorial writers: Chuck Martin, Sunny Schubert, (608) 252-6107 i OUR OPINION For president: George W. Bush THOMAS W.

STILL Endorsements a product of time and study If television commercials were your only source of information about the Nov. 7 elections, you might conclude that everyone on the ballot is a The nation has looked to Wisconsin for political leadership many times over the years. From the electoral reforms of the Progressive era to the birth of Social Security in the 1930s to the welfare, education and health initiatives of the Thompson years, Wisconsin has helped America explore new and sometimes difficult passages in our democracy. Today, with Washington, D.C., paralyzed by partisanship and bereft of trust in itself and in the wisdom of average Americans, Wisconsin voters can once again point the way: They can do so Nov. 7 by casting their ballots for George W.

Bush for president. Wisconsin citizens, like most partisan hack; people who would bend the truth when a straight answer would serve just as well. Don't believe it. As someone who has interviewed more than 50 of those much-maligned candidates over the past few weeks, I'm happy to report that your 1 spending or more government borrowing. Young workers, beware.

Health care: Bush would rely on consumer choice and true reform to drag Medicare out of the 1960s and into a new century. His prescription drug plan would cover those who need help the most. The Clinton-Gore administration has had eight years to extend health insurance to more Americans and to provide drug price relief. It hasn't happened. Bush, whose bipartisan health-care efforts in Texas are yielding results, especially for children, deserves a chance to resolve this issue.

Agriculture: As much as most of the nation is enjoying prosperity, these are hard times in rural America. Bush understands that opening foreign markets, refusing to use farmers as diplomatic pawns and rethinking outdated policies will help get the nation's farm economy back on its feet. Defense: In a world with only one superpower, the U.S. armed forces are still the best. In real terms, however, the readiness of U.S.

armed forces is in decline. That is not a political assessment by Bush and his running mate, former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney. It is the opinion of the nation's Joint cynicism is largely unwarranted. 1 In fact, those candidates look a' lot like you. i They're farmers, homemakers, 2 small business owners, teachers, factory workers, students and ca-' TODAY'S MAIL: ELECTION AND ABORTION RIGHTS I reer public servants.

Some of Americans, have had enough of the fighting in Washington. They want a president who can reach across party lines their ideas are a long swim from 1 the mainstream, perhaps, but 3 most of the candidates on south- em Wisconsin's Nov. 7 ballot are ordinary people who give up Bush Vote for candidates who support right to choose I ask you passionately to cast your vote on Nov. 7 for the candidate who will support a woman's right to choose. The right to choose means much to many not because they wish to have an abortion, but because it is a moral struggle that lives in the hearts of real women whose business we hardly know.

It's been said that a woman without control over her body cannot be free. I ask you to cast your vote with wisdom. If the end of reproductive freedom scares you, or it scares someone you care about who will be deeply affected by it for the rest of her reproductive life, I beg you not to play with it. spect for life and will not legislate from the bench. Sheila Martin, Edgerton Medical professionals should respect women's abortion rights As a medical student, I believe that those in the medical profession should be sensitive to not only contraceptive use and family planning, but also abortion.

Even if doctors and nurses personally believe abortion is wrong, as medical providers they are almost certain to work with patients who have had an abortion, or who have considered or are considering having an abortion: One study estimates that 43 percent of American women will have an abortion in their Ume and a chunk of their own money for the chance to be elected and serve other people like themselves. These candidates deserve your fair consideration as you prepare to vote. And we'll try to help you with your choices. On this page is the first in a se- nes ot candidate endorsements Nicole Zillmer, Madison by the State Journal editorial board. These endorsements are the consensus opinions only of and convene people of good faith to work on the 21st century challenges facing the United States and the world.

They also need a president they can trust and who will trust them to make the right choices for themselves and their families. They aren't looking for a resident who acts like he as all the answers, but they are longing for a president who will restore a sense of integrity to government. In our view, Texas Gov. Bush is that candidate. His temperament, character, experience and judgment Bush court appointments crucial to end abortion our board members publisher Jim Hopson, editor Frank Denton, editorial writers Chuck Mar The moral foundations of our nation are at tin and Sunny Schubert, and me.

stake in this election. Al Gore goes unapologeti-cally against the will of the American people in They are not the opinions of any- one else, particularly our other nis stance on abortion. He has promised the right ot abortion on demand as health care 100 or so journalists, who stay impartial on such matters. lifetime. In our classes, we are taught the importance of understanding and caring in all instances, and to respect people's past choices and not judge them.

This does not only pertain to choices we approve of or that we personally believe to be the right thing to do. In this way, we ensure that we take care of all of our patients equally well. Outlawing abortion clearly does not stop abortions from occurring. The difference is that, when illegal, abortions are unregulated and unsafe. History has shown that some women come to the very difficult decision of having an abortion whether it is legal or not, therefore it is vital that we in the medical profession provide safe and compassionate care to these women to ensure their health and well-being.

Carmen Berg, Madison (starting in the military and under Medicaid) paid by taxpayers. Gore also suDDorts partial-birth abortion. Why do newspaper editonal boards make endorsements in 1 which has been banned twice by Congress but Chiefs of Staff, as voiced to Congress. Since the end of the Cold War, the size of America's military has been reduced by 40 percent but its commitments have increased. Bush and Cheney want to restore readiness and rein in the use of American troops for ill-defined and open-ended missions around the world.

Energy: The aimless energy policies of the last eight years would give way to a sense of purpose under Bush, who understands that America cannot allow itself to be overly dependent on foreign oil. Since 1991, the amount of U.S. imported oil has steadily increased each year and now election? At times, when we're bleary-eyed after weeks of candi- vetoed by President Bill Clinton. The Amencan date interviews, stacks of ques- Medical Association states this practice is never medically necessary." uonnaires and some less-than- polite phone calls, I ask myself the same question. ine number ot couples waiting to adopt a baby is about the same as the number of abortions performed every year in this country.

These babies are wanted by someone! It not because we re know-it- alls determined to pass down our-wisdom. I doubt there's a news- paper editorialist in the country joe Lieberman voting record also supports partial-birth abortion and taxpayer-funded abortion on demand. He has also consistendy voted against parental notification, again out of sync with voters. These candidates want to give your daughter a potentially life threatening and who would be so arrogant as to believe he or she can tell vot- ers what to do in the privacy of the polling booth. At their best, newspaper edito-1 definitely lite-changing surgical procedure without your knowledge! Lieberman co-sponsored the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" which would have made Roe v.

Wade broader and invalidated state regulations such as Wisconsin's 24-hour waiting pe rials carry only the power of in- formed persuasion. They're food for your thought. We can serve it, Vote for Gore to retain reproductive freedom The Nov. 7 election is crucial for the women ofWisconsin. It is critically important that we ask all candidates where they stand on reproductive rights issues.

Who do they believe should make our personal health care decisions women and their doctors, or politicians? Al Gore says, "I will always, always defend a woman's right to choose." George W. Bush says, "I will do everything in my power to restrict abortion." I remember life before Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that gave women the right to choose. We cannot afford to let Bush take away our right to safe, legal abortion. Vote for Gore.

The rights and lives of your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and granddaughters depend on it. you may chew on it but you riod mat has been upheld by the courts. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney support a ban on partial-birth abortion and legal protection for the unborn. They oppose using tax dollars for abortions and believe parents should be don have to swallow it.

As peo- 1 pie whose job it is to keep up with public affairs, we have the time, the leverage and the re- sponsibility to do some things you can't. Candidates and advocates believe our endorsements involved their minor daughter decisions. They believe that respect for all life is an Amer matter. They respond to our invi-1 tations, with rare exceptions, to complete questionnaires and ican value worth upholding. The next president will appoint three, maybe four, justices to the Supreme Court.

Bush has stated he will appoint judges who share his re Nora Cusack, Madison meet with members of our board. This fall, our interviews ranged, from a half hour to more than an hour long in all races except president. In most of those MORE MAIL make him the better choice in this pivotal election. On a range of issues, Bush has staked out positions that are preferable to those articulated by Democrat candidate Al Gore: Taxes and spending: There are significant differences between Gore and Bush on how to spend -the predicted $4.6 trillion surplus over the next 10 years. Broadly, Bush would give back $1.3 trillion in tax cuts, Gore about $500 billion.

Gore would boost spending on government programs by $1 trillion, while Bush favors about $300 billion in new spending. Neither man would get any of that done without the approval of Congress, but their core plans indicate Gore is more willing to increase the size of government than is Bush. That's an important distinction, no matter how one feels about the unrealistic nature of Bush's tax-cutting plan. Social Security: There are flaws in the plans of both candidates, but the plan put forward by Bush has more potential to preserve the system without pushing off debt to the next generation. Bush wants to harness the power of the financial markets by allowing individuals to invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes in stocks and bonds.

Gore would leave the system unchanged and maintain the current level of guaranteed benefits even as the number of retirees grows substantially. To do so. Gore would supplement payroll tax revenues with general income tax receipts. Bush's plan would inch the system away from its identity as a collective pact under which each generation of workers helps support the retirement of its predecessors. But Gore's plan would end the tradition of Social Security being wholly self-financed through the payroll tax, and in the long run would require higher taxes, reduced we met with both candidates whatever Sharpless or his handlers say he meant Nader is the only candidate who cares about farmers (and sometimes three, counting the independent) at the same time.

That allowed for side-by-side comparisons and fewer un- Associate Editor Thomas W. Still's Oct. 8 col rings hollow. Since Still now interprets what Sharpless actually "meant," then would he explain the candidate's statement at a more recent debate. When asked what response the United States should make, if and when it identifies the perpetrators umn was quite correct, but missed something.

He was right that neither major candidate men- answered charges. 1 accounts tor b2.1 percent of total consumption. So when oil prices shot up from $11 to $37 a barrel within a year, there was little Americans could do but pay and hope OPEC would show mercy. Meanwhile, the nation's oil refineries are straining to keep pace. With the margin of error so small, do Americans want a president who once wrote about doing away with the internal combustion engine (Gore) or someone who can forge realistic energy policies that will restore some degree of independence? For all the efforts by Democrats to portray Bush as an empty suit, the product of privilege and money, he has emerged from months of campaigning and three nationally televised debates with his message and his credibility intact The more Americans have seen of Bush, the more they seem to like him and to question those who insist Texas has become an economic, educational and environmental wasteland on his watch.

This is not to say we agree with Bush on all issues: Abortion, the death penalty and the flag amendment come quickly to mind. Nor is it to say that Bush has thus far been as inspiring as a Roosevelt, a Kennedy or a Reagan. (Actually, the only candidate who seems to be capturing the imagination of new voters is Ralph Nader.) It is to say, however, that Bush has shown himself to be the best choice for America in this race. The Wisconsin State Journal endorses his election. A lot of factors go into our rec-1 uons the problems ot rural America, and its devastated economy.

Nor will either candidate even hint at the rapacious activities of the agribusi of the USS Cole bombing, the aspiring lawmaker ommendations, starting with the quality of the person. We look for stated that the response must be immediate and violent" Please explain that one. Allen Ruff, Madison nesses that neip create and maintain this devastation. Maybe Still also thinks that companies such as Monsanto are fine examples of good ol' red, white and blue capitalism. Sharpless is no McCain at "straight talk" I was absolutely amazed by Associate Editor Thomas W.

Still Oct. 22 column. Still displayed his true talent in spin by turning John Sharpless' incendiary rant about acuvists and drugs into a gentle parable on equity in activism. Still was spinning so hard that I wouldn't be surprised if he wobbled when he walked! I wasn't at the debate, but I am assuming that snarpiess wasn speaking in metaphors. Assum signs ot integrity, commitment -energy, intelligence and that in- tangible knack to relate to other citizens they will represent We consider the quality of a candi- i date's ideas and we assess what kind of campaign that can- didate has run.

We also consider ideology and our newspaper's editorial tradi- tions. We tend to favor centrists, leaning to the right who stress individualism and self-reliance within the spirit of equal opportunity. We believe in free enterprise and bottom-up civic involvement over top-down gov- -eminent solutions. You won't like all our choices, but we hope they make you think. Our endorsements continue Monday with U.S.

Senate, run through Friday with more than 20 races for state Senate and Assembly and Dane County offices, 1 and conclude next Sunday with our choice for Congress in the 4 2nd District and our reeommen-' dations on state referendums. We spent hours talking to these candidates and came away believing they're worthy of your -consideration. We hope you take the time to weigh our choices 1 and make your own on Nov. 7 cut Mill didn memion Ralph Nader. Why not? He is the only candidate who has mentioned these issues, and his running mate, Winona LaDuke, is a specialist on land use issues and Native American rural economies.

Nader and LaDuke have been pushed out. There is no debate on the direction this country is taking; none, whatsoever. Our nation is not a democracy. James A Knight, Madison Still should interpret another Sharpless response Thomas W. Still's effort to place a positive spin on John Sharpless" assertions missed the point surely got noticed," Oct 22.) What remains offensive was the facile, unsubstantiated connection that Sharpless made between some nebulous "political and cultural elite" and various current protest movements.

Sharpless' notion that supporters of the anti-sweat shop movement not only snort cocaine, but are then "directly responsible" for the "destruction of the social fabric" left many of us wondering. Did Still ask Sharpless for some evidence, some specifics on the existence of this drug-sniffing, protesting Was Sharpless or his campaign manager, Sam Gold, asked who pre-cisely they had in mind? Did they give some specific names to bolster their claim? If not. then ing that Miarpiess is trying to emulate the "straight talk" methods of John McCain, Sharpless has to come clean. Who are the "they" that he refers to when he says "they drop their nose on the table and snort a He must have either seen or known about these activities. Name names, Sharpless! Either that or talk about something that you actually know about.

My guess is that Sharpless doesn't haw any actual evidence about these "elites." This is just shrill rhetoric from a losing congressional candi Wisconsin State Journal JAMES WHOPSON FRANK DENTON THOMAS W. STILL Associate Eitor SUNNY SCHUBERT Editorial writer CHUCK MARTIN Editorial writer Opinions above art shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. date who knows hill well that he isn going to gain any momentum. As for StilL Quit your day job and get on the Sharpless payroll immediately. Every time Sharpless opens his mouth, he needs the talent of a spinmeister such as you.

Michael Basford, Madison i.