THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 26, 1994 TAG: 9410260419
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A9 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Candidate: Oliver L. North
Title: ``Fiscal Issues'' (30 seconds, television)
When: Started Monday
Text: An announcer speaks: ``On the issues, compare. Chuck Robb votes with Bill Clinton 95 percent of the time. Ollie North opposes Clinton. Robb has voted for billions in higher taxes, including higher taxes on Social Security. North opposed that tax increase. He says cut spending.
``Robb voted to give himself a $23,000 pay raise. North opposes congressional pay raises. The Chuck Robb record: Billions in higher taxes for us, a $23,000 pay raise for him. Had enough? Ollie North for Senate.''
Video: A classic comparison ad. Robb's record appears on one side of the screen, North's alternative views on the other. On the Robb side of the ledger, the words appear: Votes with Clinton 95 percent of the time. On the North side: Opposes Clinton. And so forth. The final black-and-white Robb photo is labeled: Higher taxes for us, pay raise for him. Then North appears in color walking in a parade. Under him: Ollie North for Senate.
Factual matters: See ``Mean III,'' below.
Candidate: Oliver L. North
Title: ``Mean III'' (60 seconds, radio)
Text: An announcer speaks: ``You've paid into Social Security most of your life. You're counting on it being there. It's your money. But Chuck Robb thinks that the government ought to get some of it before you do.
``That's right. Chuck Robb cast the deciding vote in favor of Bill Clinton's five-year, $25 billion tax increase on Social Security benefits for seniors.
``But higher Social Security taxes won't be all if Chuck Robb has his way. Robb says he is willing to cut Social Security benefits. He wants higher taxes and cuts on your Social Security.
``Chuck Robb wants to break the Social Security contract with seniors . . . but he didn't mind voting to raise his own pay $23,000 a year. He's dipping into the Social Security `trust fund' to pay for new liberal programs.
``Chuck Robb didn't stand up for seniors, and he won't protect Social Security. Ollie North will fight to preserve Social Security so it is there when you need it.
``Make the change - send Ollie North to the U.S. Senate.''
What's the message: It isn't subtle. Robb will pick your pocket and put the money in his own. North will protect your Social Security, cut spending and oppose tax increases.
Factual matters: Chuck Robb did cast a vote that increased congressional pay. The question of Social Security is far more complex.
As part of a deficit reduction package, Robb voted to raise the taxable amount of Social Security benefits received by couples who earn $32,000 or more a year. The new level: 85 percent of benefits. The old: 50 percent.
To say that Robb cast the deciding vote is semantic gamesmanship. Since the vote was 50-50 in the Senate, Vice President Al Gore actually cast the deciding vote. Robb is one of 50 senators who could have changed the outcome by changing their votes.
As to the claim that Robb is willing to cut Social Security benefits, the senator has said he'd be willing to consider cuts in entitlements to further reduce the deficit. North has waffled on this issue.
North has said he favors a balanced budget and has said he would not touch Social Security to achieve it. He has said he would make Social Security voluntary, which would imperil benefits for retirees and flies in the face of his claim that he will ``fight to preserve Social Security so it is there when you need it.''
Finally, as recently as Monday, a spokesman said North believes ``everything ought to be on the table when discussing the long-term future of Social Security,'' a position that would appear to be indistinguishable from Robb's.
It has been estimated that North's promises to preserve Social Security while cutting spending and increasing defense outlays would increase the federal deficit by $100 billion a year.
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