-Caveat Lector-
Corruption Beyond Belief
By David M. Bresnahan
copyright 1999 David M. Bresnahan
If you study Bill Clinton's past you can predict his future. It is
fairly easy to see where he is headed knowing what he has done before
and observing how he operates.
The Clinton health plan debate was a major topic of discussion in June
1994, and I was a very outspoken critic. I was also a Republican
candidate for the Utah House of Representatives, and my campaign was
in full swing -- a campaign I would win in November of that year.
"This is the special events office of the White House for David
Bresnahan," said the voice calling me on my home phone.
"Yeah, right. Who is this really," I asked, assuming one of my friends
was trying to put one over on me.
I checked. It turned out he really was from the White House. It seems
that somehow I was being invited to meet first lady Hillary Clinton.
It later evolved into a meeting with President Clinton as well.
The health-care debate was at its peak, and I had been an outspoken
critic in 1994 as a candidate for the Utah House of Representatives.
Somehow former Democratic Rep. Karen Shepherd had me listed in her
computer as a health-care reform supporter. Her staff called the White
House and asked for an opportunity for me to meet the president and
first lady.
With only a couple days' notice I was able to make the travel
arrangements and off I went, not knowing what to expect other than
being told I would have an opportunity to meet and express my views.
Before leaving I held a neighborhood meeting in my backyard, at the
Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary where letters were signed
expressing dismay with the plans that were moving forward to
federalize health care. Even Democrats were signing the letters.
My neighbors were questioned by the FBI for a security check, and I
went through the normal security procedures at the front gate of the
White House. According to former FBI agent Gary Aldrich in an
interview on my radio show, I went through a tougher background check
than many of the White House staff.
After a brief visit to a non-public portion of the White House, I was
ushered out to the South Lawn where seats were arranged under a canopy
for a speech. It had a political campaign atmosphere, and every
attendee was given a placard that read: "Small Businesses everywhere
want Universal Health Care."
I was instructed to watch for signals from strategically placed
audience directors for when to hold up the sign and when to applaud.
They seated me in the front row, but I felt so out of place that I
quietly found my way to the back so I wouldn't stand out like a sore
thumb when I didn't raise my sign or clap wildly.
In fact, I was a real fish out of water as I realized that I was most
likely the only person in the crowd of several hundred who did not
support this absurd attempt to socialize health care.
I had been told that I would be met by Rep. Shepherd at the White
House, but she never showed. I later learned that she had finally
figured out that she had made a gigantic mistake by inviting me and
ditched the meeting.
The press were the only ones who knew that I was a strong opponent,
and they were waiting for me in a roped off section behind the
audience. We met and arranged a press conference on the lawn of the
White House when it was all over. The White House staff would not
permit them to go with me when I met with President and Mrs. Clinton.
The White House band played for at least 30 minutes prior to the
presentation. It was amazing to see the way the audience was built up
for what was to come. By the time "Hail to the Chief" was played, they
were primed and ready to give the kind of response those audience
directors were looking for.
When Mrs. Clinton spoke the crowd responded on cue with wild
enthusiasm to a presentation packed with emotion and devoid of facts.
It was a good thing I had moved to the back row.
I clapped politely when necessary, stood by my chair when everyone
else jumped up and down with their silly signs, and I hoped no one
would notice my lack of enthusiasm. If this crowd discovered who I
was, I was afraid I would be like a piece of raw meat thrown into a
pack of hungry wolves. Fortunately, I was able to avoid attracting
attention to myself.
Without Rep. Shepherd to introduce me to the president I was concerned
that my meeting with him would not take place. I was able to make
myself known to one of the staff who seemed to have nothing to do, and
I became her project.
I told her the truth. I was a candidate for a Utah House race in a
very tough district. My congresswoman was supposed to meet me but I
couldn't find her, and I was concerned that I would miss out on my
visit with the President and Mrs. Clinton. I also pointed out that I
was bringing hundreds of letters from my constituents which the
Clintons would most certainly want to receive.
She didn't ask, so I didn't tell her that my tough race was against a
popular,
