European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday november 12, 1991 the stars and stripes commentary Tom Wicker democrats candidate must be presidential president Bush seems rattled by sudden pressures to turn his attention to Domestic problems. But even As he tried at his Rome news conference to change the subject he sounded a warning that next year s democratic nominee would do Well to heed. First Bush beat his breast with words voters Are Likely to hear in 1992 As often As they heard a Willie Horton in 1988 a if i had had to listen to advice from the United states Senate leadership the democrats a or from the House the leadership Over there a to do something about the persian Gulf wed have still been sitting there in the United states fat dumb and Happy with Saddam Hussein maybe in saudi  that May not be the political sledgehammer it appeared to be last Winter. For one thing its not True a democrats supported the original dispatch of . Troops to defend saudi Arabia As Well As economic sanctions on Iraq and no one but Bush suggests that iraqi president Saddam Hussein would have invaded saudi Arabia after these actions. More to the Point however Are the indications of polls and focus groups that euphoria Over the desert War has largely Laded owing to disappointment at an inconclusive outcome that left Saddam in Power and to concern Over the Domestic Economy. But in a More potent vein Bush added that although americans Are hurting economically and need help a they done to need the president to forswear his obligations for National Security and Forf Ign  they certainly Don to and any president who did so or even appeared to would court defeat. One reason of Many Why Jimmy Carter was High to re elected in 1980 was widespread Public doubt about his willingness and capacity to represent the nation forcefully in its foreign and Security policies. Americans like to think their nation is no. 1 in the world which is Why the Quick desert Victory was so cheering a if Only briefly a to a people hungry for a demonstrable Victory. Whatever else they May think of their president they expect him As their representative to be a formidable figure on the world stage. Winning a War As Bush did tends to make any president just such an International Champion. Thus any candidate the democrats nominate to run against Bush next  Samm. Wuss  year ill All &b0ss the country Quot a on the l00se�?� ill say 50mithm Wing we the picture. Year is not Likely to win merely by denouncing the president on the Economy unless the country is in a depression on a scale approaching 1932 and other Domestic issues. Those issues make Bush vulnerable but voters also will have to be convinced that if a democratic challenger is elected the nation s foreign interests and its military Security will be in Strong reliable hands. This is More nearly a problem of personality than of experience. Ronald Reagan for instance was elected in 1980 with no foreign or Security policy experience but the Public saw him As More trustworthy in these Fields than Carter whose standing As a Tough Guy had been Hurt by his inability to win or Force release of the hostages then held in Iran. Similarly in 1992, the problem for a democratic nominee will not be the debatable question of the party a role in the desert War rather it will be that Bush himself organized an International coalition led it and the nation and won a War however Messy its diplomatic results. In doing so he became  he showed himself capable of the primary duty the people demand of their Leader a Strong assertion and defense of american interests in the world. That May be a commentary on americans a that War is More convincing to them than say the peace that Jimmy Carter maintained. But for the politics of 1992, the real question is whether any Democrat can match Bush a claim to be a proven presidential figure validated by War and Victory. It wont be easy and it probably can to be done by pointing the Finger at Bush on Domestic issues alone vulnerable though he May be. Many voters hold the democratic Congress not to mention governors and Legislatures equally or More culpable. The president and his advisers will not hesitate to blame democrats for Domestic failures As Bush did at Rome. A renewed Security crisis a in the Middle East for example or in the former soviet Union a would quickly direct attention abroad again. Even the Economy is strongly influenced by International affairs. That a Bush a strength and the democratic nominee will have to Deal with it. C the now York Tom Ijames j. Kilpatric nannies in . Should mind own business or. Antonia Novello surgeon general of the United states called a news conference the other Day in one More Effort to take a Little of the fun out of life. This do Gooding wet Blanket wants to kill advertising for Beer. When will the Federal nannies leave us alone when will government recognize that Washington ., is not the wellspring of All Wisdom fifty years of covering government Nave imbued me with a firm conviction in Laws rules and regulations purporting to protect us from our flaws our masters Are wrong at least As often As they Are right. Our masters people in government Are supposed to be our servants. Under what authority does Novello throw her weight around who gave her Power to dictate rules for the advertising of a perfectly Legal product she demands that breweries a a voluntarily ban advertising that might Appeal to Young people on the basis of lifestyle sex sports or a risky activities. She has a meeting scheduled for . 11 to put pressure on the major brewing companies. If they have any Backbone at All they will Tell the surgeon general politely but firmly to get off their backs. When a Federal bureaucrat Calls for anything a a voluntary a run for cover. In the Weirdo world of washing ton Only a thin and vulnerable line separates voluntarism from compulsion. Given half a Chance Congress and the executive agencies will go for compulsion every time. In the Case at hand there is no evidence a repeat no evidence a that Beer commercials inexorably Lead children Down the Primrose path to a drunkards grave. A linkage never has been convincingly demonstrated. Sure some teen agers who watch television will get their hands on Beer. Some of them will gel plastered. Some will Stop at a single Swallow because they done to like the taste. Its a free country. At least it used to be a free country. I have had it with the Nanny Nanny nannies. Where measures Are devised truly to protect the Public health and safety a and i emphasize that word a a Public a of course the measures should be adopted. Only some wacko libertarian wants to Knock Down the Stop signs and sell contaminated fish. As for alcohol of course we must have Laws against Drunken driving. We can justify Laws against narcotic drugs because of the Clear danger that addiction presents to society As a whole. Nothing is wrong with regulations to protect workers from serious occupational hazards. Government has the Power and should exercise the Power to punish fraud and deception in the marketplace if Beer advertising were deceptive it would be one thing. If Beer were an unlawful product As it was in the Days of prohibition its advertising could be prohibited. But those to commercials of Leggy girls and Sun bronzed men Are not deceptive. The characters appear to be having a Good time. Ency Are enjoying themselves. Their  is what irks the surgeon Gener. It. In a Fly _ _ a 1 it if a my of a Al m i Al and her Stuffy predecessor. Or. Everett Koop foamed mightily at the sight of anyone enjoying a actually enjoying a a cigarette. It was More than Koop could stand. He saw it As his Bounden duty to protect smokers from themselves. Down with coffin nails zealots Are always ugly and Koop was As zealous As they come. For the record i done to smoke cigarettes and i done to really like Beer but i do love Freedom. In the famous Olmstead Case of 1928, Justice Louis Brandeis said something that should be daily pounded into the brains of surgeons general. The right to be let alone he said is a the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized  he added in that same great opinion a the greatest dangers to Liberty Lurk in insidious encroachment by men of Zeal Well meaning but without  carve it in Stone above every governmental office in the land. C Ufi Versai press Syndicate