General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Thomas Franks, the Clintons and "phony" Democratic populists in the New Gilded Age [View all]bigtree
(85,984 posts)Clinton ran as a centrist and the mood of Democratic voters was that they had grown tired of losing presidential elections to republicans. Clinton offered a roadmap to gaining the presidency, just that simple.
The DNC changed the primary structure to stymie weaker candidates like Jesse Jackson and elevate the southern vote to broaden the party base. In many respects, it worked (although I protested the changes at the time), and we freed ourselves from another term of republican rule.
With Clinton, who everyone knew as a 'moderate' governor from the south, we took the good with the bad; mostly good, tho . . .
* Longest economic expansion in American history
* More than 22 million new jobs
More than 22 million jobs were created in less than eight years -- the most ever under a single administration, and more than were created in the previous twelve years.
* Highest homeownership in American history
The homeownership rate increased from 64.2 percent in 1992 to 67. 7 percent, the highest rate ever.
* Lowest unemployment in 30 years
Unemployment dropped from more than 7 percent in 1993 to just 4.0 percent in November 2000. Unemployment for African Americans and Hispanics fell to the lowest rates on record, and the rate for women was the lowest in more than 40 years.
* Largest expansion of college opportunity since the GI Bill
President Clinton and Vice President Gore nearly doubled financial aid for students by increasing Pell Grants to the largest award ever, expanding Federal Work-Study to allow 1 million students to work their way through college, and by creating new tax credits and scholarships such as Lifetime Learning tax credits and the HOPE scholarship. At the same time, taxpayers saved $18 billion due to the decline in student loan defaults, increased collections and savings from the direct student loan program.
* Connected 95 percent of schools to the Internet
* Enacted most sweeping gun safety legislation in a generation
* Family and Medical Leave Act for 20 million Americans
* Higher incomes at all levels
After falling by nearly $2,000 between 1988 and 1992, the median familys income rose by $6,338, after adjusting for inflation, since 1993. African American family income increased even more, rising by nearly $7,000 since 1993. After years of stagnant income growth among average and lower income families, all income brackets experienced double-digit growth. The bottom 20 percent saw the largest income growth at 16.3 percent.
* Lowest poverty rate in 20 years
Congress passed President Clintons Economic Plan in 1993, the poverty rate declined from 15.1 percent to 11.8 percent the largest six-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years. There were 7 million fewer people in poverty than in 1993. The child poverty rate declined more than 25 percent, the poverty rates for single mothers, African Americans and the elderly dropped to their lowest levels on record, and Hispanic poverty dropped to its lowest level since 1979.
* Lowest infant mortality rate in American history
The Clinton Administration expanded efforts to provide mothers and newborn children with health care. A record high 82 percent of all mothers receive prenatal care. The infant mortality rate dropped from 8.5 deaths per 1,000 in 1992 to 7.2 deaths per 1,000 in 1998, the lowest rate ever recorded at the time.
* Protected millions of acres of American land
President Clinton protected more land in the lower 48 states than any other president before him. He protected 5 new national parks, designated 11 new national monuments and expanded two others and proposed protections for 60 million acres of roadless areas in Americas national forests.
* Paid off $360 billion of the national debt
Between 1998-2000, the national debt was reduced by $363 billion the largest three-year debt pay-down in American history.
* Converted the largest budget deficit in American history to the largest surplus
Thanks in large part to the 1993 Deficit Reduction Act, the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, and President Clintons call to save the surplus for debt reduction, Social Security, and Medicare solvency, America put its fiscal house in order. The deficit was $290 billion in 1993 and expected to grow to $455 billion. Instead, a projected surplus of $237 billion.
* Lowest federal income tax burden in 35 years
President Clinton enacted targeted tax cuts such as the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion, $500 child tax credit, and the HOPE Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credits. Federal income taxes as a percentage of income for the typical American family dropped to their lowest level in 35 years.
* Most diverse cabinet in American history
The President appointed more African Americans, women and Hispanics to the Cabinet than any other President in history. He appointed the first female Attorney General, the first female Secretary of State and the first Asian American cabinet secretary ever.