4 Tuesday. April 27.1993 OPINION UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN IN OUR OPINION Clinton should narrow focus to major issues The first 100 days of a presidency often are used to judge the initial stage of an administration. The actions taken during this period and the style used in governing can set the tone for a president's entire term. As we near the 100th day of the Clinton administration, we have seen a president who is all over the map on a variety of issues and is struggling to establish a clear, cohesive message for the people of the United States. The hallmark of the Clinton campaign was its unrelenting focus on the economy, often deterring attention from controversial topics which could have spelled disaster for Clinton. Unfortunately for the White House, this characteristic has been replaced by an equally ambiguous approach to the task of governing, shifting attention weekly from issue to issue and never clearly defining its objective on any one of them. This administration launches trial balloons on a weekly. if not daily, basis. line stumping Clinton has yet to find his footing in Washington and stick to a single game plan. White House Communications Director George Stephanopoulos explains the trouble by saying that on the campaign trail, the strategists could simply change the subject if their message was not working. But in the White House, it is far more difficult to shift attention, especially when the issues are as pressing as Bosnia, health care, and the Branch Davidians. Although Clinton is under pressure to produce from the reform-minded electorate, he will be hard pressed to show the fruits of his labors if he is unable to focus on one issue — the deficit, education, health care, or campaign finance reform — and make a persuasive case for the administration's position. Although Clinton is often lauded as a perfectionist micro manager, by spreading himself so thinly across such a variety of issues, he insures that none will receive the support it needs to overcome Republican opposition and a skeptical populace. Clinton felt the first effect of his lack of cohesion last week when Senate Republicans successfully filibustered his $15 million stimulus package to death. If Clinton folds this easily on such a minor piece of legislation, how will he be able to muster the public support necessary to fight off the GOP in what promises to be bitter political battles over his budget and health care reform plans? In 1978, Bill Clinton was a newly elected, change-oriented governor who proceeded to push a whirlwind of initiatives through the state legislature, including a tax hike to pay for education reform. Arkansans thanked him by voting him out of office two years later. If Clinton is not able to clarify his vision for the nation, and "stay on message," as his young aides implore him to do, the same fate may await him in 1996. JEFF HAYS FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Japanese back U.S. efforts at deficit reduction The Clinton administration has embarked on addressing the longstanding tasks imposed on the United States: cutting the budget deficit and regaining the country's industrial competitiveness. The Americans have at last buckled down to putting their house in order, encouraging the Americans in their efforts and convey that Japan is ready to do everything in its power to cooperate with them. It is important that the Japanese leader should clearly tell the Americans what he considers to be America's undesirable tendencies ... Obviously the Americans favor an approach that values end results — a method of trying to have their way by setting targets to be reached in a specified period of time in particular fields. And they are bracing to retaliate if the target is not reached. That Japan is opposed to the U.S. preference of that sort of managed trade must be made abundantly clear: Resorting to intervention into the market can result in greater mutual mistrust. Asahi Shimbun Tokyo Columnist offers suggestions for dealing with telemarketers Telemarketing. The advertising way of the future. Or maybe I should say the annoyance of the future. Telemarketing seems to be one part of our lives in which we have little control. Unless you don't have a phone, then you, like the rest of the general public, are trapped. It's impossible to dodge. They'll call you at home right after you wake up or right after a long day of classes. They'll call you at work just to sign you up for the latest in credit cards or insurance policies. It seems to be that the only people who are not mad about the whole idea of phone solicitation are people that work there. For a job that requires no skilled labor, the compensation is amazing. But there is help available. The unavoidable situation of telemarketing needs to be dealt with carefully, lest you end up with every credit card, magazine subscription, or insurance policy in existence. STAFF COLUMNIST One needs to be aware of the whole process to be able to successfully hang up without committing to anything. If you pay close attention, you can tell when you have become trapped. Remember, there are a few simple tips that may keep you from becoming a victim for the next deal-omatic. There's a fine line between being annoyed for three minutes and signing your life away for $59.95 annually. First, if they ask for you by your last name or mispronounce an part of your name, that usually is a good indication that someone is about to give you the pitch of the century. If this happens, don't panic. Just politely cut them off, being as assertive as possible, and say, "I'm not interested at this time, but thank you." Usually this is the best time to stop these conniving masters of rhetoric because they haven't gotten completely into their spiel. There are alternatives of course. You could listen to three more minutes of exciting double talk if you are not careful. Another tip off that may lead you to believe that you're about to be swindled would be when they ask how the weather is, or begin the conversation with the always appropriate "How are you today sirma am?" This again is reason enough to hang up immediately and go about your business. Remember the part about being polite, and furthermore, no harm, no foul. It is also important to know when they are talking to you rather than speaking at you. You know they are reading from a prepared script when they can't answer any questions. Or you'll recognize certain catch phrases: "I'm calling on behalf of..." Or may "This is a courtesy call from..." Or even, "We just called to to check up on our most loyal customers." These phrases are like bad pick up lines. Don't let them fool you. Realize what they are, acknowledge them, deal with them and move on. If you don't, you're looking for some serious trouble. These tips should help you deal with the situation, and it's always better to be polite and courteous rather than rude and crude. Of course if they call during dinner, then all bats are off. These people also work for a living. It's their job to bother you. Under stand this, but don't buy it, and I mean this literally. Andrew Glilman is a Norman, Okla., sophomore majoring in English. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fans dismayed by Cardinals behavior, proud of Javhawks The campus has quieted down now that the NCAA tournament is over. Our Kansas Jayhawks made it to the Final Four and made our school and all of the fans very proud. They showed dedication and respect for the people around them throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, we had a chance to see the flip side of the coin demonstrated by the Louisville basketball team. Where we were in St. Louis for the NCAA tournament to cheer on our Jayhawks, we were getting jeers from the Louisville coaching staff. We happened to be staying in the same hotel in St. Louis as the Louisville basketball team. The team occupied the entire top floor of our hotel. We took the elevator to the top floor to see the view of the pool and Kelly Jo Karnes Lawrence freshman the lobby below us. As we were getting off the elevator, we were met by the Louisville trainer. He rudely asked us if we had keys to that floor. We responded no and that we just wanted to see the view from the top. He then ordered us to "take a walk, or spend a night in jail." We had no intentions of causing trouble and we were only minding our own business. We were treated rudely and with no respect. Kelli Mustard Holly Bohardt Baldwin sophomore The NCAA has apologized, but the Louisville trainer has yet to express an apology. We just wanted to let our team know how much we truly appreciate their cooperation and the fact that they show respect for the fans that support them. We know that no one from the University of Kansas would ever abuse the support they receive from the fans or from any other person for that matter. Again, we would like to express our thanks to Coach Roy Williams and the team for representing our school with dignity and honor. Lansing sophomore Bible spells out Christian views on judgment of homosexuality I was appalled when I read "Group looks at Bible's View of Gays." This particular group believes that according to the Bible, God does not condemn homosexuality. They're wrong. Let the reader find a Bible and have a look at the reference passages. In God's law to the Israelites (Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13), homosexual acts are called "an abomination" and the penalty is death. In Romans 1:26-27, we read of the downward moral splay of mankind. One of its results was homosexuali tyl called a `vile affection`, as well as `working that is unseemly`. Furthermore, God calls fornication sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-18; Acts 15:20; Matthew 15:19). Ephesians 5 clearly shows that marriage is to be between man and woman. Hence all sexual acts done by homosexuals are fornication. But the Rev. Fred Phelps is wrong also. God does not hate homosexuals; he hates their sin. "God demonstrates his love for us in this; while we were yet sinners Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8) "God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoseover believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16) "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Lorraine Darwin Lawrence senior KANSAN STAFF GREG FARMER Editor GAYLE OSTERBERG Managing editor TOM EBLEN General manager, news adviser BILL SKEET. Technology coordinator Editors Asst. Managing ... Justin Knupp News ... Monique Guillard Editorial ... David Mitchell Stephen Martino Campus ... KC Trauer Sports ... Phoote Photo ... Mark Rowlands Features ... Lymne McAdon Graphics ... Dan Schauer Wire ... Tiffany Lash Hunt Assistant Editors Assoc. Editorial ... Chris Moosey Assoc. Campus ... Joe Hinder Asst. Campus ... Christina Lane Assoc. Photo ... Stacy Morford Assoc. Photo ... Daron Bennett Assoc. Sports ... Darron Bartoski Reporters Vicil Bode ... Mark Button Jessie DeKoven ... David Dorsey Matt Doyle ... England Mauger Ben Grave ... Frank McCleary Lyle Lewis ... Frank McCleary Terrilyn M-Cormick ... Brady Prauser Jim Reece Brett Rigs Todd Selfert Blake Spurney Jay Williams Ezra Wolfe Scott Anderson Shely Sollo Copy Chiefs Copy Editors Heather Anderson Aaron Baker J. R. 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