Remarks at the 1996 Republican National Convention - Aug. 13, 1996

The great philosopher Yogi Berra once said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." America is at a fork in the road, and we do have a choice.

President Clinton will take us down the road of the past -- more government programs, higher taxes on hard-working Americans, the wrong road.

Bob Dole and Jack Kemp will lead us in a new direction to a brighter, better America. A road to hope -- not just a small town in Arkansas, but a dream for every American.

Four years ago, President Clinton filled Americans with empty words whose meanings change with the political winds. With Bob Dole, character counts. His word is his bond.

Just last week, I dusted off President Clinton's 1992 campaign promises. Candidate Clinton promised a balanced budget. Congress passed it. President Clinton vetoed it.

Candidate Clinton promised a middle class tax cut. Congress passed it. President Clinton vetoed it.

Candidate Clinton promised to restore ethics in government. President Clinton put a former bar bouncer in charge of confidential FBI files.

Don't you think it's time to elect a president who will keep Bill Clinton's promises? And that man is Bob Dole.

Well, I must admit -- I must admit I'm confused. President Clinton promised a balanced budget. Congress sent him one.

He vetoed it. I wonder what the president's real position is on a balanced budget.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLINTON: I would present a five-year plan to balance the budget.

We should balance the budget.

We could do it in seven years.

I do not believe it is good policy, based on my understanding of this budget, which is pretty good now, to do it in seven years.

I think we could reach it in nine years.

Balance the budget in ten years.

I think we could reach it in eight years.

I have proposed a balanced budget that balances the budget in nine years.

The seven-year period is an arbitrary period.

So we're between seven and nine now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUTCHISON: Well, thanks for clearing that up.

I think to understand what Bill Clinton's going to do, you have to know the code. His own aide George Stephanopoulos explained it.

"The president will keep the promises he meant to keep."

Now Mr. President, what kind of lesson is that for America?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLINTON: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUTCHISON: America -- it's time to wake up, America, to President Clinton and his high taxing, free-spending, promise- breaking, Social Security-taxing, health care-socializing, drug coddling, power grabbing, business busting, lawsuit loving, UN following, FBI abusing, IRS increasing, $200 hair cutting, gas taxing, over regulating, bureaucracy trusting, class baiting, privacy violating, values crushing, truth dodging, Medicare forsaking, property rights taking, job destroying friends. And that's just in the White House.

Well, I ask you, isn't four years of President Clinton long enough?

Isn't it time to return America to the real world?

In the real world, words mean the same thing every day. In the real world our men and women in uniform need a commander in chief who will not let the United Nations make his decisions.

In the real world, we don't want a village to raise a child. We want a family.

Bob Dole will take the fork in the road that leads us to a better future, one leading to lower taxes, balanced budgets, better jobs, safer neighborhoods, respect for the White House and a brighter future for our children.

When his country called, Bob Dole was there. America is calling again.

It's time for a leader who will keep his promises. It's time for a leader that will bring back the values that built this great country. It's time for a leader who loves America and will always be there to answer its call. It's time for a president of the United States named Bob Dole.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Republican Convention Evening Session." C-Span video, 3:15:36. Aug. 13, 1996. https://www.c-span.org/video/?74340-1/republican-convention-evening-session.

Sen. Hutchison's comments begin at 2:11:15.