Letter from Washington

“Republicans are such wimps,” is the nonpartisan sarcasm currently making the Washington rounds, uttered by Republicans and Democrats alike. “Why aren’t they rallying behind Reagan? With only a few days to go before the elections, the only one defending Reaganomics is Reagan. Where’s the Cabinet? Where are the GOP senators who are not up for re-election? Where is the RNC chairman?” With his warriors having fled the field, the President is made to look like King Lear on the heath, waging battle against the Democratic elements all by himself.

Take the weekend of October 8 when unemployment pierced the double-digit barrier (10.1 per cent). Who appeared on Sunday’s network talk shows to discuss the issue? On CBS’s Face the Nation, it was Lane Kirkland. On David Brinkley’s ABC show, White House Chief-of-Staff James Baker was paired with the surprisingly animated Walter Mondale. On NBC’s Meet the Press, you saw the Agriculture Secretary, John Block, the nearest thing to an Administration utility hitter. As is his wont on television, Baker did yeoman work, although his discourse was somewhat lacking in anecdotes that would have enlivened the economic data. Why this interest in Sunday TV talk shows? True, in themselves these shows are no big ratings deal, but they become a big deal when they reappear on the Sunday night news and in Monday’s papers.

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“Republicans are such wimps,” is the nonpartisan sarcasm currently making the Washington rounds, uttered by Republicans and Democrats alike. “Why aren’t they rallying behind Reagan? With only a few days to go before the elections, the only one defending Reaganomics is Reagan. Where’s the Cabinet? Where are the GOP senators who are not up for re-election? Where is the RNC chairman?” With his warriors having fled the field, the President is made to look like King Lear on the heath, waging battle against the Democratic elements all by himself.

Take the weekend of October 8 when unemployment pierced the double-digit barrier (10.1 per cent). Who appeared on Sunday’s network talk shows to discuss the issue? On CBS’s Face the Nation, it was Lane Kirkland. On David Brinkley’s ABC show, White House Chief-of-Staff James Baker was paired with the surprisingly animated Walter Mondale. On NBC’s Meet the Press, you saw the Agriculture Secretary, John Block, the nearest thing to an Administration utility hitter. As is his wont on television, Baker did yeoman work, although his discourse was somewhat lacking in anecdotes that would have enlivened the economic data. Why this interest in Sunday TV talk shows? True, in themselves these shows are no big ratings deal, but they become a big deal when they reappear on the Sunday night news and in Monday’s papers.