CANDIDATES TALK BIG, ACT LITTLE, ON FAMILY

Revelations that Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and his wife have had marital problems, persistent rumors of womanizing by Clinton, and the contrast between Barbara Bush as a traditional stay-at-home-mother and Hilary Clinton as a career-oriented mother, have made family values a catch phrase of the 1992 political season.

Clouding the political impact of the family values issue is the difficulty defining the term. "Family values" don't mean the same thing to everyone. Each person tends to use their own interpretations of morality, personal experiences and religious beliefs to mold their definition of family values.

Rick Althaus, a political science instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, sees the family values debate as "trying to communicate something through the use of symbols" rather than politicians trying to be identified as "moral leaders.

"I am not convinced many people, when looking for moral leadership, turn to politicians to pattern beliefs after," observed Althaus.

"All political campaigns, especially in modern times, have been about symbols and utilization of those symbols. A candidate will try to portray his or her campaign in such a way as to be the most advantageous to that person. The symbolism of being the moral person, which usually comes off in way of contrast by accusing the opponent as being immoral, is a way of developing a short cut to that symbolism."

Althaus noted that oftentimes candidates rely on symbols to divert attention away from their own weaknesses or issues they do not want to discuss.

For example, Clinton does not want to discuss some of the moral issues that Bush is raising, because that is an area he is perceived as weak on. By contrast, Clinton is focusing on the economy where Bush is perceived as weak.

Althaus maintained the practice of trying to divert attention away from issues where a candidate seems weak is simply "politics as usual."

State Rep. Mary Kasten believes candidates need to concentrate more on family issues. She points out that strong families are essential to solving many of the problems facing the state and nation such as education, crime, and drug abuse. She has devoted her five terms in the Missouri House to a variety of family issues.

"The basis of how successful an individual can be begins in the home," said Kasten. "I think there is a recognition on the part of all people that what has been basic forever is family and moral values and that they set the tone for our nation. The basis for moral values is in the home."

Kasten pointed out that in talking about family values, people often forget the inter-relationship between strong values and solving problems facing society.

"The core and basis for education is the family," she said. "We can't be competitive in the global market unless we have educated, skilled and trained people. It all ties together with the homes and the atmosphere of values young people are exposed to."

Recent polling data suggests that despite the best efforts of the Republican Party to be portrayed as strong on family values, most voters do not see that as the pressing issue of this campaign.

In a New York Times/CBS News poll last week asking voters to name the single most important issue, only 1 percent singled out family values. Forty-six percent cited the economy and unemployment.

In fact, some polling data indicates the family values theme has backfired, particularly among younger and more educated voters who relate better to the Clinton household of both parents working, than the father working and mother staying at home image portrayed by the Bush household.

A poll taken by the Times Mirror Center for People and the Press, showed that many core Republicans and independents, leaning toward the GOP, consider Bush more conservative than they are on family values and sexual issues.

On the other hand, the same poll showed that only 22 percent of those interviewed felt Clinton was a good family man; 50 percent said Bush was a good family man.

White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater maintained the results were just from one poll and that there were others to indicate "that family values is working."

Democrats in Congress are attempting to use opposition by President Bush to a family leave bill as evidence the president is not as strong on family values as he wants people to believe.

Bush has threatened to veto a bill that would require employers with more than 50 workers to allow employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually to deal with medical emergencies, including the birth or adoption of a child.

The president is offering a counter proposal to provide tax breaks to businesses as an incentive for granting unpaid leave.

But some Republicans are splitting ranks with the president on the family leave issue, including Sen. Christopher Bond of Missouri who has been the Republican sponsor of the plan approved by Congress.

Bond said last week he was pleased that Bush was talking about the issue, but added, "we sincerely believe this measure we've crafted is the answer."

Democrats in Congress do not deny they held up the family leave bill to pressure Bush to sign it or cast an embarrassing veto right before the election.

In assessing family values as a political issue, Althaus stressed the importance of realizing that "family values is often defined by the person hearing the term."

Some have tried to portray family values as a liberal-conservative issue, particularly in 1988 when Bush ran against Michael Dukakis. But Althaus said family values are difficult to portray in liberal-conservative terms.

In 1980, Althaus pointed out that Ronald Reagan, coming from the "Hollywood elite" and being twice married was the arch conservative running against the family man-Sunday school teacher image of Jimmy Carter. In that election, family values were not a big issue.

Kasten pointed out that efforts to form a Community Caring Council in Cape Girardeau County and other parts of the state are an attempt to improve coordination between agencies that deal with children and families. Such cooperation is especially important because of the many non-traditional families, she noted.

"The old traditional family is hard to get, but the most ideal if you can have it," said Kasten. "But the important thing is if children are nurtured with love and taught right from wrong, that person can grow up to be an influence on others in their own life and pass those values on to others."