Why a Republican response for the '96 State Of The Union?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Why did the networks air a Republican response to Clinton's 1996 State Of The Union speech?

The speech itself was conservative. Why a conservative response to a conservative speech?

Were there any stations that had the guts to air a liberal response, as they should have done? If I was a station manager, I would have had the network feed cut after the speech so a liberal response could be provided instead of more conservative crap.

[Cubby]

Because this is a two party country, whether we like that or not. What they did was allow both sides to be shown, if they chose your path one half of the country wouldn't be represented. Back in those days, I thought of Clinton as a liberal Democrat like myself, and I thought he was a really great President. Today I realize he wasn't liberal, he was moderate/centrist, but that doesn't put him on the same page as the Fundamentalist Republicans.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Because this is a two party country, whether we like that or not.

Then Clinton should have been giving us an alternative to the Republicans instead of just parroting the Republicans' failed ideas.

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Overall, maybe he wasn't as bad as the Republicans, but that particular speech was. If I read the speech, without knowing it was a Clinton speech, I would have just assumed it was a Republican speech.

[riceowl]

You're about 10 years late.

But it's because he has a (D) after his name, and the Republicans have an (R).  That's the only reason.  No more, no less.

[dazzleman]

What a timely and burning issue this is.

[MODU]

What a timely and burning issue this is.

Yeah, he must be running out of material. 

[WalterMitty]

i remember that response.  dole gave it.  it was...well...bad.  clinton's speech was much better.

i was a lamar alexander for president supporter.  i was upset that theyd (the gop) allow another presidential contender (dole) to give the response.  it seemed a little unfair to me. 

[Cubby]

What a timely and burning issue this is.

Look over there Dazzleman------------Its Hillary Clinton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The horror!!!!!!

Lamar Alexander? He always wore lumberjack flannel shirts. I don't think he's done anything as a Senator yet.

People shouldn't be ridiculed for bringing up past political events, thats part of what this forum is for.

My favorite Clinton State of the Union moment was when Rosa Parks was his guest in the balcony. Sure beats that stupid, contrived Lenny Scutnik crap, Parks actually means something in history.