‘Sweet’ Reno Has Wrong Job, Gramm Says
WASHINGTON — Janet Reno is “a very sweet lady,†but should not be attorney general because she cares “more about day care than . . . about violent crime,†Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Tex.) said Friday.
“I believe some people should have that priority, but I do not believe they should be attorney general of the United States,†Gramm said in a speech to the Republican National Committee.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Gramm said he did not mean to sound condescending.
“I wish more people would call me sweet,†he said with a smile. “I don’t understand why they don’t. . . . In fact, of all the Cabinet officials, I like her personally better than any of the rest.
“The point is maybe a person with her perspective should be head of Health and Human Services,†Gramm continued. “But I want the chief law enforcement official of the country to be more concerned about prosecuting criminals than about child care.â€
Reno has not said she thinks day care is more important than prosecuting violent crime. But she has said she believes that a root cause of crime is the lack of day care and other social services for low-income children.
Gramm said he thinks child care is “an important part of the puzzle, but it is not her part of the puzzle.â€
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