WASHINGTON WATCH: AS HIS PARTY SLIDES, FDR REVERED

When Rep. Nathan Deal of Georgia announced Monday that he was becoming a Republican, he became the third congressional Democrat to switch parties since the 1994 mid-term elections."During the last 100 days, I have observed my party at the national level simply not willing to admit that they are out of touch with mainstream America," said Deal, a former state senator who is serving his second term in the House.Deal joins Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, who became a Republican immediately after the November elections, and Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who switched last month after his party's leaders defeated the balanced budget amendment, which he strongly supported. Overall, Deal becomes the 77th Democrat elected official -- at all levels of state and federal government -- to switch parties since Bill Clinton became president. It is a trend that alarms many Democrats on Capitol Hill and around the country. One Democrat unlikely to change parties, but nonetheless fed up with its national leadership, is the mayor of Chicago, Richard M. Daley. In an interview with political columnist Robert Novak, Daley, who last week was re-elected overwhelmingly to a second term, let loose his frustration with the president and Democratic congressional leadership."The Democrats are the party of Washington. They are the party of the special interests and of the bureaucracy. They are the pro-tax party," said Daley. "The Republicans have become the party of the heartland.""That's the opposite of the way it used to be. The Republicans pay close attention to the mayors of Glenview, of Aurora, of Indianapolis. The Democrats ignore the mayors."When Novak asked Daley what could be done to reverse his party's slide in the Midwest, Daley responded, "I don't know." But he is positive, writes Novak, that the answer to Democratic woes is not the answer given by the House Democratic leadership: waging the class struggle of rich vs. poor. "It won't work," said Daley. As for the Republicans? Daley admires them for "standing for something," writes Novak.

Hollywood bashSen. Bob Dole formally announced his candidacy for president Monday morning and immediately began trying to assuage the concerns of some Republicans that he isn't a dedicated social conservative. On Tuesday, he delivered a blistering attack on TV sex and violence."Our music and movies and advertising regularly push the limits of decency, bombarding our children with destructive messages of casual violence and even more casual sex," Dole told a packed crowd at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. "Nowhere is it more evident than in what we see on television. Prime-time programming once was for families. No more.""We must hold Hollywood accountable for putting profit ahead of common decency." This will be Dole's third attempt at the presidency, having failed to get his party's nomination in 1980 and 1988.

Hollywood bash, part II

Dole's message about Hollywood was in sharp contrast to the message President Clinton sent a few days earlier in image if not in words. On Saturday, only hours after denouncing Republicans as "the party of the rich" and accusing them of hatching "secret deals with billionaires," Clinton attended a $50,000-a-couple fund raiser for the Democratic Party at billionaire Steven Spielberg's $10 million estate just outside Hollywood. Among those who attended the glitzy bash were actresses Sharon Stone and Whoopi Goldberg, director Rob Reiner and singer Barbra Streisand. Over $2 million was raised.

The White House, sensitive to past charges that Clinton was too close to Hollywood stars, forbade all journalists and photographers from entering the grounds. You might remember, though, it was Clinton who at a similar fund raiser in 1992 praised Hollywood for its "incredible success in reaching out to the rest of the world" and promised, "I want you to be a part of the administration, not just a part of a winning campaign."

The 20th century's bestThis week marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who as president led the United States through two of the most difficult times in United States history, the Depression and World War II. Roosevelt is arguably the greatest American president of the 20th century, heralded today by such disparate politicians as Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan.When the United States was in despair and vulnerable to sliding into dictatorship, it was Roosevelt who gave the nation hope and leadership. His legacy is a proud one.Jon K. Rust is Washington-based writer for the Southeast Missourian.