Rolling Stone Says it Misquoted Clinton

W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 8 -- Rolling Stone now says President Clintondidn’t use offensive language to describe the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for homosexuals.

The misquote, printed in Rolling Stone’s latest issue, lenthumor to the White House briefing Thursday when a reporter asked:“When did the president decide that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ was a dumbass thing to do?”

White House press secretary Jake Siewert reassured reportersthat the president didn’t use the unsavory language when discussingthe policy allowing gays to serve in uniform as long as they don’treveal their sexual orientation.

The Rolling Stone article based on interviews with Clinton bythe magazine’s founder, Jann Wenner, quoted Clinton as saying:“And it was only then that I worked out with [former Joint Chiefsof Staff] Colin Powell this dumbass ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ thing … ”

Robert Love, managing editor of Rolling Stone, said it was atypo.

“Due to a transcription error, the words “don’t ask” were printed as “dumb ass” in our interview with President Clinton. We regret the error,” Love said in a statement.

Weighs in on Election

The article, in the Rolling Stone’s Dec. 28-Jan. 4, 2001, issue,combines information from three interviews that Wennerconducted with Clinton between 1992 and 2000 in Little Rock, Ark.,the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One en route.

The interviews covered a series of topics including hisimpeachment, prison reform, Clinton’s feelings about formerPresident Nixon and what he will do when he leaves the White Houseon Jan. 20.

In an interview just four days before the election limbo,Clinton predicted that Vice President Al Gore would win Florida’s25 electoral votes. He’s not right, but he’s not wrong — yet.

“I’ve always thought Gore would win Florida. We worked likecrazy there for eight years. And we’ve done a lot for Florida, anda lot with Florida. And [Gore’s running mate] Joe Lieberman hashelped a lot in Florida.”