A True Democrat: Zell Miller Recalls His Party's Past By Opposing Taxes.(A)(BRAIN TRUST)

Byline: Merrill Matthews Jr.

We have been subjected to a lot of nonsense over the past eight years about the difference between an Old Democrat and a New Democrat.

Bill Clinton came waltzing into Washington in 1993 on the claim that he was a New Democrat. Then he immediately proceeded to try and take over the U.S. health care system, and he introduced -- and ultimately was able to pass by onevote -- the largest tax increase in U.S. history.

To those of us trying to figure out the meaning of the term "New Democrat," it seemed that a New Democrat was an awful lot like an Old Democrat -- only without the integrity.

But then Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia comes along, forcing us to rethink the issue. Miller has been accused of "acting like a Republican" because he co-sponsored with Texas Sen. Phil Gramm the Bush tax cut.

Opposes Private Retirement Accounts

Miller may support tax cuts -- as governor of Georgia, he cut the state's income tax three times and ended the state sales tax on groceries -- but he opposes turning Social Security into private retirement accounts. He may support free trade, but he also supports a new prescription drug benefit for seniors on Medicare. He may be open to new ideas on reforming public education,but he wants more federal spending on health care.