^L doesn't clear screen

[chris]

Configuration Information [Automatically generated, do not change]:
Machine: x86_64
OS: linux-gnu
Compiler: gcc
Compilation CFLAGS:  -DPROGRAM='bash' -DCONF_HOSTTYPE='x86_64' 
-DCONF_OSTYPE='linux-gnu' -DCONF_MACHTYPE='x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu' 
-DCONF_VENDOR='unknown' -DLOCALEDIR='/usr/local/share/locale' -DPACKAGE='bash' 
-DSHELL -DHAVE_CONFIG_H   -I.  -I. -I./include -I./lib   -g -O2
uname output: Linux chris 3.11.0-12-generic #19-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 9 16:20:46 
UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Machine Type: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu

Bash Version: 4.3
Patch Level: 24
Release Status: release

Description:
        ^L doesn't clear the screen
   lithist is on, but <UP> prints literal ^J instead of NL
   This is terminal-independent (mate-terminal, xterm, rxvt)

Repeat-By:
$ ^L

$ q()
  {
  :
  }
<up arrow>
$ q()^J{^J:^J}