Modern Republican Party is beyond salvage in its current state – veteran Senator and one-time GOP presidential hopeful Bob Dole.
Veteran Senator, former presidential candidate, and stalwart Republican Bob Dole gave a memorable interview in which he discussed the modern Republican Party for the May 26, 2013, edition of “Fox News Sunday With Chris Wallace.”
Wallace began the interview providing some background on Sen. Dole.
“Bob Dole was a man in full in the U.S. Congress. From 1961 to 1996, he represented Kansas on Capitol Hill, but he served the nation. He helped to save Social Security, expand food stamps and passed the American’s with Disabilities Act,” he stated.
“That was his life’s call. A strapping young man, from Russell, Kansas, he enlisted to fight in World War II when he was just 19. Grievously wounded in Italy, he spent three years in the hospital and came out without a kidney or a functioning right arm,” Wallace continued, adding: “Bob Dole today continues to be a portrait of courage, he is wheel chair-bound and losing his sight. But there is no self pity. Not a bit.”
Asked by Chris Wallace what he thinks of his party, the Republican Party today, Dole responded: “I think they ought to put a sign on the national committee doors that says closed for repairs” because the party lacks leadership and the ability to work with Democrats.
Noting that: “It seems to be almost unreal that we can’t get together on a budget or legislation,” Dole elaborated: “As Howard Baker said, running the Senate is like herding cats. But it takes leadership. Somebody has to stand up and say, we’re going to do this.”
Asked if “people like Bob Dole, even Ronald Reagan could … make it in today’s Republican Party,” Dole responded: “I doubt it. And I — Reagan wouldn’t have made it. Certainly Nixon couldn’t have made it, because he had ideas, and we might have made it, but I doubt it.”
Dole also shared his thoughts on “some of the people and events he was involved with over the years,” beginning with Barack Obama.
“He’s a great golfer,” Dole joked adding he is “very articulate.” Asked about his presidency, Dole responded: “I think, as a president, he lacks communication skills with his own party, let alone the Republican Party. And he’s on the road too much.”
Asked about Richard Nixon, Dole stated: “Brilliant, criminal. He could have been a great president. He just threw it away.”
Turning to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Dole remarked: “Newt is a brilliant in many respects. He’s the kind of a guy that can lead the revolution, but he can’t lead after he succeeds.” Speaking of the 2012 election, Dole concluded: “I’m glad he wasn’t our nominee.”
Wallace concluded by asking about “One last person, the guy who beat you in 1996, Bill Clinton.”
“He’s a good guy,” Dole responded, adding: “I remember getting a handwritten seven- page letter from Nixon telling me all about the race. And the last paragraph was: if the economy is good, you can’t beat Clinton. That’s probably not the only reason I didn’t beat Clinton, but it was a factor.”
You can watch Sen. Dole talking about the dysfunction in Washington D.C. in the clip, below, starting at the 30-second mark.
You can watch the full interview below:
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