GOP In Meltdown Mode, Dole Tries to Reign in Rush Loudmouth [View All]

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The Dole-Rush Letter


There's been a lot of talk about the letter that Bob Dole sent to Rush Limbaugh. Here it is, as it was sent to me by the McCain campaign:


Rush,

I have not seen you in a long time but I do hear you frequently and I know that you have serious reservations about Senator McCain.

Not that many care but I have been involved in the Republican Primary contest because Elizabeth, a good conservative, is running for reelection in North Carolina where Romney, McCain and Huckabee each enjoy considerable support.

I was the Republican Leader from January 1985 until I left the Senate voluntarily in June 1996. I worked closely with Senator McCain when he came to the Senate in 1987 until I departed. I cannot recall a single instance when he did not support the Party on critical votes. (At my age, I cannot be entirely certain but here are a few key conservative examples:)

1) Consistent pro-life record
2) Strong advocate for strict constructionist judges (We were misled on the Souter nomination)
3) Supported voluntary school prayer
4) Supported Constitutional Amendment for a Balanced Budget (needed two-thirds and lost by one vote — 66-34)
5) Strong advocate for reducing spending and opposing pork barrel "ear marks" which has, I might add, angered some of his colleagues
6) Consistent on defending Second Amendment rights
7) Opposed "Hillary Care" which would have been devastating
8) Probably the Senate's strongest advocate for strong national defense
9) Of course he has cast many votes since I left. I totally disagreed with the McCain-Feingold legislation. On immigration, Senator McCain was not in the Senate when Congress passed President Reagan's immigration legislation which passed overwhelmingly. It granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegals. It was not much different than the 2007 McCain, Kennedy, Bush effort.

I disagree with his votes against the Bush tax cuts but I believe his pledge to make them permanent and I do not agree that Governor Romney ever suggested a timetable for troop withdrawals in Iraq.

McCain is a friend and I proudly wore his P.O.W. bracelet bearing his name while he was still a guest at the "Hanoi Hilton." I believe our major candidates are mainstream conservatives and that our nominee will address our concerns by keeping taxes low, reducing corporate taxes, protecting and assisting the vulnerable, strengthening our traditional values, and above all, keeping America strong militarily, whatever the cost.

Whoever wins the Republican nomination will need your enthusiastic support. Two terms for the Clintons are enough.

God Bless America,

BOB DOLE

P.S. Rush, I just came across a document from the Senate Library which shows Presidential Support scores. Let me give you ratings for "Mr. Conservative" Senator Helms through 2002 (Helms retired in January 2003) and Senator McCain through 2004.

"Presidential Support"

Senator McCain Senator Helms
Support Oppose Support Oppose
1987 65 24 77 22
1988 70 23 60 26
1989 91 9 71 28
1990 74 25 68 32
1991 86 14 84 11
1992 75 25 62 15
1993 27 70 11 84
1994 42 53 18 76
1995 35 63 20 76
1996 31 66 25 75
1997 68 29 44 51
1998 46 47 25 53
1999 38 62 18 82
2000 38 62 31 69
2001 91 9 96 4
2002 90 10 100 0
2003 91 9
2004 92 8

Source: CQ Press