Lateefah Simon: “I would have to say--and I say this as someone who is supporting Bill Clinton for reelection--that Bob Dole has been…”

“I would have to say--and I say this as someone who is supporting Bill Clinton for reelection--that Bob Dole has been consistent on this. This is not a phony position that he is taking in order to gain a few votes in an election. Second, in terms of the politics, let me just add that if we should pass it we give Bob Dole a small victory in terms of politics because whatever has happened in the past people do not worry about that in an election. They talk about what is going to happen in the future. If we defeat it--and it is Democrat votes that defeat it--then you hand Bob Dole a much bigger issue. That is the political reality. A second political reality is the public image--I say to my friends on the Republican side--of Republicans is they simply are too hard-hearted, are not considerate of those who struggle in our society, and too often candidly propose amendments and pass bills that confirm that impression. On our side, the public image is they are good-hearted people. But they are fiscally reckless.”