Bob Dole: “Last year, I spoke out against National Public Radio's stunningly misguided proposal to hire convicted cop-killer Mumia…”

“Last year, I spoke out against National Public Radio's stunningly misguided proposal to hire convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal to provide a series of 'Death-Row Commentaries.' Fortunately, NPR had the good sense to cancel its contract with Mr. Abu-Jamal, who was convicted 13 years ago of murdering Daniel Faulkner, a 25-year-old member of the Philadelphia police force. Mr. Abu-Jamal remains on death row to this very day. Despite a 4-week trial and despite a case that Assistant District Attorney Arnold Gordon describes as 'one of the strongest I have seen in 24 years as a prosecutor,' there are still those who believe that Mr. Abu-Jamal is the victim of a political witchhunt. Some even go so far as to consider him a political prisoner. A bevy of left-leaning Hollywood celebrities have apparently rallied to Mr. Abu-Jamal's defense, raising money for a legal defense fund and helping to promote Mr. Abu-Jamal's new book, 'Live From Death Row.' According to news accounts, the Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. has paid an advance of nearly $30,000 for Mr. Abu-Jamal's latest creative venture. Of course, most Americans are right to wonder why a person convicted and sentenced to death for viciously murdering a police officer more than 13 years ago is still sitting on death row. This only serves to underscore the wide gap between crime and punishment in America.”