How Dole Could Have Used The Issues To His Advantage :: essays research papers

How Dole Could Have Used The Issues To His AdvantageIn a more or less button-down country, the more or less conservativecandidate, Bob Dole, should have been a lock for the presidency the onlyproblem was President Clinton. Clinton had moved arightward positioning himself mingled with Newt Gingrichs zealous revolutionaries on the right and liberaldemocratic barons on the left. Clintons speeches started sounding like aRepublican was giving them. Bob Dole had followed the Nixon political theory of going"starboard" in the primaries and coming back to the center in the generalelection. The only question was whether Dole had gone too far right and wouldnot be able to recover in time. With Clintons move to the right and hisadvantage of incumbency, Bob Dole would have to present some exciting tonic ideasto win over the American people.Throughout the history of presidential elections, there have been a fewissues that always appear abortion, crime and the economy. The position t akenby candidates on these issues could make or break their campaign.The first of these issues, abortion, has been a hotbed of controversy. Thepro-life versus the pro-choice groups. Throughout his political career,President Clinton has been adamant on accompaniment a womens right to choose.Clinton stands firm on the fact that abortions should be "safe, legal and rare"without many unnecessary restrictions. To further show his hard stance onabortion, Clinton vetoed a bill in April that would have ostracizened a rarely usedprocedure termed "partial birth abortions." President Clinton defended hisdecision, calling it justifiable in extreme situations, such as cases of rape,incest and to save the life of the mother. Unlike Bosnia and gays in themilitary, Clinton has not wavered on this issue. Bob Dole on the other hand hastaken just the opposite stance on abortion. Dole opposed the 1973 Roe v. Wadedecision that legalized abortion. In 1983 he voted for a constitutionalam endment to overturn this colony but has since softened his stand andsupported an amendment to restrict abortion except in cases of rape, incest andif the life of the mother is in danger. Dole, not surprisingly, supported a banon "partial birth abortions" and has condemned President Clinton for vetoing it,saying, "A partial birth abortion blurs the line between abortion andinfanticide, and crosses an ethical and legal line we must never cross." Dolesposition could pose a potential obstacle to the presidency. His stance isresponsible for his huge gender gap. Women perceive Dole as rigid and deadened to their needs. What Dole must do is stick to his guns but reassure