Town Hall Meeting with Presidential Candidate Bob Dole

Congressman Charlie Bass Bernie you can call me young man any day of the week. The problem is that during my campaign last fall I was referred to by some of my better friends in the press. As an old warhorse and at my age I don't know what what I'm going to be 20 years from now. But Senator Dole here when compared to me you. Who you think you're you're just a couple of years older than me right. Really gives me pleasure to introduce New Hampshire's junior senator. I don't think in New Hampshire we have junior senior centers we have effective senators we have people in Washington who know what they're doing and they know what's good for New Hampshire and for this country in the two short years that Senator Gregg has been in the U.S. Senate he's moved up to a position of prominence a position of leadership

and when and if Senator Dole becomes this country's next president who knows where Judd Gregg will end up. So with that I'd like to introduce Judd Gregg a good friend former governor U.S. senator. Just call me Junior. Actually I do feel young compared to Bernie. Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here today. This is the introduction process. You're not here to hear from us you're here to hear from Bob Dole who I've not been introducing But I think is one of the finest gentlemen I've had experience to serve in any area and especially of course in the United States Senate. I want to introduce another National Boy there are a lot of national boys on this stage today three of us actually Bernie moved into town. We know that he came he came from

King but he's a native now. And so it's my pleasure to introduce a fellow who has done Nashville very proud over his career of public service and now he's in the private sector he's also continuing to carry on on the right being and which is the banner of getting our federal budget under control. I have had the great honor to follow him in service in the Senate and it has big shoes to fill. I can tell you it's a wonderful pleasure to introduce Warren Rudman. Thanks John. I had the pleasure and privilege to serve under Bob Dole's leadership for a long time. And last night when the national press asked me you know why is it you supporting Bob Dole you know the others were all good people. They are. There's one answer. And as we go to the last four years of this century entering the new one what this country needs is leadership.

And if there's anything that Bob Dole stands for it's leadership. Actually all this banter about age up on the stage here today. Let me just simply say that my job for Bob this weekend was to dye my hair gray so I look younger than older than he does. Bob Dole thank you very much. There are a few seats around a Methodist way to have people standing you know over four or five seats over here and a couple up front here so we'll pass the plate right after you're seated. But in any. Well I must say I'm very excited to be here on Presidents Day I think it all sort of ties together. I hope this may be the start. And last night was sort of the official kick off and I must say it's six minutes and 50 seconds you don't get to say a lot.

I hope nobody did. But in any event the campaign has started and I'm very proud to be a part of it. I see my good friend Jerry NIJ back up here he was we were in the same outfit in World War Two. Jerry really had to learn how to ski. I came from Kansas I don't know how I got in the 10th Mountain Division but. Good to see you here this morning. And a lot of my friends that I have seen coming back to New Hampshire and I know that in New Hampshire town meetings that Republicans are here independents Democrats and they're always one or two just kind of the wrong meeting. So for all the anybody who may be here I'm very excited to be here and I'm very proud and pleased that you're here and proud to have my friends standing up here with me. They've done a great job in the House and the Senate. And Bernie has done a great job as counselor Senator Rudman of course and I've been at it for a long time in the Congress and we worked on a lot of things together and that's what this is all about. I've been asked if Elizabeth was along and I've said no but you know she is proud of the Red Cross that she got to be president something which is more than I can say.

But she may be leaving the Red Cross soon. I hate to take her out of these big meetings you always want to start a blood drive and it's got a message you know pretty hard to talk while she's taking your blood. So in any event she'll be up later. I want to say just a few words. No no no. And town meetings you take questions you don't make speeches Senator Rudman touched on it and so did Senator Gregg and Charlie I think as we look at what's going to happen from 1996 till the end of the next century and what may happen the next two years as we all go around in this effort to win the Republican nomination and again I know each one of the candidates I'm not certain will be anymore. There may be but if there are I think I'll know who they are. And as far as I know they're all good people and all qualified and we'll all be here to talk to you probably many many times if there is one distinction. Again I don't know I'm not perfect but I think if there is one distinction I do

believe that I've been tested many ways and I do believe that I've been able to provide leadership and leadership means getting somebody to follow. Leadership is setting a course where somebody can follow leadership. If you look behind you nobody behind you. I'm not certain that's leadership. Try to get people together and I had somebody remind me at Kean after our meeting there on Saturday morning he said Senator I'm for you but you did mention that you've got to work together with people you've got to bring people together. You've got to provide leadership. And I said what maybe I should have said that maybe I missed it. And I must say after the 1988 election as some may remember I was elected president of Iowa and then eight days later I came to New Hampshire and then I was re-elected or whatever you do. I mean I as I said I see a quote this morning a paper if you lose Iowa New Hampshire you might as well pack your bags and go home. And I realized even though the polls showed that I was ahead the voters in New Hampshire hadn't spoken

yet. And when they did George Bush won by about 10 points. And President Bush and I became very close friends. I carried a lot of water for President Bush. In the four years he was there. In fact the last thing he said to me as he left the Capitol steps after the inauguration of Bill Clinton as president he said I want to thank you again for your loyalty and loyalty means a lot. Whether it's politics or business or whatever it is and why they may block. But anyway I thought maybe the media was right. They were saying well the torch has been passed we have a new generation. President Bush would be the last. World War II era. The United States and I accepted that for the most part. But then I know you think about it for the first couple of years of President Clinton was president. We had to the stimulus package which we stuck together and killed we had health care which we stuck together and it didn't pass. We weren't

quite able to stop the biggest tax increase in the history of America but we didn't get a single Republican vote for it. But then last June I went over the D-Day ceremonies and I went to Utah Beach and was in France and very emotional time. A lot of people brought their kids and some brought their grandkids the next day I went to Italy where the 10th Mountain Division was and went up into the hills where they were heading there to you and you were about 300 and some members and their families and I got to thinking about you think about your youth you think about your country you think about what's happened for 50 years. And many of these sad many brought their kids and our grandkids. And you never really think of your father as being 18 or 19 or 20 years old and you certainly never think of your grandfather ever being that young. But then you think about who who did the fighting and who did the dying and who made the sacrifices and who crossed the beaches who were who were flying airplanes who were on these ships and that were your father and your grandfather. It was our generation.

And so I thought about well maybe there's one more mission maybe there's one more call to serve. I thought about it. We walked around the hills of Italy talking to friends I had made in the 10th Division and others who were there I talked about it on the way home on the long plane trip home. And then November came along we had this political earthquake in America. It was an earthquake 40 years Democrats dominated the Congress. We had had a Republican Congress since my hero Dwight Eisenhower was president United States that's a long long time. And it occurred to me was that big political earthquake if we're going to remain a majority for the right reason power or something. But having a majority and making decisions for the right reason not because Bob Dole or Judd Gregg or Charlie bash really was once powered or just to be in a majority to be in a majority. We have an agenda. We have ideas we have of course for America and we believe will make America

a better place. And so I decided one more time and that's why I'm here. And that's why I'll be running for president. And I appreciate your help. So hopefully when you leave the meeting I had a chance to volunteer and we're putting together a grassroots organization at the end of my campaign in 88. We had 7000 volunteers. We only started here about two and a half months ago we have 21000 volunteers. Now that says something about what's happening in their hands. And of course we'd like to have a lot more so hopefully you'll be able to help us but now I'm up I'll answer questions or questions. Jeff.

I'm going to repeat the question if I get elected president. It is Jeff isn't it. Oh yes. When I'm in school when I become president. Excuse me. Will Jeff be invited the White House. That's one of the toughest questions I've had. The answer is yes. But you have to vote for him in school. You know you have to when they have that little school vote be sure you vote for me at least at least once. So. Just as. Soon. As. You say. The

fact. That. It. Has. To. Change. In some. Key. Instead of turning it into. Something else. Well. That said. That's I'm I'd say that's the whole thrust of what we hope will be the Republican message and certainly my message in the next the next 12 months. Rein in the federal government return more power to the states and the people the 10th Amendment as I said last night get power back to the people let you decide how to spend your money and cents out of some bureaucrat. And don't misunderstand they're probably well-intentioned people working for government but why have them make your decisions return more money to the people. And that's what we hope to do. That's what all this Republican revolution is about. And I don't without any offense to any Democrats or others in the audience Jesser returned.

I mean you've got to we're not going to take. We're not going to. No no we're not going to take any more long as we're in Jarba going to give you a little back too. So that's a better deal than you thought. So we understand the question. We understand the mood of the people. I don't care whether people are Democrats Republican pedant's I think there is a general consensus that we need to rein in the federal government and let me say as I say every time the federal government does a lot of good things how many people have the G.I. Bill of Rights for example I'm one of them they're probably out. They do a lot of good things. A lot of people got to go to school it wouldn't have gone to school without federal help. Student loans whatever. But when you get a student loan we think you ought to pay it back you have to get a good job. We're going to be looking at that too. A lot of people don't pay back their student loans. There are a lot of areas we're looking at. Video. OK. Yes.

Would you. Be in favor of the way to reduce the. Government. Goes to the house. But I'd be in favor eliminating the Department of Education. The answer is yes. I don't think we have to stop at the Department of Education. And again let's make it very clear to people who may be undecided about whether we start to eliminate any departments. I think Lamar Alexander is up here saying he was secretary of education. He's wanting to eliminate a part he knows that as well as anybody. So maybe you should have been eliminated before. I don't know. But the answer is if we're going to reduce bureaucracy we've got to start somewhere. That's why we said go back and look a bill Zoloft a disease and an aide is a program cut things. Maybe that means agriculture. We have a lot of farmers in my state. They know they're going to take a hit but what do they tell us. If you get rid of some of these crazy regulations the federal government imposes you're going to have your subsidies going to cost me more to pay for the regulations and do the things that regulations require that I get in

subsidies never going to reduce bureaucracy. We can start exempting anybody through ETAs except right now Social Security. So that's going to be the answer. We've got a task force right now. Charlie is on that task force. He told me looking at eliminating four agencies right. Education and Commerce and Energy. So there's 40 apartments and I'm making a lot less crowded. Now maybe it all won't happen but we were going to phase down if we did can't get it. Another thing that I think we ought to take a look at is getting some of this government that's left closer to the people outside of Washington. Bring it back to where the people are where you can get a hold of people without having to come to Washington every time you have a problem. So a lot a lot of areas we're looking at will flesh out over the next six to eight months. You know precisely where we are yes or. Am I going to read I can't repeal the gun ban alone and I'm not certain we have the votes. Let me tell you about the gun ban.

That's why it's ineffective. Got 19 weapons that were banned to have gone off the market. Seven have been modified and are back on the market again. And I guess there's still about the 10 that are out there. We'll have a vote on the gun ban sometime late this year or next year. Do we have the votes to repeal it. The answer is probably not yes sir. Yes ma'am. But. I think that's why I hope there's a preamble the 10th Amendment return power to the people return power to the states return power to New Hampshire governor or the legislature. That's that's the thrust and let me tell you one thing about the governors we have 30 Republican governors most we've had for 10 or 15 years at least.

They'll tell you almost to a person as well Democratic governors that for the first time when they come to Washington somebody listens before they've come to watch and been photo opportunity. But it makes those statements they go back home. Now they're sitting down with us working on welfare. They sat down with us and worked in what we call unfunded mandates. They're going to sit down with us and work on Medicaid as far as we're concerned the governors are partners. After all they reflect your views whether you're Democrat or Republican the feds are going to reflect your views when they come to Washington. So I want to make certain you understand this is not just Congress and also President Clinton is the United States and when it's in our national interest and we agree with President Clinton we're going to be working with President Clinton. I don't think the American people regardless of how partisan we may be expected on every issue just because we're Republicans and he's a Democrat that we have to have a confrontation. You know now and you're right. Not very often but now and then you might be right. And when he's right I will help.

Yes sir. Yes. It does. Because. The question is how do we propose to rein in entitlements. There are a lot of entitlements you go to agriculture go to food stamps you go to Medicare. There are a lot of entitlements. And we're not going to get there unless we look at and not only look at entitlements unless we take some action on entitlements and we can do that in my view by restraining the growth of entitlements. Judd tells me yesterday and he's been working on this as his job under the balanced budget and work on entitlements. If you reduce the growth from what 10 percent to 7 percent how much do we say. Well you know you can save 200 billion over five years not by cutting but just restraining the growth restraining the growth. So don't be don't fall for the scare tactics you're getting from some of our Democratic colleagues in the Senate on the balanced budget amendment. They're trying to scare everybody out there saying if you do this you're going to eliminate

Medicare and eliminate those. It's not true. We're going to restrain the growth. And I know how many watch C-SPAN quite a few C-SPAN watchers. If you had your Roman history lecture from Senator Byrd if you'd been able to. We're trying to trying to arrange for college credit so we can that you know if you want to get credit for it. But I tell you one thing that I bought three weeks ago Senator Byrd is up there and he was talking about Romany's Cicero are our lives today he would be against a balanced budget amendment. And Senator Thurmond jumped up and said I knew Cicero he was for about. An. Hour. Back in 2000. Well why not balance the budget next year. It just

can't be done. You know it's going to be very tough to do it by the year 2002. I'm saying you ought to slip into 2003 or 2004 we think we can do it the next seven years. Now keep in mind we have to have 67 two thirds of vote in the House and Senate the House has passed a balanced budget. We have to have 67 votes. It's going to be a week from tomorrow. That has got to go to 38 states got to come to New Hampshire. And the Democrats have been saying well you shouldn't have an amendment passed unless you tell us how you're going to get there in the year 2002. And I can tell you it's not easy but it can be done and it can be done again without devastation. It's going to be done by restraining growth of programs whether it's in our part of the country or some other part of the country. I've got to believe that most people expect us to be responsible. We can't continue to pay the interest on the national debt and see the debt go up up and up. So everything's on the table with the exception of so security for right now and we believe as long as we don't make any exceptions we're going to get there but we can't get there by 1996. That would be I

think that would be a little cataclysmic. See I don't want to. Yes. I was accused of calling on all men soldier yes yes ma'am. Oh. I see. Well I understand a question and I am pro life but it seems to me that we've got it you know if we want to get into the Democrats game and trying to divide the Republican Party will make the issue abortion is a very important issue. Don't misunderstand me. I think what we need to focus on are good Republicans. There are a lot of good Republicans who are pro-life. A lot of good Republicans who are pro-choice and a presence out there now the foster nomination trying to divide Republicans. What my requirements would be for a running mate is somebody who has pretty much the same views as I do not a clone of Bob Dole but somebody who is ready on day one to be the pres United

States and generally agrees with my views and that's how it's going to be a Republican. Nobody's going to be getting a litmus test on every issue. We could operate that way we wouldn't have a party that way because everybody would have one issue where they didn't agree with somebody else. Yes sir. Yes. What will our role be in some of the hotspots around the world. It's another big debate because we've had this administration sort of abdicate responsibility to the United Nations and the United Nation talks about multilateralism and it seems to me that one clear message ought to come out of this next election. Then we commit United States forces there ought to be committed by the United States and not by some faceless nameless bureaucrat in the United Nations. And that's kind of one thing is going to come out. And again we understand the importance the United Nations. But Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Let's take Somalia for instance and Boutros Boutros-Ghali may be one too many Butros according to that but. According the Letterman show I picked that up while I was up there. But in any event. In Somalia we went over there when President Bush says we got to help feed these people. America always says yes it was a humanitarian effort we all said OK let's do it. People are starving. And when you watch television you see some child you don't like you want us to help. We said OK we'll help. And so we did and we sent troops there and we got along very well for the most part. We fed a lot of people say hundreds of thousands of lives. I don't know how many but then United Nations not even knowing it changed it not to a humanitarian mission but to a nation building mission that was never our mission to win and try to reshape and remake Somalia. And then that tragic day when 17 Americans lost their lives on a mission that had no relationship to our original purpose. So my view is when we start making decisions

that affect somebody in uniform in an American uniform. Then we ought to be making the decisions. It's your son it's your neighbor it's somebody you know and that will be the difference in this administration. Yes sir. OK. If you'd like to believe. At least with respect to view you know. I'm very concerned about the situation there. We've had virtually no danger here of providing an air tax code allows. You. To. Reveal secrets. Which your customers would say. Well we have already taken that up on our side. The answer is yes but I think the bigger question you talked about were traditional values. You know what Dan Quayle talked about traditional values he was sort of laughed at. Now we've come full circle now we have President Clinton talking about

traditional values family values that work ethic all the things we talk about keeping the family together. And that's what worries a lot of us about welfare. When you have some young child 15 years old having a child. What has been the approach of welfare. Well give that child cash payments put them up in an apartment somewhere or a house somewhere and give them food stamps and Medicaid and in effect what you're having is I heard one House member say last last week on this on a house for your having subsidized child abuse. I mean here's a child and you put this person out this 15 year old out on their own where they have more children more babies babies having babies so we're going to say this. No more cash payments. You live with your parents. You identify the father. You're still eligible for food stamps and Medicaid. And nobody is going to let any child in America go without care. But we've got to change the system we live in. I was in St. Louis. I was in St. Louis Missouri two weeks ago with Senator Danforth a retired he had a big testimonial

dinner and Jack Danforth is the great person and he's raising money to help at risk youth. And Senator Moynihan spoke that night a Democrat in St. Louis and he had checked the figures 69 percent of the births in St. Louis are illegitimate. Seven out of 10. Now we have to stop it. It's an epidemic. And you talk about values and family values. We've got a lot of work to do but it's got to come from the top. It's got to come from the top. And then we've got to make certain that we make it work throughout. Yes. Semi-nude games let me tell you one thing. You know Newt knows where he wants to go. And he has a contract with America. I think he wants to go to New

Hampshire sooner or later. But it. Is coming up in June just to arrest and visit you know. And I may be a part of helping him rest but you know. But. Newt has a message but his message was your message last November. He's trying to reflect what you told us you thought you wanted us to do not to wreck the government not to destroy good programs but to figure out how we can stop as the first question to ask our second question. You know like you keep your money. And still have basic government services. Is it because the government does a lot of good things. No I said people said give me. Newt says a lot. I said well he does. He takes a lot of a lot of ideas and of course he had a lot of ideas. The first few weeks because I've been waiting 40 years. The House has waited 40 years to say we're the majority. We were so excited about it we adjourned the Senate for an hour to go over and watch it so that it would mess it up we want to be there when it happened.

And I didn't say God lived long enough I knew strong. I knew Strom would be around but I didn't think I would live long enough to see a Republican House of Representatives. So Newt's right on track. And when he comes up here you ought to have a chance to talk to him. And we work very close together. You know some of the media try to do well bbls here in Newt's here and 10 years ago he said something about Bob Dole and Bob Dole and about Newt Gingrich. While we can't play the division game we want to play the multiplication game where there are more Republicans for the right reason and Democrats and independents joining us too. I guess we're finished thank you very much for. That.

Look. What you heard today from. Oh I think it's pretty good. I'm not decided yet who I'm going to support for president. But he was funny. A lot less serious than we then we we've seen him or that I picture him and ideas in general yes in general yes. No I haven't. I like tax saving ideas. I'm very afraid of what's going to happen if we go too deep into tax saving ideas. He didn't cover things like corporate welfare. We talk about individual welfare but not corporate welfare. And of course I didn't ask the question. So that makes a difference. I'd like to see it covered next time. Thanks for. Giving.

Us. More. I. Mean. Do. You. See yourself supporting it. I'm game for yes.

Just. Just. There. And. Say you are running. For governor here. Are you sorry. That looks good. For you here. You're your by your. Own.

Counting how. Many times in. The last three or four takes. Now I understand how they feel better and sleep better. It's. Much. More. That we have to change. Job so I feel better I sleep better or I'm almost always. Man. Investing. Is. Time. Thanks for coming out on holiday. I. Just. I know but I did that it has given us the facts but it was the. First. Time I've said a word publicly. I don't think I would like to get a picture of her. That's. My. Next time. I'm too. I'm too close.

I. Just. Think. That. If. You. Come. Back. Here. And. You. See something that. You. Just. Don't. Say it does make. Sure. I get my. A birthday present. Yeah. And. I.

Really. Don't have the votes. But we're going to we're going to vote. Hopefully she'll find out where people are. We should push for it. I talked to some guy who really an expert on this. I've already. Revised seven up and they're back on the market. You're out of commission and there you know that's why the ban doesn't work. I mean you have to go after the person like. That. I'd like to know why the government just stay out of people's lives. Well that's a debate we're having now. And what we don't want to do to you know divide the Republican Party. So we're trying to figure out a way how we can do it. My view is everybody is welcome in our party regardless of their views on the death penalty for abortion whatever it might be. And if we let the Democrats divide us which is what you will do as it did at the convention last year it should be a government issue. Thank you.

Your wife went through just one restaurant. If. You have on to people the other way to make fun of the other night and say. I. Suggest. You. Get. Along shortly. I'll have. Another. All. Right thanks. Good luck to you. Thank you. I got it. I know. I'm telling you working hard. We are blessed. Thank you. Make. Sure. You pick up another one. Join your campaign. You feel those results show that 80 percent of the jobs are people that want your future employees. We didn't get that. That's the news you get interest rates down into small business. And everybody. We don't have any money. We're crazy. We'll be going.

And that's great. And that's about it. I by. The. Way. Well we're we're I want to play. You know what we're running a virtual company but I like to be the subject the interior economy. That's why I think the president is saying well we've got to focus more on small business. He's going to get out. I understand the day and tell the labor unions that by executive order if you get a federal contract you can't hire replacement workers which takes away it's another mandate another freedom to reply to you. But it's all the regulation. Was one of your Scouts and the 10th Mountain Division right. Found that out about a year ago. Number of computer with the same company as as they are you are

getting harassed. But I think I live but it's still there. I really got a great outfit. Larry Sharkey Good to see you again. Hey you. I know I was. Didn't get much sleep last night. You know this guy you know they're lucky to get you out correctly. Let me try to comment on that and Raider's that you live in a separate room which we will never have is there. That's right. Thank you so much. Thank. You. Bye bye. Norris caught in the famous line if I stayed up all night long for

you to see you when. Were going out this. Way. You I'm not that hard. I'm back on March 3rd to be with me soon so just leave the Red Cross. First he has to make a big George to raise money. They always need money and the Red Cross. Thank. You. Thank. You. Great to hear. That.

Why. Would you like what you heard about small business. What's it like what you heard from Bob Dylan's business. I think he's he's from East pro-small business. He said that you know being in Kansas obviously you don't have the large Fortune 500 sports organizations there. And so you know you mentioned statistics 80 percent of all new jobs come from small business and he's very much in support of it obviously like there are more specifics but that's the position I want to hear what would help your small business the most getting tax free. I'd say it's less regulation. You know all the there's just so much of the of the. Because there's there's so many specifics that basically just all of the overhead that's involved in running a small business with your employees

especially it's just a real you know wait to wait for us. Right now I'd say yes two or three. Yeah. But you'd like to hear more specifics like there are more specifics but I think the thing that I like about all of is some of the other folks as I you know like Graham you know some of these other frontrunners I like you know there's something about his personality where he's measured. He's balanced. And I think that the press in general have been a little. They haven't shown his humor his real human side. And I was you know it's one of the things I want to see to the safety factor. I don't think so I mean look at Reagan. I mean or Bush. So I don't see that as a real fact. I understand he's has some health issues but he's over those. And I of the of the field right now I'd have to I'd have to lean towards them on the Republican side.

Are you Jim Luther King three minutes from house right next door. Where are you from. I'm with the Christian Science Monitor. Great. Thanks for your show. Great. You asked about the abortion issue. Do you feel like you got a straight answer from Senator. No I didn't. No I still don't think that he fully agreed that it should be a personal issue. I mean he talked about people like me maybe he talked about the rift between the Republicans and Democrats but that's still within the government. And my personal issue is that it is a personal issue. Leave the government out of it. You're Republican and guess how you like to see it just out of the platform. Ours it's just down just out of everything. As a Democrat side of the Republican Party out of all the parties it should be a personal issue.

The fact that he is pro-life would stuff you thing from getting on board. No that's not that's not the primary. That shouldn't be a primary reason for voting for anybody. Are you leaning towards thinking through support. And towards this. I guess I'm leaning towards Graham to be true to making up your mind and making up my mind yes. Coming in to listen to all of them are from Nashua Yes. Yes I am loath to intrude on