News

Dole Welcomes Gay Support, Would Appoint Gays to Administration

Joins Bush, McCain in Stating that Merit, Not Sexual Orientation, Will Be Criteria For Appointments

July 1, 1999

"I Want to Bring People Together. I Want To See Healing In This Country"

(WASHINGTON, DC) – GOP presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole joined two other front-runners for the Republican presidential nomination – Governor George W. Bush of Texas and Senator John McCain of Arizona – in stating that she would not discriminate against openly gay people in appointments to a Dole Administration. Dole also said that she would welcome the support of Log Cabin Republicans, the nation's largest gay Republican organization.

In an interview with NBC's Lisa Myers, broadcast yesterday on the "Today" show, Dole was asked if she "wanted the support of Log Cabin Republicans" and whether gay Republicans "are welcome in the party." Dole responded that "all people are welcome," adding "I'm not a person who is divisive... I want to bring people together. I want to see healing in this country, in terms of being able to work together, toward good things for America." Dole added that if Log Cabin Republicans "sent a check to my campaign, I would not turn it away," a reference to the decision by the campaign manager of her husband's 1996 presidential campaign to return a $1,000 check from Log Cabin Republicans which the campaign had openly solicited.

"Because what that says to me is, they're accepting my agenda," Dole said. "They believe in reduced taxes, and increasing the defense budget. They believe in getting rid of illegal drugs in this country. They believe in restoring our public schools to greatness. So, it's a matter of their accepting my agenda."

On the subject of administration appointments, Myers asked Dole directly if an openly gay person would be disqualified. Dole responded: "I'm going to appoint qualified conservatives. And that applies up and down the line. The first thing you'd have to do is make certain that a person has the excellent qualifications."

"A qualified conservative, who shares my philosophy, which again is restoring honor and integrity to government," Dole said. "And moving forward – to increase that defense budget. Decrease taxes. And insure that we are eliminating drugs from this country, and restoring our public schools to greatness. Those are the core issues."

"What is remarkable at this stage of the campaign is that the candidates who embrace non-discrimination principles toward gays are in the lead while those who bash gays are trailing far behind," said Rich Tafel, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. "It's a breakthrough for the Republican Party, and bodes well for the future if it stays on this course and continues reaching out."

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Excerpt from NBC Interview:

LISA MYERS (NBC NEWS): Another divisive issue in your party is homosexuality. Do you want the support of the Log Cabin Republicans? They're a group of gay Republicans.

ELIZABETH DOLE: If they sent a check to my campaign, I would not turn it away. Because what that says to me is, they're accepting my agenda. They believe in reduced taxes, and increasing the defense budget. They believe in getting rid of illegal drugs in this country. They believe in restoring our public schools to greatness. So, it's a matter of their accepting my agenda.

MYERS: But as far as you're concerned, then gay Republicans are welcome in the party.

DOLE: I think that you know, all people are welcome. In other words I'm inclusive. I'm not a person who is divisive. I want to, I want to bring people together. I want to see healing in this country, in terms of being able to work together, toward good things for America.

MYERS: Would you consider appointing someone who was openly gay to your administration? Assuming that person shared your philosophy and agenda?

DOLE: Well, basically – what I would say here is, I'm going to appoint qualified conservatives. And that applies up and down the line. The first thing you'd have to do is make certain that a person has the excellent qualifications.

MYERS: So as long as a person is a conservative, there are no disqualifying factors.

DOLE: A qualified conservative, who shares my philosophy, which again is restoring honor and integrity to government. And moving forward – to increase that defense budget. Decrease taxes. And insure that we are eliminating drugs from this country, and restoring our public schools to greatness. Those are the core issues.