[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     DOLE REJECTS NAACP INVITATION

  (Mr. FOGLIETTA asked and given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOGLIETTA. I has happy that Bob Dole was in my district last 
night for the All Star game, but there are direct flights from 
Philadelphia to Charlotte, NC. I say this because America should know 
why Bob Dole has rejected the invitation of the NAACP to speak at their 
convention.
  His campaign repudiated the invitation based on scheduling conflicts, 
but I think other conflicts are involved. Could it be that Bob Dole has 
nothing to say to the NAACP? Could it be that Bob Dole can't do 
anything or say anything that would offend the far right wing of his 
party? That's the answer. Whatever happened to the big tent? These are 
the same folks who talk about their commitment to what they have called 
the safety net for the very poor. But isn't it interesting that both of 
these metaphors speak in terms of fabric. The Republican majority, led 
by Bob Dole and Speaker Gingrich, they are tearing up this fabric. The 
safety net is in tatters. And the big tent is full of holes. With Bob 
Dole's rejection of the NAACP, the big tent is getting smaller and 
smaller.

                          ____________________