Remarks by Senator Bob Dole
 November 11, 1995
 Iowa Right to Life Convention
 (obtained from the Dole Web Page)

LET ME JUST BEGIN IN THE SIMPLEST, MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD WAY I KNOW.  BY
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY, PERSONAL CONVICTION, AND SHEER INSTINCT, I AM
PRO-LIFE.  I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRO-LIFE AND I WILL ALWAYS BE PRO-LIFE. 

THIS IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE AND NO OFFICE IS GREAT ENOUGH TO EVER MAKE
ME ABANDON IT.  FOR 20-PLUS YEARS, I HAVE VOTED WITHOUT EXCEPTION
ACCORDING TO MY CONVICTIONS.  WHEN ROE V. WADE CAME DOWN IN JANUARY, 1973,
I BELIEVED IN THE RIGHT TO LIFE.  AS MAJORITY LEADER AND A CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT TODAY, I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO LIFE.  AND I WILL BELIEVE IT
JUST AS MUCH ON JANUARY 20, 1997. 

THERE ARE A MILLION AND A HALF ABORTIONS EVERY YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY.  WE
KNOW THAT MORE IS AT STAKE HERE THAN THE FATE OF ANY ONE CANDIDATE,
POLITICAL CAUSE, OR PARTY.  NEARLY A GENERATION AFTER ROE V. WADE, WE'VE
LEARNED THAT CALLING A TRAGEDY A CHOICE DOESN'T MAKE IT ANY LESS TRAGIC. 

FOR MANY YEARS NOW, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS OFFERED ONE
ANSWER: ABORTION ON DEMAND. THE INTOLERANCE WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
REFLECTS A DEEP INSECURITY ABOUT THE ABORTION ISSUE.  THINK OF THE FREEDOM
OF CHOICE ACT OF 1993.  THEY WERE GOING TO ENSHRINE ABORTION ON DEMAND
INTO LAW.  BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.  WITH A DEMOCRATIC HOUSE, SENATE, AND
PRESIDENT, THEY STILL COULDN'T PASS THAT BILL. 
 TO ME, IT WAS ONLY MORE
EVIDENCE OF THE OBVIOUS: MOST AMERICANS IN BOTH PARTIES DO NOT SUPPORT
ABORTION ON DEMAND. 

IN THIS ELECTION, I BELIEVE IT IS UP TO REPUBLICANS TO RISE TO THAT
CHALLENGE, TO FILL A VOID IN LEADERSHIP.  THE ABORTION ISSUE IS A
CHALLENGE TO OUR PARTY'S CHARACTER AND TO OUR CHARACTER AS A NATION. 

PART OF THE ANSWER IS POLITICAL.  THE ABORTION TRAGEDY BEGAN WITH WHAT ONE
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE CALLED "A RAW ACT OF POLITICAL POWER."  WE NEED MORE
PEOPLE ON THE COURTS LIKE JUSTICE BYRON WHITE - JUDGES WHO UNDERSTAND THE
LIMITS OF POWER, JUDGES FAITHFUL TO THE CONSTITUTION, WHO FOLLOW THE LAW
AND DON'T LEGISLATE FROM THE BENCH.  AS PRESIDENT, I WOULD APPOINT ONLY
SUCH PEOPLE TO THE COURT. 

UNTIL THE DAY COMES WHEN WE OVERTURN ROE V. WADE, WHY CAN'T WE REQUIRE
PARENTAL CONSENT BEFORE ABORTIONS?  WHY CAN'T WE BAN 'PARTIAL BIRTH'
ABORTIONS?  WHY CAN'T WE STOP GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF ABORTIONS?  THE TRUTH
IS WE CAN ... AND WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE WILL. 

BUT POLITICAL SOLUTIONS WILL ONLY TAKE US SO FAR. WE DON'T HEAR MUCH
ABOUT IT FROM THE MEDIA, BUT ACROSS AMERICA, WOMEN HAVE FORMED CRISIS
PREGNANCY CENTERS -- OFFERING TRUE COMPASSION TO MOTHER AND CHILD ALIKE. 
GROUPS LIKE CARE NET HAVE RISEN UP TO FIND HOMES FOR UNWANTED CHILDREN. 
CHURCHES OF ALL DENOMINATIONS HAVE OPENED HOMES FOR UNWED MOTHERS. 
TEENAGERS HAVE STARTED GROUPS TO PROMOTE ABSTINENCE. 

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SPIRIT THAT WILL SEE AMERICA THROUGH THIS SAD
CHAPTER IN OUR HISTORY.  IT IS NOT AN INTOLERANT, NARROW SPIRIT.  IT IS
THE SPIRIT OF HOPE AND LOVE.  IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT HELPS THE VULNERABLE,
HEALS THE BROKEN, AND WELCOMES THE STRANGER.  IT IS THE SPIRIT I HAVE SEEN
GUIDING AMERICA THROUGHOUT MY LIFE -- THAT REACHED OUT TO ME WHEN I NEEDED
IT. 

SURE IT IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.  BUT THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT THE MIND
BUILDS WALLS THE HEART JUMPS OVER.  WITH A LITTLE MORE COMPASSION AND A
LITTLE MORE RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER, I BELIEVE THOSE WALLS WILL FALL, AND
WE CAN COME TOGETHER AGAIN AS ONE PEOPLE.  THANK YOU.