Former Senate Majority Leader and presidential candidate Bob Dole (R-KS) was willing to help Democrats to the extent of voicing support for health care reform. But he wasn’t willing to go so far as to star in an ad on the topic.
The television ad, from the Democratic National Committee, was to feature numerous Republicans who have voiced support for health care reform and contrast them with the Republicans in Congress, who have almost uniformly opposed every bill placed before them by Democrats. Along with Dole, featured Republicans included California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Dole told ABC News that he was trying to support a bipartisan solution, and felt that the ad made it look like his remarks were “a backhanded comment on Republicans,” which was never his intent.
According to the Associated Press, he mentioned his concerns to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who went to the DNC, which agreed to kill the ad.
RBR-TVBR observation: It’s nice to see the DNC respect the wishes of an old warhorse and respected adversary. Now we’d like to see the DNC quickly put together some new creative and get a new ad out there – TV needs your money, gang!
