Ed Rollins Says Abortion Proponents Hurting GOP Plank

Aired April 16, 1996

JUDY WOODRUFF, Anchor: It is clear that the abortion issue is keeping both political parties busy. Joining us to talk about it now, and politics in general, is long-time GOP strategist Ed Rollins.

Ed, thanks for being with us. You know, New York Governor Pataki has announced that he is going to go after that language that is currently in the GOP platform - unequivocal language - saying that there is no place for abortion in this country. Can Bob Dole win this election if that language repeats in the language the Republicans adopt this August?

ED ROLLINS, GOP Strategist: He can win. I mean, obviously, Ronald Reagan won with the same language and George Bush won the first time with the same language. The critical thing is this is Bob Dole's convention. Bob Dole has to come out of this convention with a unified party. This is the most divisive issue in our party, and if it ends up being a knock-down, drag-out battle, and it's the highlight of the media interest, then certainly he gets- he gets hurt by it.

WOODRUFF: How do you see itself playing itself out? Because on the one hand, you clearly have people in the party who are absolutely committed to keeping the language as unequivocal as it is now, then you've got Governor Pataki, Governor Whitman, Governor Weld, and others saying, `We want it out.'

ROLLINS: Well, some of the stars, obviously, are some of those governors that you mentioned of our party. But I go back to the point - it's the nominee of the party who, pretty much, historically, has always drafted the platform. The delegates are Dole's delegates. If he wants alteration, which he says he does not, then obviously, it would take place. But if he doesn't- if he doesn't want to alter the platform, wants to keep it as it is, it's going to stay just as it is.

WOODRUFF: Well, how does he keep both sides happy here?

ROLLINS: Well, you're not going to keep both sides happy. There's two diametrical sides. It's a moral issue. An issue of conscience to many people, and you're just not going to, basically, make anybody back away from it. The critical thing, though, is the plank, as it's written today, is probably not realistic. There's not going to be a constitutional amendment, but the fact that Pataki and Weld and others are going- are going to make it a fight, then clearly the right-to-lifers are going to fight, and fight more severely than ever.

WOODRUFF: Is Governor Pataki and the others, are they making a big mistake by making this point?

ROLLINS: I think they're- If I was the strategist running this convention, which I'm not, I would try and get through this convention with no controversy, pick a running mate, and move forward, get to the fall campaign. It's a tough, uphill battle to beat an incumbent president, and I think the critical thing is not to have your own side divided. People know that Bob Dole supports the- He's had a long- long-time position of being pro-life, and he's not going to alter it, so no matter what this fight takes place, people don't run on a platform, they run on their record, and Bob Dole's record has one of support of pro-life.

WOODRUFF: So, is Governor Pataki hurting Bob Dole-

ROLLINS: I think-

WOODRUFF: -by making-

ROLLINS: I think-

WOODRUFF: -this an issue?

ROLLINS: I think Governor Pataki's hurting- I think this is something that needs to be done behind the scenes, probably not this convention. Eventually, I think there will be some moderation, but never to the point that you're going to take it out totally.

WOODRUFF: Quick question about the economy. We see in this latest CNN/USA Today poll and other polls showing people are pretty much giving Bill Clinton credit for the economy doing well. That doesn't mean there is not uncertainty out there, but, right now, Bill Clinton is the beneficiary of that. Is that something Bill Clinton should be resting easy on?

ROLLINS: I don't think Bill Clinton can every rest easy. It's certainly not a liability for him at this point in time. If the economy is a liability for the incumbent, then he can lose. But I think the reality is that this president still has a leadership quotient that is still somewhat low. And he's got to remind people that he can be a strong leader and he can basically create jobs in the second term. If he does that, then he probably gets reelected. It's up to us to convince the voters that the economy has not been as strong as he says it is, and, obviously, there are some other real, tangible evidence of- of- of some diminishing jobs and what have you that people are concerned about.

WOODRUFF: All right, Ed Rollins. It's always a pleasure to having you on the show.

ROLLINS: Thank you.

WOODRUFF: Thank you for being with us.

ROLLINS: All right.

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