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Looking At Dole's Allegation Of An "Integrity Gap"

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Oct. 16) -- Republican nominee Bob Dole says there's an integrity gap in Bill Clinton's administration.

"No administration has shown more arrogance, but few have displayed more ethical failures," Dole said in his biting speech in California on Tuesday.

But, what about Dole? Is he shooting straight or guilty of spin? Let's compare Dole's claims in his speech and the facts.

Said Dole: "We have seen more than 30 Clinton officials investigated, fired or forced to resign due to ethical improprieties." (96K WAV sound)

Well, in fact, Dole's list of 32 names includes several minor officials, including an assistant State Department press official, and several being investigated by Republicans.

Said Dole: "We have seen four independent counsels at work." (32K WAV sound)

That's true, but investigations of Clinton and three cabinet appointees have yet produced no indictments of any senior Clinton officials.

Said Dole: "We have seen the FBI tricked into handing over more than 900 confidential personnel files to the White House." (96K WAV sound)

In fact, FBI officials did say that. The White House says it made a mistake and so far there's no evidence the files were used for political purposes.

Said Dole: "We've seen the Justice Department abused to investigate innocent workers at the White House travel office." (64K WAV sound)

In fact, White House official Billy Dale was found innocent after being fired, indicted and tried.

Said Dole: "We have seen the resignation of a cabinet officer for taking illegal gifts." (64K WAV sound)

That's true. Mike Espy did resign as Agriculture Secretary. Lobbyists have been convicted and the investigation of Espy continues.

Said Dole: "We have seen Marine helicopters used for a staff golf outing." (64K WAV sound)

That's also true, and the White House fired presidential aide David Watkins for doing that.

Said Dole: "And we have seen the president dangle the prospect of a pardon for a convicted felon who might be able to implicate him." (64K WAV sound)

In fact, Clinton has not ruled out pardons for Whitewater figures. He says he'll follow procedures. And Dole himself suggested pardons for Republican Iran-Contra figures in 1992.

"I think if we can demonstrate that there are a lot of politics going on, it'd make it very easy for George Bush to pardon," Dole said at the time. (96K WAV sound)

And Dole hit new charges about big campaign contributions to the Democrats from overseas. The charges, he said, are "that this administration has allowed a wealthy Indonesian family to buy presidential access."

In fact, Clinton did meet and thank rich Indonesians who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Will Dole's attack on administration ethics work? Democrat Michael Dukakis attacked what he called the Republican "Hall of Shame" in 1988, and lost 40 states.

And remember Ronald Reagan's attorney general, Ed Meese? He was investigated and not indicted. Back then, many Republicans thought that was good enough.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

Looking At Dole's Allegation Of An "Integrity Gap"

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