Dole Urges Blacks Critical of GOP to Join Its Ranks

Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole told the Urban League on Monday that if blacks are unhappy with the Republican Party, they ought to join it to try to change things.

“If you don’t like what you see in the Republican Party, and not many groups are perfect, the best way to bring about change is join the internal debate,” Dole (R-Kan.) said at the civil rights group’s 75th annual conference.

The public appeal to blacks followed a private session last week at which Dole brought together top Senate Republicans with the leaders of major black groups to discuss common interests and needs.

Black leaders had urged the backing of civil rights measures at that session, while Republicans sought black support for next year’s congressional elections.

In his remarks Monday, Dole pointed to extension of the Voting Rights Act, creation of the national holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and efforts to extend the Civil Rights Act as accomplishments of the GOP-controlled Senate.