Kerrey, Daschle Want Helms to Be Denied Post
Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) should be denied the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee because of remarks he made about President Clinton, two Democratic lawmakers said Thursday.
Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) and Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) urged incoming Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) to withdraw support for Helms’ chairmanship.
Helms has been strongly criticized by several Democrats, including Clinton, for his remark that the President was so unpopular with the military that “he’d better have a bodyguard” if he visited North Carolina bases.
Helms said in a statement Tuesday that he had made a mistake.
In a telephone interview, Kerrey said he sent a letter to Dole outlining his concerns about Helms’ remarks about the President. The letter was also signed by Daschle, who is seeking the post of Senate minority leader.
Dole had said Wednesday that Helms’ comments about the President should not keep him from becoming chairman.
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