Dole’s Refusal to Speak to NAACP

Bob Dole’s rationale for avoiding a speaking engagement at the NAACP is outrageous. He claimed that the NAACP leader is a liberal Democrat, and that he felt as though he was being “set up,” as a result (July 12).

How could he handle an emergency meeting with a hostile government’s leader in the face of an international crisis? Would he shy away from that as well? Would he be so concerned with his image that he would compromise tough negotiations for the benefit of popularity ratings? Newt Gingrich has been labeled as the crybaby. I think Dole is a bigger crybaby than Newt could ever hope to be!

JOHN J. PALAZZINI

West Hollywood

* Re “When Politics Is Scarier Than Battle,” by Karen Grigsby Bates, Commentary, July 15: I believe the true reason Dole refused to stand up in front of a hostile, special interest group is because of the endless negative press which would be generated. For days afterward, if not weeks, the viewing public would be treated to one-sided clips of outraged members of the NAACP standing up and dressing down Dole for his beliefs. Dole’s replies, of course, would not be shown.

The true question here is not if Dole should have provided free negative media cuts to the Democratic National Committee, but whether the NAACP still represents the true interests of the black community in any meaningful way.

ANDREW ROBINSON

Sun Valley