Dole Stumped When Asked To Name Anyone Who Believes 'The Terrorists Can Be Appeased'

Think Progress
Sep. 04, 2006

Watch itSec. Rumsfeld last week compared Iraq war critics to Hitler appeasers. This morning on Fox News, Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) was asked to name someone — anyone — who actually believes “the terrorists can be appeased.” She couldn’t do it.

Instead, she went on an extended rant criticizing those who have “raised concerns” about the PATRIOT Act, the “Terrorist Surveillance Program” (i.e., warrantless domestic spying), and the missile defense system. The host then asked Dole whether that “goes to the level” of appeasement. She dodged the question a second time.

Full transcript:

WALLACE: Senator Dole, which Democrats, and I’d like you to name them, which Democrats running for the Senate this year believe the terrorists can be appeased?

DOLE: Well, let me say, first of all, that I think what the administration officials were saying is that this is a very serious situation. They want the American people to realize that these are Islamic jihadists who are literally trying to destroy our way of life, destroy us, and they were raising the level of attention to just how serious it is.

WALLACE: I know, but some people –

DOLE: And I just want to say — let me just mention that the tools that are needed to fight the war on terror, such as the PATRIOT Act — now, there are a number of the Democrat candidates who are against the PATRIOT Act. Sherrod Brown, for example, who’s running against Mike DeWine in Ohio. I could name any number — um, Bob Menendez, I believe, voted against the PATRIOT Act. The Terrorist Surveillance Program, many of the Democrats have raised concerns about this particular tool, which enabled, the same kind of tool enabled the British to come across the plot to bomb airplanes, and the Bank Surveillance Act, and missile defense system, the Democrats have been against the missile defense system.

WALLACE: Do you think that goes to the level — and I’ll give Senator Schumer a chance in a moment — do you think that goes to the level of what Secretary [sic] Cheney called trying to appease the terrorists, or what Vice President… what Secretary Rumsfeld called — or what Vice President Cheney called trying to “satisfy the appetite of the terrorists”?

DOLE: I think that this is designed to raise the attention of the American people to the severity of these Islamic jihadists who are in a holy war, who as I say want to destroy us. It’s a movement, and it’s a very serious matter, and I think that’s what they were trying to do.