Wednesday, November 6, 1996
GOP:
Congressional majority cushions blow of presidential defeatBy
Karen Duryea
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
"It’s a bad day for the youth of America," Rep. Bob Dornan of
Orange County said hoarsely Tuesday in the hotel lobby of the
Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
Home to the post-election celebration for Orange County
Republicans, members of the party gathered last night to watch
election returns, disappointed in GOP candidate Bob Dole’s failed
bid for the presidency, but celebrating some victories all the
same.
Although bad presidential news reached the GOP crowd in Orange
County early, boosters remained upbeat, carrying signs emblazoned
with "Trust Dole" and "Dole, he’s one of us."
But regardless of adornment, it was pretty clear by the late
afternoon that the Republican candidate had lost, as televisions in
the lobby reported Dole trailing by six percent.
"I really haven’t thought Dole could do it from the beginning,"
admitted Rob Drummond, a second-year political science student at
Long Beach City College. But the Orange County Republican member
emphasized that despite Dole’s loss, the Republican majority in
Congress will even the score.
"(Clinton) won’t really have any power except to pardon his
friends," Drummond said. "I think a Republican will take it in
2000."
In the front of the ballroom loomed two large screen
televisions, one fixed on CNN and the other on a Netscape web page.
As soon as Newt Gingrich appeared on the first screen, the crowd
finally woke up from a dulled din of conversation. Soon after,
Dole’s image appeared alongside the web page.
"I was just thinking … that tomorrow will be the first day in
my life I don’t have anything to do," Dole said.
Those were the first words America heard from the just-defeated
presidential candidate and it set the joking, relaxed tone of the
rest of the evening, preparing his supporters for good news. The
crowd remained positive, concentrating on the fact that the
Republican party still holds control of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
His running mate soon took the podium live from Orange
County.
"This nation stands on the shoulders of men like Bob Dole," said
Jack Kemp, standing amongst his wife Joanne and family. The crowd
chanted, "Kemp, Kemp …"
"Other than my marriage … this has been the greatest
experience of my life," he continued.
The mood of the crowd quickly shifted as boos followed Kemp’s
announcement that he had called to congratulate President Clinton
and Vice-President Al Gore on their second term.
"C’mon you guys," Kemp laughed, "This is my microphone." He
concluded his speech with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote. "We don’t
know what the future holds, but we do know who holds our future,"
he said.
As for the future, Tuesday evening marked at least one important
Republican victory  the passage of Proposition 209, the
California Civil Rights Initiative.
"Never again in the government will we have policies and
quotas," said John Herrington, chairman of the California
Republican Party.
Gov. Pete Wilson expressed his satisfaction that the majority of
Californians opted to do away with preferences in state hiring,
contracting and university admissions.
"They took the time to read the 37 words," Wilson said.
Wilson’s sentiment was shared by Bruin Republicans President
Jason Steele, who received the volunteer of the year award from the
Orange County Republicans last night. The third-year political
science student was fatigued, for he hadn’t stopped moving since he
left the UCLA campus eight hours earlier.
"We set up shop in our hotel room," Steele said. "Close to 200
people from around the state were there."
Steele and his fellow Republicans kept in contact with the
county registrar to make sure that every Republican who hadn’t yet
voted was reminded that Tuesday was election day. He admits it was
a last-ditch attempt to give Dole a boost in the polls.
"Long-term campaigning doesn’t work at that point," said a
seemingly happy Steele, his award sitting on his lap.
"In sum, now that I’ve had time to think about it, my feelings
are mixed," he said. "We’ve retained control of the Congress and
Senate … Proposition 209 has passed and I couldn’t be more
tickled."
The Bruin Republicans made a bold statement beginning Sunday
evening with the placing of a pro-209 banner above Bruin Walk near
Ackerman Union. Given the widespread anti-209 sentiment at UCLA,
many were surprised that the banner remained intact throughout the
school day on Monday.
"We stationed volunteers around the clock ," Steele said,
admitting that he knew the banner would be controversial. "Two
different groups tried to take it down."
Steele says Proposition 209 will go into effect today, and
despite it being a victory for the Republicans, he is wary of what
will happen on the campus.
"I hope it will be civil," he said. "Out of respect for the will
of the majority."
JUSTIN WARREN/Daily Bruin
Jack Kemp thanks the crowd for their support throughout the
campaign at the Westin Bonaventure in Costa Mesa after polls
indicate defeat for Bob Dole and himself.