THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 14, 1995 TAG: 9504140445
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
Fiery conservative Rep. Bob Dornan became the seventh GOP presidential contender Thursday, injecting his no-holds-barred style into the race as he railed against the entertainment world's ``filth'' and society's ``moral decay.''
``I believe that America is poisoning itself, that we are destroying this God-blessed nation of ours,'' the California congressman told a band of supporters at a national memorial to slain police officers.
Dornan kicked off his dark-horse campaign with a rambling, flamboyant speech that showcased two of his favorite themes - admiration for the nation's military and police officers and devotion to moral issues.
His chances of winning the nomination are slim, according to political observers of all stripes. And he suggested he knew it, saying, ``Winning is not everything. I'm in it to try and win, but it's not everything.''
``I want to go down swinging,'' he said. ``I love the arena. . . . I love the dust.''
Dornan, a onetime TV actor and talk-show host, was elected last fall to his ninth term.
He said he hopes to influence the debate and claimed he had already done so because Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole this week courted conservatives with speeches about values.
The outspoken Dornan is known for strong conservative positions - including staunch opposition to abortion - and for his attacks on President Clinton's character and draft record. He is likely to compete for the most conservative voters with former Reagan administration officials Pat Buchanan and Alan Keyes. And some strategists think he could chip away some support from Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas.
Also in the GOP nomination fight are former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana and California Gov. Pete Wilson are expected to join the field in the coming weeks.
Dornan said his aim is to keep them all focused on the social issues.
``You cannot have liberty unless a people are virtuous,'' he said, blasting the ``filth and blasphemous language . . . on all of the situation comedies'' and other TV shows.
``Our culture is melting down,'' he said. ``Moral decay is rotting the heart and soul of our country.''
As to criticism that he is too hotheaded to be a viable candidate, Dornan said, ``Yes, I've been tough. . . . I apologize for nothing.'' Fellow House members demanded recently that he apologize for a floor speech in which he accused Clinton of giving ``aid and comfort to the enemy'' during the Vietnam War, which Clinton protested as a student.
Dornan, 62, presents himself as the pro-family candidate, showing off his five children and nine grandchildren and putting an arm around his wife, Sallie, at his announcement speech.
There was no hint of the past family turmoil, which centered on Mrs. Dornan's four divorce actions filed between 1960 and 1976 and included a charge of physical abuse by Dornan.
She withdrew each of the petitions and later told The Los Angeles Times that the accusations stemmed from her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs and her depression. The family shared medical records with the newspaper to bolster the explanation. MEMO: ROBERT K. DORNAN
Age: 62; born April 3, 1933.
Education: Studied at Loyola University from 1951 to 1953, dropping
out to serve in the Air Force from 1953-1958.
Experience: TV and radio producer, broadcaster and talk show host
from 1965 to 1976. U.S. House 1978-82, 1984-present. Ran unsuccessfully
for U.S. Senate in 1982.
Family: Married to Sallie Hansen Dornan since 1955. Five children and
nine grandchildren.
Quote: ``These are exciting times. Maybe America is ready for a
straight shooter, someone who has no guile about him.''
ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Rep. Bob Dornan, R-Calif., addresses a crowd of supporters Thursday,
when he announced that he intends to run for president as a
pro-family candidate.
KEYWORDS: PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION CANDIDATE REPUBLICAN PARTY by CNB