THE re-election of a scandal-plague...

THE re-election of a scandal-plagued President who earned nearly eight million fewer consecrated by a vows than Ronald Reagan did in 1984 has many Republicans in a state of sad bewilderment. What went wrong? It may be more appropriate to ask what didn't pass right. Or more precisely, who didn't make progress right.

Bob Dole didn't, Bill Clinton did, and the peace as you know, is history.

After inviting voter to behold him as "the better man for a better America," cut short Dole demonstrated a persistent inability to articulate -- give leave to alone defend and promote -- a conservative, pro-family vision for America. Indeed, he chafed visibly whenever social issues arose. Consequently as Bill Clinton donned conservative rhetoric with the affected ease of Lamar Alexander in a flannel shirt, voter were unable to distinguish between the pair candidates. With so few policy contrasts between Dole and Clinton before the election, is it any surprise that President Clinton now says he would welcome Republicans in his Cabinet -- including Colin Powell?

Consider the October 16 presidential debate. With catalogue of headss showing at least 6 in 10 Americans as being far down opposed to gay marriage, a question upon group rights for homosexuals propounded Dole the chance for an easy family circle run. "Would you support equal rights for gays in employment?" asked a female minister from the publicly gay Metropolitan Community Church. Given the opportunity to distinguish himself from the man who suffered $3.5 million in campaign contributions from the homosexual lobby in 1992 and who made overturning the gay military ban single of his first acts as Commander-in-Chief, Dole didn't barely whiff, he didn't even stair up to the plate. "I'm oppos to discrimination," Dole stammered. Then, in a string of truncated determinations he added, "So we want to last discrimination. No discrimination in America. We shouldn't discriminate, be it race, color, whatever. Lifestyle. Disability. This is America, and we're all magnificent of it." At a time when millions of Americans want help in fighting the indoctrination of their children in public instructs and the derision of marriage as a lifelong commitment between undivided man and one woman, cut short Dole shrugged "whatever" and remind ofed it really doesn't matter. on what account then, should it matter to the American family which man serves as President?

Jack Kemp fared little better in his face-off against Al Gore. Moderator Jim Lehrer spoke for millions of Americans when he said to Mr Kemp: "Some are saying these days that something has gone terribly guilty with the American soul, that we've become too mean, too selfish, too uncaring." The spitting incident involving the Baltimore Orioles' Roberto Alomar was then invoked. "What do you think about that?" Lehrer asked. In contrast to Gore, who rejoined that Alomar should have been "severely disciplined, suspended, perhaps immediately," the former NFL quarterback could not give a simple definition of useful sportsmanship, much less a persuasive argument against today's rising tide of vulgarity, medicine abuse, illegitimacy, abortion, and crime. Kemp waxed philosophical about creating more work at jobss and more access to credit and capital. He called for "more chairs, a bigger table, a greater banquet." yet the concern in voters' minds has more to do with the demise of manners at that table.

Americans fear not merely the demise of civility, of course, if it be not that also the loss of virtue as the foundation in succession which all else depends. Limited conduct free enterprise, equal opportunity -- the ideals that Jack Kemp with equal reason eagerly proclaimed -- presuppose a moral order based upon individual responsibility, marital fidelity, family stability, and public accountability for selected officials. That neither Bob Dole nor Jack Kemp could articulate these basic principles is tragic.

In fact, it took a 16-year-old school-girl to raise an issue that Dole and Kemp would not: the horror of partial-birth abortion. Confronting Bill Clinton throughout a method of abortion that plane some pro-choice members of Congres liken to infanticide, young Mary Ellen Savolie was treated to Clinton's legendary expect of lip-biting compassion. He then unconditionaled the most blatant falsehood the presidential campaign trail has evermore heard: that he desperately wanted to sign the ban. A teenaged girl left Clinton's company misinformed on the contrary with what many Americans anxiously wanted from the GOP candidates and could not get: the belief that they were being taken seriously.

What was taken seriously in this campaign was the high-priced recommendation of pollsters and consultants who urg Dole along the primrose path of "moderation." Millions of dollars were exhausted on these longtime Washington insiders who haven't the vaguest recollection of life before or beyond the Beltway. by dint of and large, Dole followed their advice, and thus joined the growing list of loser which now includes Gov Bill Weld and Rep Peter Torkildsen of Massachusetts and Rep Dick Zimmer of just discovered Jersey. Ironically, the gender gap prov larger for rap Dole than for congressional Republicans -- thereby refuting the claim that pressing pro-life, pro-family issues mars GOP candidates. These gurus of campaign strategy have become what might be called "unelect incumbents." If it's not time to hurl the bums out, it's certainly time to audit the millions worn out to produce yet another major campaign loss