Handling Of Packwood Case An Issue For Republicans Perhaps ‘Some Damage,’ Nethercutt Says, But Adds That Voters Have Other Priorities

Republicans are wondering whether Sen. Bob Packwood’s ethics case is taking a toll on the GOP image while a Democrat said Friday it definitely is hurting Bob Dole’s chances of becoming president.

“There is no question that Packwood has now become an anchor around the neck of Bob Dole’s presidential ambitions,” said Patrick Dorton, deputy press secretary for the Democratic National Committee.

“As long as Republicans are more concerned with defending Bob Packwood than defending working men and women, they are going to be hurt politically,” Dorton said.

Republican Rep. George Nethercutt of Washington state acknowledged Friday the controversy may be hurting the GOP’s image. But he said most voters are more concerned about other things.

“It’s controversial. There’s no question about it. Perhaps there is some damage to the party,” Nethercutt said in a telephone interview from Spokane.

“In the letters and comments in my district, that’s down the list behind balancing the budget and taking care of the economy. That’s more on people’s minds than Senator Packwood’s problems,” he said.

Among GOP presidential contenders, only Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., voted to conduct public hearings into the allegations of sexual and official misconduct leveled against Packwood, R-Ore.

Dole, R-Kan. and the Senate majority leader, joined Sens. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, and Richard Lugar, R-Ind., to vote against hearings.

Pat Buchanan, another conservative presidential hopeful, said Thursday that Packwood should resign if the allegations were found to be true.

Packwood historically enjoyed strong support from women’s and abortion rights groups before the allegations of sexual misconduct first surfaced more than two years ago.

The leader of a pro-choice Republican group said Friday that Buchanan was being unfair to the party.

“I don’t think the public at large would hold the Republican Party responsible for anything to do with Senator Packwood,” said Laura Holmes, executive director of Republicans for Choice.

Dorton, the Democratic spokesman who has worked on several campaigns in the Pacific Northwest, said Friday there has been a “fundamental shift” in the Packwood debate.

“Now, in addition to being an embarrassment to Oregonians, Packwood is an embarrassment to Bob Dole and Senate Republicans,” Dorton said.

“I think frankly you will see women challengers, maybe even in both parties, run for office in 1996 in part because of the way the Republican Party has closed ranks around Bob Packwood,” he said.

Dole’s office referred calls to his campaign office, where no one was immediately available to comment.

Nethercutt is one of six freshman Republicans in Washington’s nine-member House delegation.

Nethercutt, a lawyer, said airing Packwood’s case in a public hearing is up to Senate Republican leaders and members of the ethics committee “to sort that out and decide what is in the best interest of Senator Packwood and the party and the Senate.”