October 3, 1999
Web posted at: 12:55 p.m. EDT (1655 GMT)

SALISBURY, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A controversial New York art exhibit prompted Republican presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole to say Sunday that she believes funding for the National Endowment for the Arts should be eliminated.

Speaking on Fox News, Dole called the "Sensation" exhibit that opened Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum of Art "very offensive."

The exhibit, which opened to capacity crowds, includes a dissected cow and pig, castrated male dummies and a painting of "The Holy Virgin Mary" painted with elephant dung. The museum receives public funding.

"I think that the funding should be phased down," Dole said. "No question there should be very strong guidelines. There's supposed to be guidelines now. But certainly we need to enforce strong guidelines, and phase down that funding for the NEA."

Asked if she believed that funding for the agency should be eliminated, Dole said, "Yes, yes, phase down and out."

Sunday, October 3, 1999

• Unrepentant Ventura deflects furor over Playboy interview
• Gore chides Bradley for supporting Reaganomics, leaving Congress
• Elizabeth Dole wants arts endowment funds eliminated
• Gore says he's keeping Coehlo as campaign chairman

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