The Newsletter of the Term Limits Movement

September 2000 • VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 8 SPECIAL ISSUE DEDICATED TO THE 2000 TERM LIMITS POSTER CHILD, CONGRESSMAN GEORGE NETHERCUTT THE WEASEL KING Hypocrisy and Opportunism: The George Nethercutt Story Rep. George Nethercutt (R-WA) spread criticism in the press. Re- started his first campaign for Con- gardless of the reasons Nethercutt gress with apparently good inten- claimed for trying to stay in office tions. He’d stay in office for three longer, it was clear that he had terms, he promised, and then leave. become what he successfully de- “I am personally committed to feated in 1994 — a power-hun- honoring the limits of Washington gry Washington insider. state’s 1992 term limits law by only When Nethercutt’s FEC reports serving six years as a Representa- were filed, it became even more tive,” he wrote on his congressional obvious. His special interest web site before “changing his mind” fundraising for the 1999-2000 elec- and removing it in July, 1998. tion cycle so far is $507,137.10, a When Nethercutt announced total that represents an astound- that he would break his promise to ing 61% of his entire fundraising. the citizens of eastern Washing- This despite promising to limit PAC ton by running for another term funding to no more than a third of Rep. George Nethercutt in office, his betrayal sparked wide- his total campaign contributions. (R-WA) with the Weasel King. continued on page 2 Birds of a feather... INSIDEINSIDE INTERACTIVITY MessageMessage from Paul Jacob —— pagepage 2 USTL Debuts WeaselKing.org Nethercutt-Nethercutt- In a effort to educate voters Featuring articles, cartoons PinocchioPinocchio PosterPoster about George Nethercutt’s bro- and quotes, WeaselKing.org is —— pagepage 33 ken promises and continuing a valuable resource for voters CommonCommon SenseSense deception, U.S. Term Limits has who want to help hold —— pagepage 44 launched a new web site de- Nethercutt’s feet to the fire. voted to exposing his hypocrisy When visiting the site, leave IsIs ThereThere AnAn ExcuseExcuse ForFor — WeaselKing.org. your email address so we can GeorgeGeorge Nethercutt?Nethercutt? The new site is a perfect in- keep you updated on new de- —— pagepage 55 troduction to Nethercutt’s lack velopments in the Spokane TheyThey SaidSaid ItIt of character, something to tell your race and the rest of the term —— pagepage 88 friends and neighbors about. limits movement.

September 2000 Issue No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits 1 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR

The Ash Heap

I'm beginning to feel sorry for When Rocky Mountain News columnist Peter Blake poor little ole George Nethercutt. reported Armstrong’s change of heart, Nethercutt’s po- His case of Potomac Fever is litical handlers zipped off a quick e-mail berating the becoming critical. You remem- columnist: “Check your facts. We have no record of ber Mr. Nethercutt of Washington state — he’s the Senator Armstrong ever contributing a dime to this cam- fellow who pledged to serve no more than three terms paign.” Armstrong forthwith produced the canceled in Congress. That was three terms ago. check from 1994. Citizens were so inspired that they defeated 30-year Nethercutt should be embarrassed. But no, his cam- incumbent and House Speaker Tom Foley, sending paign launched another e-mail attack on the colum- Nethercutt to Washington in his place. But now nist. “Flail away . . . no one reads your drivel in Nethercutt is breaking his word to the voters. Spokane . . . you and your writing will wind up on Republican officials have generally circled the wag- the ash heap of history.” ons for their incumbent, but some put principle first. The ash heap of history, huh? Perhaps one day Mr. One is former U.S. Senator Bill Armstrong of Colo- Nethercutt might find a spot there. But then, how would rado. Armstrong honorably served two terms in the the world ever spin without him? Senate and then returned home. In 1994, Armstrong sent Nethercutt a $1,000 contri- bution. So this year when Nethercutt broke his pledge, Armstrong was not amused, saying Nethercutt betrayed the very principle that got him elected.

continued from page 1 his campaign opponents in a debate. nominee, whoever it was. This self- After noting that his 1999 mid-year On March 22, 2000, Nethercutt serving alteration of a promise he had FEC filing showed a total of 91% of faxed an open letter to voters prom- made voluntarily shows how desper- his coming from PACs, the Seattle ising to debate his opponents after July ate he has become to avoid confronta- Times noted, “He reported only three 28, “when all serious candidates are tions with those who can expose him. contributions from people who actu- known.” Several days after that tar- Nethercutt has proven his dishon- ally live in his Eastern Washington get date, Nethercutt’s opponent in the esty time and time again. “"When district . . . this is an unusually high Republican primary, Richard Clear, you break your word as often as figure for a local politician. It is espe- and one of his Democratic opponents, George Nethercutt does, it must get cially striking because in his first cam- Tom Flynn, challenged him again to a very stressful,” said U.T. Term Lim- paign, in 1994, Nethercutt got only debate. Waffling once again, Nethercutt its National Director Paul Jacob. I 9% of his financing from such groups.” said he had now decided to debate the hope he can cope with the added Public opinion has turned against Democrats after the primary had strain in the weeks ahead, as his con- Nethercutt to such an extent that he’s ended, and would debate clear only if stituents learn more and more about breaking another promise — to face he agreed to endorse the Republican his record."

BOARD OF DIRECTORS No Uncertain Terms is published 12 Peter Ackerman Travis Anderson times a year at an annual subscription price of $30. Third class postage paid, SEPTEMBER 2000 • VOLUME 8 • NUMBER 8 Steven Baer Terence Considine Washington, D.C. POSTMASTER: Send Edited by Eric D. Dixon Edward Crane Cora Fields address changes to U.S. Term Limits. A Publication of Mike Ford M. Blair Hull U.S. TERM LIMITS and Sally Reed Impastato Paul Jacob Term Limits On-Line! ERM IMITS OUNDATION Kenneth Langone Ronald Lauder U.S. T L F For the latest developments on term 10 G ST., NE, SUITE 410 Rob Mosbacher Paul Raynault limits across America, visit our web site WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 Howard Rich Joseph Stilwell on the Internet at 1-800-733-6440 Donna Weaver Bill Wilson www.ustermlimits.org

2 No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits September 2000 Issue 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org September 2000 Issue No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits 3 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org THE WEEKLY RADIO COMMENTARY OF COMMON THE U.S. TERM LIMITS FOUNDATION SENSE by Paul Jacob My Party Card

I got a call the other Republicans braved negative public opinion to day from a woman who impeach Mr. Clinton for lying under oath. Was it just wanted to know why I liked President because he was a Democrat? These same Republicans Clinton so much. Huh? It was news to me. In her are rushing to the defense of Mr. Nethercutt, who broke view, if I can’t give Republican George Nethercutt a his oath. National Republicans are funding a $200,000 free pass for breaking his word to step down this year, ad blitz attacking, well . . . us! U.S. Term Limits. My I must be a Clinton-lover. group. What did we do? Well, we put the issue of Weird logic. We may be terrible, but the other party term limits and the issue of integrity — dare I say it? is even worse. — above party, either party, any party. George Nethercutt is the guy who defeated House I’d rather be right than be Republican or Democrat. Speaker Tom Foley in 1994. Nethercutt is now As Rep. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma says, “I don't want breaking his commitment to serve no more than three to be associated with people that tell Americans one terms. When the President admitted he had lied to thing and do another.” the country about Monica what’s-her-name, Nethercutt called for Clinton’s resignation saying, “Your word is Does your local radio station carry COMMON SENSE? your bond, whether it’s your public life or private life. If not, ask them to call 1-800-733-6440 for a FREE subscription. The honorable thing for him to do is resign.” Provided to radio stations three times a week.

4 No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits September 2000 Issue 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org CREATURE OF D.C.

Is There an Excuse For George Nethercutt? by Jonathan Rauch National Journal

This November, the most important election in the Web site declared: “Term limits was one of the defin- country will be the one between Al Gore and George ing issues of my 1994 campaign.” W. Bush. The second most important will be — you About a year ago, that statement disappeared from say Hillary vs. Rick for the open New York Senate the congressman’s site. In June 1999, Nethercutt an- seat? Good guess, but no. The race that puts a funda- nounced he would run for a fourth term. mental principle most clearly at stake is the contest in In 1994, Nethercutt was a poster child for term limit Washington’s 5th Congressional District, which is rep- activists. When he broke his promise, a group called resented by a Republican named George Nethercutt. U.S. Term Limits went on the warpath. The group In 1994, Nethercutt, then a politically unknown law- threw back at Nethercutt all sorts of things he had yer, challenged Thomas said, such as this state- S. Foley, the Democratic ment aimed at Bill Speaker of the House. Nethercutt beat an incumbent Clinton, from August Term limits were a key 1998: “Your word is issue. Washington state by running against entrench- your bond, whether it’s had passed a law limit- ment and now entrenches him- your public life or your ing its House members’ private life. The honor- service to six years, and self. That is not like, say, prom- able thing for him to do its Senators’ to 12. Foley, is to resign.” who believed the mea- ising never to buy a bicycle and Perhaps more conse- sure was unconstitu- then changing your mind and quentially, U.S. Term tional, filed suit against Limits is also spending it and won. Foley’s law- buying one. It is like begging to heavily against Nether- suit against his own cutt — an amount in state’s term limits tarred borrow your friend’s bicycle for the six figures, although him back home as the only a few minutes and then de- nothing approaching the ultimate Washington in- $1 million reported in sider. ciding to keep the bike after the press, according to Enter Nethercutt. He riding away. Paul Jacob, the group’s decried Foley as “a national director. Jacob creature of Washington, says that Nethercutt is D.C., born and raised in that system.” He said the one of three House members running this year in campaign was about changing the system in Wash- defiance of their promises to step down; the other two ington. He ran as an advocate of the term limits are Scott McInnis, R-Colo., and Martin T. Meehan, D- that Foley opposed. In November 1994, The New Mass. (Seven other members are keeping their prom- York Times reported that Nethercutt “played up his ises to quit.) inexperience in government, saying he wanted to That Nethercutt, by breaking his promise, has com- return to something closer to the part-time Congress mitted one of the most brazen political betrayals of of old.” our time is too obvious to be interesting. More interest- To drive the point home, he promised to serve only for ing is the question: Is there a case for his betrayal? six years. Once elected, he filed a letter with the clerk Nethercutt himself has offered all sorts of arguments. of the House: “Should I be elected to serve more than Some of them are pathetic, as when he said (to The two additional terms in the U.S. House of Representa- Washington Post) that he had “blurted out” his promise tives following the 104th Congress, by this letter I in 1994. Others are irrelevant, as when he told The hereby resign and direct you to remove my name per- American Spectator, “I feel I have to finish the work I manently from the roll of the members.” For years, his continued on page 6

September 2000 Issue No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits 5 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org continued from page 5 Meehan, he said, should quit. So far as I know, Frank is started.” (He did not promise, in 1994, to stay until he the only member of Congress’s ruling party — the felt he was finished.) Some are crass, as when he told Incumbents’ Party — to take such a stand. The others, The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer that in 1994, “I didn’t including those Republicans who bray against Bill realize I’d be in the majority. I didn’t realize I’d be Clinton’s lack of honor and truthfulness, have main- on the Appropriations Committee. That means some- tained a deafening silence. In fact, the Republican thing for our district — not for me, but for our dis- leadership, fearful of losing seats, reportedly urged trict.” (In 1994, he had said: “I understand the issue Nethercutt and other self-limiters to stay. of pork, power, and productivity. But the world didn’t “This ought to bother people,” William J. Bennett, fall apart 30 years ago when Walt Horan got defeated the Republican grandee and former Reagan and Bush by a 35-year-old lawyer.”) Still others are simply weird. Administration official, told me. “I campaigned for “I’m less enamored with the idea of term limitations, Nethercutt in ‘94, and I liked him, I liked his ideas. and I’m the perfect example of why we don’t need But he's now acting dishonorably. He’s breaking his them,” he told The Post. (I leave it to you to work that word, and he’s doing it without any apparent remorse. one out.) He’s making people more cynical about politics. Some Two other arguments, however, have real strength. promises should not be kept, because circumstances One is that politicians who make ill-advised promises change. But about the only circumstance that has should be allowed to change their minds. The other is changed here that seems to me to be relevant is that he that if he quit, he would put at risk not only term limits has gotten to like where he is, and I don’t think that’s but all other conservative causes, because the Republi- enough.” cans need every seat to maintain control of the House. There is, however, a political circumstance that might “I have changed my mind,” Nethercutt said in a be relevant: This year, control of the House hangs in statement when he announced his decision last year. the balance. From Republicans’ point of view, keeping “I made a mistake when I chose to set a limit on my a promise but sacrificing a seat might be a moral vic- service.” Politicians, he said, ought to admit and correct tory that loses the war. Principles, as Washington their mistakes. He told The Spectator: “Judge me on cynics say, aren’t much good if the party loses come my record, my accomplishments, my honesty in admit- election time. ting I made a mistake. I’m mortal.” Actually, it is not clear that Nethercutt is more likely Fair enough. If Nethercutt had campaigned on a to hold the seat than some other Republican candi- promise never to accept a seat on the Appropriations date would be; his broken promise has made him Committee and then later had realized what an idi- vulnerable and drawn a primary opponent, though he otic promise this was, surely he should be allowed to is still favored to win in his Republican-leaning dis- change his mind, explain himself to the voters, and take trict. Nor is it clear that his seat would tip the bal- his chances with them. That does not seem dishonor- ance in Congress. But grant both assumptions. The able. It seems statesmanlike. idea that Republicans need to condone promise-break- Yet somehow Nethercutt’s change of mind does not ing in order to save conservatism from the Democrats seem very statesmanlike. One reason, possibly, is that would be more persuasive if the Republicans were, at it appears so obviously self-serving. For argument’s the moment, saving conservatism from the Republi- sake, however, let us give Nethercutt the benefit of the cans. doubt and assume that he really dislikes serving in The House Republicans were conservative for a while Congress but stays there out of a sense of duty to his (1995 and 1996), and they are still conservative on district and to his party. Another problem remains. such symbolic issues as abortion. But that is about the Incumbency offers enormous powers of entrenchment. extent of it. Stephen Moore and Stephen Slivinski of Nethercutt beat an incumbent by running against en- the Cato Institute note that most of the programs that trenchment and now entrenches himself. That is not the Republicans swore to eliminate in 1995 have actu- like, say, promising never to buy a bicycle and then ally grown, and that the current Republican Congress changing your mind and buying one. It is like begging has just chalked up the highest increase (11 percent) to borrow your friend’s bicycle for only a few minutes in real non-defense spending since — hold on — the and then deciding to keep the bike after riding away. Democrats under President Carter. That is the greater That, perhaps, is what Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., conservative good that Nethercutt's re-election would was getting at when The Wall Street Journal asked serve. him about Nethercutt last year: “This is the worst Given the way the Republicans are actually behav- kind of lie to the people — you have traded this pledge ing, a more plausible explanation for their complicity for their vote.” with Nethercutt is that they like power and want to Frank was subsequently asked whether the same keep it. Not exactly shocking. But at least clarifying. went for another promise-breaker, Frank’s fellow Mas- Nethercutt and his Republican colleagues in Congress sachusetts Democrat Meehan. Frank didn’t flinch. have become the beast that they promised to slay. Reprinted from the National Journal 6 No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits September 2000 Issue 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org Evolution of the Weasel King August 10, 1999 May 16, 1999 The Eastern Washington Term Limits George Nethercutt is called “Weasel King” for Action Committee debuts their Weasel the first time in Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury. King mascot, which begins following Nethercutt to local events.

January, 2000 The Seattle Times gives the Weasel King their award for best costume of the year.

June 16, 2000 The Eastern Washington Term Limits Action Committee unveils a 48-foot-long billboard featuring the cartoon Weasel King next to the Spokane Convention Center during the state GOP convention.

September 1, 2000 U.S. Term Limits unveils new Nethercutt website, WeaselKing.org.

September 2000 Issue No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits 7 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org THEY SAID IT Classic Quotes About the Weasel King Nethercutt's announcement that he will Mr. Nethercutt beat Speaker Thomas seek a fourth term in Congress is not a Foley in 1994 in a campaign that fo- casual decision. This is the cynical, self- cused heavily on Mr. Foley's opposition serving hypocrisy of someone who ex- to term limits. Mr. Nethercutt made a ploited others for personal gain. . . . point of promising to stay in office for no Nethercutt's reversal goes to character. more than three terms, but now his aides This is not comparable to a change of say he did not understand how impor- heart on a social issue, a spending pri- tant seniority was in Congress. This page ority or a matter of political science. He has long argued that term limits are a makes his loyal supporters look like bad idea, but nevertheless, this is a lay- chumps. down hand. People who run for office — Seattle Times should be accountable for what they say. June 15, 1999 Voters are smart enough to understand that a vow to cut taxes or fix education If George Nethercutt runs for re-elec- has to be taken with a grain of salt. But tion, he will owe Tom Foley an apology. anybody can keep a promise to quit. Many . . . Rare is the politician who hasn't people voted for Mr. Nethercutt because changed his mind on something. Wise they agreed with him about term limits. cynics (pardon the redundancy) thank If they had wanted seniority, they would the political gods for every broken prom- have stuck with Mr. Foley. ise and wish the practice occurred more — The New York Times frequently. But a pol pulling an about- April 13, 1999 face on an issue — particularly one involving process — that probably de- cided the outcome of his campaign in- George Nethercutt, R-Wash., . . . took vites hoots and howls. House Speaker Thomas Foley’s seat — Richmond Times-Dispatch away largely on a pledge to serve no more April 26, 1999 than three terms to avoid the ossifica- tion of long service. Nethercutt says he If ever there were an example of why made a mistake and has discovered that Congress needs term limits, the story of seniority can be useful after all. What Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., is it. a mush-head. — The Daily Mountain Eagle — Omaha World-Herald April 14, 1999 March 25, 2000

8 No Uncertain TERMS • U.S. Term Limits September 2000 Issue 10 G St., NE • Washington, DC 20002 • http://www.ustermlimits.org