Commentary: Texas by Bob Sobel
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TEXAS February 1, 1977 Vol. XIII No.3 50 CENTS THE NEED FOR A MODERATE INFLUENCE Commentary: Texas by Bob Sobel "Listen, Bob, we appreciate your Right-wing Republicans have taken efforts in Texas, but quite frankly, we quite a different attitude. Their don't want John Tower running someone leadership is the nucleus for a team against Javits in New York. We prefer effort. which draws on the energies of to have nothing to do with Texas Repub the rank and file from every section of licans." The year was 1969 and the the country. Whether through a Rea speaker was an aide to Sen. Jacob Jav gan campaign, the American Conserva its. At the time, I rep1ied,"I believe tive Union, or the Young Americans it is important for moderate-progres for Freedom, their voices are loud, sive Republicans allover the country impressive, and united---so much so to establish cooperative lines of com ~hat moderate Republicans are easily munication. I feel that planning for intimidated by the possibility of a the future is necessary and look to conservative backlash. public figures like Sen. Javits for leadership." Much of this fear of conserva tives is really self-induced. Moder The meeting ended abruptly at ate progressives are brainwashed by that point. Since that time, Paul their own imaginary "southern strat Priddy, a longtime Texas Republican ac egy." They have come to believe that tivist, and I have tried to get the by being genteel and undemonstrative, Rockefeller people to take a more ac the conservative opposition will be tive role in constructing a moderate come more compromising, more concil progressive movement around the coun iatory.. Even if that were' the net try. We have written dozens of letters effect, the GOP pendulum for "accept urging Rockefeller to become more in ability" has already swung too far volved with the grassroots efforts of to the right. The conservative fringe other Republicans, but 90 percent 9f continues .'to remain .. l.firm in its de this correspondence remains unacknow mand for ideological purity. 'ledged. It will take a lot more than My purpose is not to diminish position papers and rhetoric for the credibility of Jacob Javits or moderates to emerge with an effective Nelson Rockefeller. They have been challenge to conservatives. To be extremely able public servants and successful, they will have to organ their aides have been similarly worthy ize their politics into a team effort of high praise. Rather, I seek to from the grassroots up, cooperate with show how difficult it is to interest those outside their immediate demo moderate-progressive leadership in a graphic area, answer their progressive nationwide political effort. The dis mail, meet and encourage supporters, inclination of a Javits or a Rocke and not underestimate the importance feller have been equally applicable of any Republican constituency. to other Republicans. The trouble is that this leadership doesn't lead, nor In our correspondence, Paul Prid does it inspire broad voter participa dy and I have repeatedly said that if tion. the influence of right-wing Republicans in Texas were reduced, the national terests. Republicans cannot win when 96 character of the GOP would moderate. percent of the black electorate opt for Letters written to President Ford and the Democratic ticket and Mexican-Amer Donald Rumsfeld cautioned the adminis icans vote Democratic in similarly mas tration not to misjudge the importance sive numbers. Projecting an image which of Texas in its impact on the national is anti-consumer, anti-environment, neur Republican scene. Our predictions otically anti-labor, anti-just-about proved accurate. When during the pres everything in social and health programs idential primaries, it appeared that ••• and then to expect a majority of the Reagan would soon be out of the running voters to favor Republican candidates because of primary losses in some East is absurb. Exceeding the bounds of mod ern states, it was Texas which then re eration and trying to make events fit vitalized the Reagan effort, deliver doctrinaire solutions is a death wish. ing to him 100 delegeates in a complete It makes the survival of the Republican sweep. Party as an effective spokes thing for the free enterprise system very doubt Communication is essential. No ful. Nationally, the party has dwindled moderate national Republican leader has to about 20 percent of the electorate. shown any interest in whether a moder In Texas, it is hardly in the ball game. ate Republican dialogue existed in Tex as. Neither has anyone shown any inter Are there any public figures who est in building a viable, moderate grass might shape a viable posture for Texas roots force. It was this indifference Republicans. I believe that John Connal which allowed conservatives to run un ly, George,Bush, and Anne ArmStrong could challenged in Texas Republican primaries help. They have special qualities which and gave Reagan 100 delegates. attract people, and they carry as well the weight of national stature. Al The attitude of the national mod though they have been functioning under erate Republican leadership has been to conservative auspices, I am hopeful that stay within their own safe political they would be open to other views. enclaves---elsewhere compromising, ac quiesing to, anq supporting the lesser James Baker III, the'Ford campaign of Republican unacceptables. Sure, manager who was recently suggested as a there was always Nelson Rockefeller and candidate for chairman of the Republican his influence. But that has really been National Committee, is the sort of lead the problem. We expected too much from er Texas Republicans should encourage. Rockefeller and too little from other He is competent, credible, and his rise Republicans. to national prominence is the most en couraging recent development in the Texas moderates have long been ex Texas GOP. It is important that his perienced with indifference. They are talents not be lost and that he be en accustomed to a dialogue between estab couraged by out-of-state moderate Repub lishment(Dallas) and hard-rock(Houston) lican leaders to remain active in Texas conservatives. There is never any cohes politics. ive opposition to conservative views. The predominant pattern is acquiesence. Right now, Republican prospects A Bob Sobel, a Paul Priddy, a David Rea for 1978 are not good. Gov. Dolph Bris gan, an Alan Steelman, or another mod coe(D) is .well entrenched and has indi erate may come forward with viable al cated he will seek reelection---even ternatives but they are the exceptions promising not to impose any new taxes rather than the rule. for as long as he remains governor. Re publican gubernatorial prospects in Yet, conservatives pay a price for clude hard-line conservatives Hank Gro their dominance in the Texas GOP: They ver, who lost to Briscoe in 1972, and continue to lose to Democrats. And when Ray Barnhart, Reagan's statewide leader you compound party inactivity with right ---or an establishment conservative wing extremism, the prospects for Repub like State GOP Chairman Ray Hutchinson lican success in 1978 are feeble, With or U.S.Rep. James Collins. But the Re out the help and influence of moderate publican crisis remains: Will ~ courage Republicans, the party cannot make any ous, moderate-progressive Republican meaningful inroads in Texas politics. come' forward as a candidate. Will Re publicans of like views bodly come for The hard fact is that the GOP must ward to support him/her? And will he/ become relevant to the needs of people she get help from out of state Republi rather than to the needs of special in- cans? Whoever wins the gubernatorial his best chance for retaining his seat primary must be sufficiently viable to lies in a shift to more moderate poli attract independents, minorities, some cies. But without such a moderate of labor and Democrats to finish first progressive influence, the Texas GOP in November. Without such support, the will continue to stagnate •• GOP nominee is certain to lose. Gov. Briscoe is vulnerable---but not to another conservative. That principle Contributer Note: Bob Sobel was an un holds true to other Democratic office successful candidate against Ray Barn holders and Republican aspirants. In hart for Republican leader of Harris the senatorial race, John Tower is in County. serious trouble with his own party as well as with Democrats. Ironically, Politics: Texas TOWER'S TEXAS HITCH While there has been some spec he has lost the enthusiasm that his ulation that Democratic Attorney Gener earlier "wunderkind" image wrought al John Hill might challenge Gov. among fellow Republicans. Dolph Briscoe for renomination in 1978, most of the early interest and specu In short, 1978 could be a very lation has centered on Sen. John Tow tough year for Texas' tiny senator. er's seat. Almost assuredly, Tower One reason cited for U.S.Rep. Barbara will face a Democratic liberal or mod Jordan's difficulties in winning (or erate---thereby cutting the advantage losing) a Carter cabinet post was her he gained in 1962 and 1966 from Demo ambition to succeed Tower. Other cratic liberals who were more intent Democratic office-climbers include on-taking over their party than win Attorney General Hill, Land Commis ning a Senate seat. And since Georqe sioner Bob Armstrong, State Board of McGovern will not be on the Democratic Insurance Chairman Joe Christie, and ticket in 1978, Tower cannot count on a U.S. Reps. Robert Krueger and Charles Republian presidential landslide to Wilson. Krueger and Wilson seem to help pull him into office. Further be the most enthusiastic runners af more, since Tower's intraparty poli ter Tower's seat at this point.