The Ripo Society presents sale of A Salute t ublican
C.-IIL&iI"lIJ\.rs hip
I I
Sen. M aj . u~d er R'p~" S ~ake r Bob Dole Newt Gingrich
))1,I:(oa the T lHE RIpON FORUM
January/February 1996 Vo lu me XXXI, No.]
POLICY ON PARADE
8 The Moderate Manifesto An Issue Primer, Policy Platform and Campaign Strategy Memo for Moderate Candidates. Installment I- Covers Economic Policy, Government Reform, Defense and Foreign Policy. Installment If (Social Programs and Social Policy) Will Be Carried in the Next Issue.
FEATURES
21 Patriots or Paranoids? The Modern Militia Movement Claims Legitimacy Through the Second Amendment. But Are They the "WeI/ Regulated" Units the Founders Had in Mind? By Andrew Branan
24 The Dixification of the GOP Signing on Conservatives in the South and Social Rightists Everywhere, the Expanding Republican Party is Shifting Its Historical Orientation. By Rhodes Cook
DEPARTMENTS
4 Under the Big Tent by Michael Dubke
5 Editorial-Moderates On the Warpath Y2i.I:W>DY! 6 Faye Anderson-The New Welfare Kings I tlUHIMAT 'TtlE. PRO-LIFE. 7 Letters-Who Invited YQy to This Party? HIJ~ I LY PlCmc IN ME:W lWAPS!I\RE. ! 17 The Analyst by Christine Matthews I JUST KNON HE.'S MR. R~T ! 19 The Pulse-Stir 20 Capital Comix by Jeff MacNelly 27 Washington Notes & Quotes 28 Beyond the Beltway 30 James Pinkerton-A Deal Between Mutually Regarded Devils
January/February 1996 3 ~ .,.",~ &'0 .... \J"'O~f' ". . • 'ElY.,. ----Buchanan Busters Blast Intolerance------he Ripon Society recently joined "Rough Riders" Repast her authorship of the Family and Tother moderate Republican groups Medical Leave Act. in a press conference to denounce the Racks Up Record Return These honorees also had to politics of prejudice and intolerance as persevere against public apathy and practiced by Pat Buchanan's presiden· Almost a century after they charged to partisan political infighting to achieve tial ca mpaign. Following the lead of glo~y in Cuba, the Rough Riders ride their goals. But-much as Teddy elected officials such as Congo Steve again. Roosevelt brought together cowboys Cunderson (R·WI) a nd House Speaker The Ripon Society inaugurat from the wild West and polo players Newt Gi ngrich, Ripon joined Log ed its annual Rough Rider Awards on from the eastern establishment to form Cabin Republica ns, the Republican March 12, honoring those members of the Rough Riders-these Re publican Coalition for Choice, the Council of CongTess who best evoke the spirit of officials reached out to Democrats and 100 and the Republican Mainstream daring and innovative reform estab Independents to pass legislation that Committee in expressing d ispleasure lished by our 26th president, Theodore wilt benefit a ll Americans. They are with the d ivisive nature of the Roosevelt. TIle award's title refers to prime examples of elected offi cials Buchanan Brigades. Echoing the cavalry unit T.R. led in the Sp..1nish· who can make Washington work. words of Ripon Vicc-- President Milton American War, whose dash and deter Apa rt from heralding such Bins, Executive Director Michael mination set the tone for their com worthy he roics, the Rough Rid er Dubke declared, "If the Republican mander's fabled career in the public Dinner was an enormous financial sue· Party is to be the majority party for the arena. Recipients have boldly tackled cess, netting over $100,000 for the next generation, it cannot 'stand Pat.' the difficult problems confronting our Ripon coffers, the most for a single We ca nnot allow ourselves to be mar nation, standing up to special interest event in five years. ginalized by the fear a nd hatred Pat pressure to advance public policy that benefits common Americans. Buchanan inspires in the hearts of Big Apple many Americans." G underson Accolades had zeroed in on the heart of the matter The New York Metro in a n ea rl ier press poli tan chapter of the release, warning: Ripon Society recent "When the political ly held two events to center stays home, honor Riponites w ho we turn the party's have made a differ fu ture over to a ence. The first, biz small segment on execl ex-congression the fa r right. The al nominee Mike concept of Pat Murphy, was recog Buchanan bet::oming nized for his fearless, a viable force in this energetic and persis party's nomination tent effort to open up process should scare the GOP by reforming everyone within the the delegate selection party who wants to win in November. Those being honored include: process for the national convention. No one did more to defeat George Sen. John Chafee (RI), for his continu The second honoree, lugeni a Bush in '1992 than Pat Buchanan with ing fi ght fo r health care reform; Sen. Cordon, was presented with a lifetime his convention speech. No one advo O lympia Snowe (ME), fo r her work in achievement award for her work with ca tes the poli tics of prejudice, intoler protecting student 10.:1ns and improv the "Abolitionists' Honor Roll" and as ance, and hatred more than Pat ing the technology in our schools; a founder of the Freedom Republicans. Buchanan. No one will drive moder Congo Sherwood Boehlert (NY), for The hard -charging, feisty 74-year old ates, women, minorities and the young his efforts in protecting our natural has been a key Ripon figure fo r 30 away from our party more tha n resources; Congo Michael Oxley (OH), years, and is continui ng her fight fo r a Buchanan .... lt's time to recla im our fo r achieving competition-generating more broad-based, inclusive COP. She party, and a role fo r America's grea t reforms in telecommunications law; remains an honorary chairperson of political cente r before it's too late." and Congo Marge Roukema (NJ), for Ripon's New York chapter.
4 The RIPON FORUM Moderates On The Warpath THE uite expectedly, we raised some If we fail to accomplish this mission by Q hackles with our editorial "Reveille the new millennium, burgeoning faction RIPON for the General" (Oct. 1995). "It's com alism and disregard of authority will ments about some of the Republican drive our society into class warfare and presidential candidates are in direct con chaos. FORUM flict with Ripon's Big Tent policy," com Ripon is uniquely positioned to plained one reader. 'The last thing the mag guide the party toward this vital mission. EDITOR azine should be doing is including such The FORUM editorial board determined David Beiler snide remarks about them." in mid-September that a presidential bid The purpose of the editorial was by General Powell would provide the PRODUCfION to ca ll on General Colin Powell to enter best available vehicle for accomplishing Michael Dubke the race, an event that- by all evidence the goals of the Society. It was decided would have resulted in the rejuvenation that the October issue would trumpet EOITORI AL BOARD of the GOP's sccmingly dormant moder that prospect, short of the explicit Michael Dubke ate wing. We realized, however, that a endorsement prohibited by our charter. Bill Frenzel ra tionale for a Powell candidacy would As our entreaties a nd numerous Meliss<' Pezzetti have to be predicated upon the deficien others like it were unsuccessful, a differ cies of the already crowded candidate ent course must now be taken to achieve Copyrigllf 1996 field . Although there is a fine line representation of moderate Republicans by Tile Ripoll Society. between critical review and uncivility, that is to commensurate to our numbers. All Rigl1fs Reserved. we believe we were forceful, but fair. This is especiall y critical at this juncture, The combative, even caustic tone as the other moderate GOP presidential objected to was intended. We often hear Olle Yellr Srlilscriptions: contenders quickly dropped from the $20.00 for individull/s complaints that while moderates are just race and many key congressional moder $30.00 for institutions as numerous among rank-in-file ates-Republican and Democrat-are $10.00 for students Republicans as rightists, we are habitual retiring this year. That suggests there will ly ignored by the media and party lead be more g ridlock than ever in ership because our moderation ex tends Washington next year unless centrists Secolld class poslage pnid al to our demeanor: we simply do not raise assert themselves in this year's elections. Was/rillgtOlr, D.C. lind as much of a fuss. Where are our Fortunately, there are encourag additionallllailillg offices. Umbaughs, our Weyrichs, our Gingriches? ing signs that it might. Moderate Tom Where is our Will? Campbell (R-CA) was returned to the There is no proverb more appro Postmaster, selld address House in a special December election by priate to American politics than "the c/ranges to: a landslide majority in a marg inal dis squeaky wheel gets the grease." We a re The Ripon FOri/ill trict; and popular Massachusetts Gov. not ruled by the majority, but rather by a 501 Capitol COllrt, NE Bill Weld-a leading lig ht of the GOP's majority of those who care enough about Suite 300 prog ressive wing-has launched an an issue to bring their concern to the Washington, D,C 20002 attention of those in power. That means ambitious campaign to unseat Sen. John being memorable, quotable in your com "Married Mega-Millions" Kerry. But Tire Ripoll Forum munications. That means being cleverl y where is the national infrastructure to (ISN 0035-5526) emphatic, as well as logically persuasive. su pport a Weld cha llenge? There a re The fact Republican mod erates have cho scores of right-wing political action com is published bi-monthly sen to remain above the roug h-and-tum mittees supporting like-minded candi by The Ripoll Society. ble has not only left us "out of the loop" da tes from the early stages of primary at decision time, it has enhanced our campaigns forward; there a re even a cou The Ripoll Society is a image as out-of-touch elitists-a key ple of PACs designed to help pro-choice research alld policy women Republicans. But where can a obstacle to the expansion of our base. organiZJItioll. It is generally moderate GOP candidate turn, America is at a critical cross headquartered ill pa rticularly if he is a male? roads: the moderate, middle-income Washillgton, D.C., Wit/I majority is thoroughly fed up wi th hav In the coming weeks, some Ripon members will be spearheading an effort National Associate members ing its interests routinely submerged by throughout tire United States. both parties. Democrat paternalism and to establish just such a committee, wi th Ripon is supported by profligacy has been thoroughly rejected, emphasis on candidate recruitment, cam drapter diles, illdividrtnl and the last chance for the two-pa rty paign training and hi-tech voter 10. To American democracy is now squarely in join them in this ende January/February '1996 5 Television Broadcasters: The New Welfare Kings vcrywhere you look in Washington these days, you'll served by giving away a public resource estimated to be find someone who is out to end welfare as we know worth between 51 1 billion a nd 5100 billion to subsidize Eit. Problem is, the welfare programs they want to some corporate fat ca ts. reform tend to include just Aid to Fami lies with Dependent Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has led the fight Children (AFOC), the safet y net for mothers and children to roll back this corporate welfare program w hich, if imple w ho are li ving at or below the poverty level. Well, there's a mented, would rip off Amcrican taxpayers, and establish a fa r more expensive and egregious AFOC progTam about new federal bureaucracy to micromanage the nascent which we hear precious little-Aid For Dependent advanced tclevision services industry. Indeed, Dole threat Corporations. ened to l"dd up ~~ ci tre Telecommunications Act of ·1996 The new \"\'elfare kings don't live in America's unless the brO 6 The RIPON FO RUM (LETTERS) Who Invited You to This Party? A friend ly reminder from our buddies in the Intole rant Right who wo uld blackball Gcnghis Kha n fo r his radical ideas. N ice logo guys. " ~~ 9illCasey. VICe Chainnllll Readers' Survey Sweepstakes Winners Pentagon is Palace of Pork The following lucky Riponites won the prize drawing for those who participat· To the editor: expect that both parents would go ed in our Readers' Survey last year: off to war and dump the kids? This Your excellent editorial "In was also true of single parents. It's Grand Prlze-"Best Political TV Search of a Bogeyman ~ (July, 1995) ludicrous to have service personnel Advertising of 'g4~ video ($60 value): is 100 percent right-on! We agree who can't be deployed when they're Nancy Glerum of Portland, OR. with every point you made. needed. There is a further aspect to We hope that you keep up Second Prize-two· year subscription military planning which, though sec to The Ripon Forum ($35 value): the pressure, for the " Two·Front ~ ond-order, reinforces your point. strategy is designed to generate E.J. Hols of Duluth, MN That is that many members of the congressional pork projects, NOT to Armed Services never intend to Third Prize-"A Salute to Republican meet the real needs of the country. fight. Look al the Persian Gulf War: Women Leadership" video ($20 value): Several soldiers had spouses who Margaret S. Hart Richard Miller of New York, NY were also soldiers, plus small chil David F. Hart Frank Richiazzi of Laguna Beach, CA dren ... what heartless wretch could Santa Barbara, California Marlene Johnsen of Grd. Junction, CO January/February 1996 7 THE MODERATE MANIFESTO An Issue Primer, Policy Platform and Campaign Plan for the New Millennium ear the mournful news media and social The following docu H commentators lament: ment will provide some ide "Where are the moderates whell we lIeed them? Wit/, ologica l cohesion to this movement. It is unlikely govemmellt gripped ill gridlock, beggillg for SOli/COile to broker anyone will agree with a ll its compromises, there they go riding off il110 the su nset. So 10llg, KassebaulII, I-Iatfield and Cohell. Adios SimpsolI, Browll alld observations and proposals, a nd no one wi ll be expected Nil/HI. Vaya call dios Clinger, GUllderSOI1 alld Meyers. Too bad to adhere to any particular there's I/O room left il1 politics for people who simply wallt 10 see govemmellt stay alit of ollr pri section of it. Ra ther, this vate lives, but still accomplis/! Moderate Manifesto can pro the thlllgs people have a right vid e a template for the basic ideological underpinnings of to expect of il. If ollly yOIl guys llad beell more organized, more a successfu l centrist cam focI/sed, //lore aggressive, fak p<,ign, and a flexible blue illg Ihe initiative, not just print for effective government once centrists take their rcactillg to tile extremes alld rightful nmjoritarian place in Congress and the Executive tryillg to split the differellce. If Branch. ollly you 'werW'f so, well, The Manifesto is unlike any political treatise ever squishy. Did you evell have a published, being at once an educational, ideological and strategic document that provides a practical framework for I'rogmm of yo liT ow II?" majority rule. It is designed to attract the same radical-cen Such reports of the extinc ter, middle-class voter that tion of the centrist species has been recently attracted are greatly exaggerated, but to Ross Perot a nd Patrick we are an endangered breed on Capitol Hill. The time is Buchanan, offering thought long overdue for us to get in the game from the first w his fu l, reasoned solutions to tle, to start advocating the interests of that backbone, those conditions and trends bedrock, bulk of America-the unrepresented middle class. that so agitate them. At the For the middle class too is endangered. same time, the complete Our support infrastructure is woefully inadequate program addresses the con for the task: moderate Republicans have only one think tank cerns of such smaller interest (the tiny Ripon Society) and groups as racial minorities, no political action commit environmentalists, femi tees whatever. That is about nists, Religious Rightists, to change. Soon, Ripon and mainstream gays with members and other main sufficient deference to keep stream-oriented Republican them within the pool of persuadable voters. With much of groups will be unveiling a these disparate segments and the entire disaffected middle new political action commit class harnessed full-time to the Republican co.:, lition, we tee which will recruit and will at last have the super-majority neccss.:, ry fo r the insti train moderate Republican tution of what James Pinkerton has called "The New candidates for federal office Paradigm"-a different context for government tha t a nd bundle funds for their ensures efficiency and fairness while keeping our society up ca mpaigns. to the challenges of a rapidly changing world. 8 The RIPON FORUM Over till' la:-t generation, till' average American \'clge hils declmed 14 percent even as the ecunomy h,ls xpanded and till' fortum's of thl' nchest in sOlle!v !ia"l: kvnxkl'tcd ECONOMIC POLICY fl exibility to run budget deficits in slow economic times, as long as it then has the responsibil ity to run surpluses when The Federal Budget Deficit & the National Debt the economy is booming. Unfortunately, Congress a nd the Executive Branch have proven themselves incapable of such PROB LEM/CONFLICT: Ruinous debt policies discipline, and a constitutional amendment requiring a bal over the past 15 years have put us on line to a federal bud anced budget must be ratified at the earliest possible date. get that will have no room for anything but entitlements Additionall y, giving the President the line-item and debt service within the next 15 years. This theft from appropriations veto will go a long way toward eliminating futu re generations promises to enslave our children and wastefu l "pork" projects which serve no efficient purpose grandchildren to confiscatory taxation. If current trends and other than to buy votes for their sponsors. It should be practices continue, a child born today will pay 82 percent of passed immediately, no matter who occupies the White its lifetime earnings in taxes. Even if the GOP budget pack House. age had passed unscathed, that percentage would decline STRATEGY: Democrats have carefully aimed at the only nine points. GOP's congenital Achilles heel in the budget debClte, cClsting POLITICS: The remarkable showing of Ross Perot Republicans as heartless henchmen for the rich who want to throw ailing oldsters out onto the snow. The tactic has in the 1992 presidential race is a strong indicator that voters are vitally concerned about the deficit and impending enti gained some traction, in part because the large tax cut pro posed by the GOP leadership disproportionately benefits tlement meltdown; the swing element of the electorate is higher incomes. For this reason, limit tax cuts this year to demanding that the federal government sober up from its the $500 per child credit, a move that would also help us vote-buying binge. While the AARP continues to wield enormous influence and the retired sector of adults will achieve a balanced budget sooner, while making social spending cuts less draconian and providing for much-need continue to grow by leaps and bounds over the next 30 ed investments in workfare, education and infrastructure. years, younger voters are finally becoming outraged over the squandering of their birthright. The political costs of Next year, overhaul the tax code completely, to wit: cleaning up Washington's budget act are short-term and shallow, its rewards long-term and deep. Tax Structure SOLUTION: The budget deficit should be eliminat PROBLEM / CONFLICT: The tax code remains as ed over a six-year period- the length of a Senate term- uti convoluted as ever, wasting valuable resources on a paper lizing roughly equal reductions in entitlement, military, and chase with few rewards. The middle-class super-majority is other d iscretionary spending: each about $50-60 billion convinced-with some justification-that they alone are below 1996 levels in constant dollars. (See respective sec carrying the crushing burden of a welfare state, while the tions for details.) wealthy get off scot-free, thanks to preferential tax breaks Ideally, the federa l government should have the artfully exploited by la wyers and accountants. January/February 1996 9 POUTICS: Gi ven these conditio ns, it is an irony But g raduated income ta xes and tax code simplifi that the progressive income tax- pus hed to fruition by cOItion are not mutually exclusive. Like a basic flat tax, the Theodo re I~ oose ve lt in the early 20th century on the theory current five-bracket system could be complied with on a that levies should be based on ability to pay-has been postcard, if virtually all deductions and credits were done greatly flattened in recent years and seemed on the verge o f away with. Here's tax reform thai will do just that, and real collapse just last year. The simplicity o f a virtually unadul ly get the Atlas burden off the backs of the middle class: terated flat tax has great appeal, as most people find it is Ra ise the personal exemption to $8,000 and the dependent reassuring to know the rich will at least be paying at the deduction to $4,000; maintain the deductibil ity of interest .5<'lme rate as everyone else. But m idd le-class voters begin to on the first $150,000 of a home mortgage; and limit charita d emur once they are exposed to the particulars and bottom ble d eductions to $2,000; eliminate all other deductions and lines of most flat tax propos.als, notably that of Steve Forbes credits and cut all tax rates by one-third. The top bracket in early 1996. (for those making more than $253,000) will thus be reduced For starters, the Forbes scheme comes up nearly from 39.6 percent to 26.4 percent. Require h'lo-thirds $200 billion sho rt of current revenues. It clearly was con majorities to alter this new tax code in any way; otherwise ceived from the perspective o f someone who inherited sev the Congress will merely begin auctioning off tax breaks to eral hundred million d ollars, as it would shaft the middle special interests all over again. class from all directions. Dividends, interest and capital Such a reform wo uld be roug hly revenue neutral. gains-major sources of upper-class income--would not be STRATEGY: A "postcard" tax system that retains taxed at all. Inheritances wo uld not be taxed either, no mat indexed brackets but reduces a ll o f them by a third will be ter how large. The wea lthier the taxpayer, the g reater the enormously appealing to middle-class voters; embracing it proportion of eliminated taxes. The mortgage interest will immediately liberate Republicans from the w idespread deduction- the only substantial investment tax break most assumptio n that we are merely shills for the rich. And what taxpayers get, without which millions of them would be if we instead back a basic flat tax system that would double denied home ownership-wo uld be scrapped. More of the the deficit, nurture fina ncial dynasties, eliminate the only tax burden would sh ift to business, to be passed o n to con m 10 The RIPON FORUM time the GOP had the legislative power they now possess, earlier) w ill take the poor o ff the lax rolls, relieving the need the result was the Taft-Hartley Act (1947), a profoundly to raise the minimum wage. "Working poor" ought to be an influential law that dramatically cut strike frequency and oxymoron in this country. a phenomenon on its way o ut, effectively rolled back much of the sweeping legal standing not o n the rise. labor had achieved during the Depression. Today, the STRATEGY: Along with its actions to curtnil e nvi Republican leadership in Congress and the legislatures are ronmental regulations, the GOP stands to be hurt most at attempting to gain furt her ad vantnge for management on the polls this year by the declining fortunes of the midd le several fronls: class. True, family income is slightly u p over a generation • I ~epcal of the Dnvis-Bacon Act (1931) and the aso, but onl y because working mothers are now the rule, Service Contract Act (1965), which require contractors to ra ther than the exception. Child care has become a dra ining, pay the local "prevailing wage" to workers on federa ll y but unavoidable expense for most famil ies, and o ur society funded projects. Repeal of "little Davis-Bacon Acts" is will eventua ll y pay a d ear price fo r today's insuffi cient under consideration in 25 states. parental bonding. The middle-class is keenly aware of all • Amend the National L,.,bor Relations Act (935) this, and increasingly restive because o f it. The m o re this to g ive management greater freedom to t.'S tablish "employ lion's share of the vote feels a" econo mic pinch, the more it ee involvement" committees- a device condemned by w ill turn toward the Democrats, g iven historical stereo union leaders ns de-facto company unio ns. types. It is not in the interest of the Republican Pa rty-or the nation as a w hole-to let a Dickensian atmosphere take • Relax provisions of the Occupational Safety and hold of our economy. Health Act (OSHA), and slash funding for the agency charged with enforcing it. GOVERNMENT R EFORM • Weaken ".\forker's ~ compensation or employ ment Term Limits insurance laws-action now being consid ered in 38 states. PROB LEM / CONFLI CT, GOP congressional lead The socia-political a tmosphere in ers had also targeted an executive the nation's capital- and most order issued by President state capitals-has increasing ly Clinton's that d enied federal con diverged from that of the rest o f tracts to firms that pemlanently the cou ntry in recent decades. replace striking workers, but the Special inte rest lo bbies have d ecree was recentl y struck down become adept at procuring w hat by the courts. The issue is bound they want from government, a nd for the campaign trail this year, IE."gi slators-with incomes in the however, in constituencies with siz.,ble union influence. top two percent of Americans-now live an existence which In fact, al\ these labor issues-and others closely bears little resemblance or relationship to li ves led by their related, such as health care-will take center stage in the constituents. The "sweeping" results o f the last congres campaigns, thanks to aggressive new leadership at the AFL sional election notw it hstanding, ad vantages afforded to ClO. John Sweeney-a longtime advocate of fierce labor incumbents by our electoral nnd media systems are enor activism-succeeded in d eposing the labor federation's Old mous. Seat shifts of 1994's mag nitude used to be common Guard at last summer's convention, defeating their heir course corrections; today, it takes nearly univers.., l voter apparent fo r the presidency. Consequently, the AFL-CIO outrage to effect them. now plans to target 75 congressmen-virtually a ll POLITICS: Reforms a imed at making representa Republicans-with a $35 million effort that w ill include ti ves more representative of their constituents have been canvassing, phone banks, and negative advertiSing. understandably unpopular w ith those in power, w ho typi ca ll y wish to secure their perks, prerogatives, rarified SOLUTION: Bring the hig h-flying p ublic sector sa laries a nd tenure . Electo rates in lS o f the 19 states that unions back to earth by in jecting competition in to their ha ve put congressio nal term limits on the ballot have bailiwicks, using p rivatiza tion p roposals and public school approved the measure, but the House rejected three of four vouchers. Improve private sector u nion clout by getting term limit amendments offered in 1995. and failed to g ive tough with ou r Most Favored Nations (MFN) trade desig the fo urth the required two-thirds majority. The Senate has nation, yanking it w hen other countries make little progress yet to consider such a measure. This in the face of a 3:'1 pro in alleviating their political rights abuS(.'S or predatory labor term limit majority consistently revealed by polls of the practices. Require the portability of employer-provided American electorate. health care insurance, along the guidelines provided by the Kassebaum-Ke nnedy bill awaiting consideration in SOLUTION: The presidency and the g reat Congress (see "Health Care"). Raising personal exemptions majority of governorsh ips are term-limited as a precaution to $8,000 and d ependent deductions to $4,000 (as indicated against a stagnating executive branch and the stockpiling of Ja nuary/February 1996 " too much entrenched power. Many of our legislati ve bod· Iy of the Administration- has ca lled "corporate welfare." ies-Congress most particularly- ha ve become profession· Estimates of the annual cost of sllch favors range from $86 alized to the point that they present those same dangers. billion by the libertarian Calo Lnstitute, to $167 bi ll ion by The citizen-legislator went out with the whistle-stop tour, Essential Information, a research organization affiJjated and can be brought back to dominance only through term with Ralph ader. limits. Speaker Gingrich has a point ..vhe n he suggests that POLITICS: As investments in lobbying have bur· it takes two terms to learn one's way to the Members' wash gamed in recent years, so has special interest in nuence on room, but it seems clear that after five terms, representa Capitol Hill. Consequently, while lobby reform has been the tives inevitably become more creatures of Washington cul object of much grandstanding, little substanti ve action was ture than one of the folks back home. With the president taken by Congress until last year. Public awareness of this limited to eight years service, confine House members to scandal has grown as well, and lobby reform was used ten, and show the door to Senators-with their longer terms effecti vely as an issue by many successful GOP challengers and greater intended insularity-after twelve. Apply the in 1994. "IThe GOP's '94 mandate! has to do with refornl same limits on to the careers of staffers, to keep Congress issues," says Fred 1110m pson, himself a phenomenally suc from falling under their sway. Those who contend this cessful Senate candidate. " It has to do with the way Wash· would put lobbyists at an advantage needn't fear: no one ington operates, particularly in regard to special interests." will be in Congress long enough to learn that lobbyis ts are supposed to be in charge. SOLUTION: The GOP-controlled. Congress ca n be Still more will be needed to get Congress well justly proud of its record on these issues: the federal lobby grounded. As David Brinkley has observed, the growth of refornl bill it enacted in late 1995 was a rare victory (or pop intrusive federal mischief can be traced to the advent of air ular rule. But while it promises to halt many of the worst conditioning in the wake of World War II. No longer eager practices of Washington jnnuence peddling and to pour to escape George Washington's infilled swamp, Congress cleansing sunshine on the shady pluralistic process, the new steadily extended. its sessions, staff and reach. Member law also contains loopholes and oversights that must be cor wailings to the contrary, the people's business ca n be prop rected. With no scrutiny whatever, special interests can still erly tended to in six months of the year; the other six are spend whatever they want on so-called. "grassroots" lobby invital"ions to the Devil's workshop. Following the advice of ing: generating letters, telegrams, phone ca lls and faxes to ex·Sennte majority leader Howard Baker, limit sessions to Congress from people who favor their legislative agenda. six months per year- about a one.third trimming- and set Members can still borrow the private aircraft of lobbyists congresSional pay at five timL'S the average wage (i.e. about and reimburse them only fo r the equivalence of a first·dass $105,000 per year at current levels, a cut of about 20 per commercial fare. Ru les are still far too lax regarding cent). Offer Congress a ten percent bonus every year they expense-paid junkets provided to Members by special inter manage to balance the budget. ests. And "friends" of Members remain exempt (rom most restrictions on gifts. What constitutes a lawmaker's friend? STRATEGY: Obviously, pushing these reforms is a "Anyone who gives over a hundred. dollars," an old-time one.way ticket to unpopularity with congressional veter Tammany pol once opined. All of these loopholes should be ans, but the voters not only support such measures, they are plugged immediately. beginning to demand them. The key Perotista "swing" ele· The "revolving door"-the most pervasive form of ment is particularly exorcised over such issues. Keeping the corru ption fostered by the lobby system- remains in spin, electorate lathered up over the "gold-plated, special inter with very few restrictions. Two reforms are desperately est-driven Congress" should soon put the fear of God into needed here: enough Members to get these populist preca utions passed. J) Enforce a "cooling off period" between the time Lob by Reform a Member or congressional staffer leaves public service and ~ins lobbying the federal government for any purpose. PROBLEM /CONFLlCf: Represented by an army This period should equal half the duration of the individ of nearly 100,000 lobbyists and their support personnel, ua l's tenure in Congress or its employ. This simple device special interests have come to rule the roost in Washington, will ensure the early exit of those who enter public service frlls l"T 12 The RIPON FORUM formidable, as they will cut the fri nge benefits and future that money comes from: special inte.rests looking for favors. income prospects of Members and their staff. But the news The solution is not so much to repress the lobby-generated media are becoming increasingly active in their quest to contributions (which would probably be unconstitutionai), reduce the "stranglehold" of special interests wi th embar but to submerge them with an influx of disinterested cash rassing exposes, and the public mood is becoming increas and cheap sources of campaign communications. This can ingly intolerant of the congressional influence game. be ad vanced down a variety of avenues: Moreover, the 105th Congress will be composed primarily 1) Raise the limit on individual donations to $3,000 of members in their fi rst five years of service, with a com per election (in effect, an inflation adjustment from the time mitment to reform still burning brightly within most. If sub the $1,000 limit was enacted in 1974), and lower the PAC limit stantiallobby reform cannot be enacted under those condi to a like amount. Index the $3,000 cap for inflation every two tions, it likely never will be. years thereafter. 2) Mandate non-preemptible TV and radio airtime at Campaign Finance Reform the lowest unit rate (tUR) for candidates who pledge to raise the majority of their campaign receipts from the first $1000 of PROBLEM /CONFLICT: Our current system of in-state individual donations, and classify such donations as financing campaigns greatly enhances the power and influ "charitable" for income tax purposes. Also provide these ence wielded by special interest lobbies. It is far easier for complying candidates with fi rst-class delivery postage at the incumbents to ra ise fu nds from the thous..,nds of DC-based lowest bulk rate. [See: Social Issues-Broadcast licensing.[ political action committees (PACs) and bundling bigwigs 3) limit "soft" money donations to $25,000 per two than to scra tch for individual donations back home. year election cycle. 4) Close bundling loopholes. Individual donors are difficult to identify, and are restTictcd 5) Boost fines for election law violations; raise the to $1,000 contributions. Lobbyists frequently solicit, gather enforcement budget of the Federal Elections Commission. and deliver $1,000 checks for an incum bent's campaign from fellow interest STRATEGY: As these measures balance group members. Known as bundling, the partisan advantages and concerns, they practice is the target of some legal restric should be politica lly feasible if-once tions, but these are easily circumvented. again- pressure in their behalf is main PACs can contribute at $5,000 a pop, and tained by the electorate and editorialists. wea lthy favor-seeke rs can give party Their common denominator is the promo committees as much as they want, with tion of electoral competition at the expense no d isclosure requirement, as long as this of special interest influence. Voters will so-called "soft" money is used for "party strongly support reforms that are demon building activities" at the "grassroots." strably in the public interest. The end result is that incumbents are pro vided with at-the-ready cash cows for DEFENSE FOREIGN POLICY their re-election ca mpaigns that leave & them beholden to special interests. Scope of OUf Military Structure POLITICS: In addition to their mail franking privileges and easy access PROBLEM /CONFLICT: Currc rHl y, the to media coverage, congressional incumbents typically start scope of our defensive capabil ities is based on the notion their campaigns with huge fini'mcial advantages that often that we stand ready to fight two full-scale conventional intimidate qualified competition from even filing fo r the wars in two d ifferent theaters, simultaneously, wi th clear ballot. Quite understandably, Congress is therefore reluc superiority in military might over any potential foe. Given tant to enact reforms that would submerge the role special the very limited capabilities of our remaining adversaries interests play in financing elections, as Members derive by and their lack of coordination, such a notion is plainly far the greatest benefit from that role. Also, the political par excessive, requiring unnecessary expenditures we can ill ties invariably t.ry to take advantage of popular sentiment afford at this time and exposing Americans to unwarranted by pushing "reforms" that have been carefull y tailored to sacrifices of li fe . Whe n Eisenhower used his farewell provide them with a partisan advantage. That leads to address to warn us about the priority-warping influence of widespread paranoia, gamesmanship and grandstanding in "the military industrial complex," he couJd have little imag the legislative process, a series of spectacles tha t have suc ined the power that sector holds over legislation today, or ceeded in dooming any cleanup of the campaign fina nce the enormous budget deficits it now fuels. system for the past 20 years. POLITICS: In addition to the war industry lobby on SOLUTION: The problem is not how much we Capitol Hill, we also face pressure from multinational fi nan spend on elections: we spend more selling dog food than cial gia nts and CNN ca meras to serve as the 911 number to we spend promoting candidates. ("May the best substance the world. Domestic public opinion, however, has turned win," responds one wag.) The problem is w here most of sharply in fa vor of scaling back our military expenditures since our triumph in the Cold War. January/February 1996 13 SOLUTION: A mo re realistic goal for our military War-with the blessing of the world community in its pock capabil ities is to ma in!'ain the ability to fig ht one f ull ~sc" l e et and Ame rica's vital interests directl y at sta ke-the war in one theater, and a ho ld ing action in a second , pos American public was initiillly divided on the issue of fi ght sessing clear superiority in one theater and roug h equiva ing fo r the li beration of Kuwait. If their treasure is to be con lency in another. That would enable us to reduce our sumed and the lives o f their young put jeopardy, America ns defense expenditure from about 4 3/4 percent o f GOP to demand to know why and be satisfied. with the answer. four percent-the S 14 The RIPON FO RUM dential acts. The move solidified a public perception of him citizen- knows the identity and loca tion of an illegal alien, as a counter-culture liberal, and began a deepening it is their legal duty to report that information to federal estrangement with the Perot bloc. Although most voters authorities; it is the federal government's legal duty to act oppose discrimination against gays in principal, they are on such informa tion by promptly a pprehending and not prepared to accept openly homosexual recruits into deporting those same illegals. their milit,uy; perhaps because it is the ultimate symbol of All necess.,lTY action should be ta ken to secure our machismo, perhaps because they are fearful the close quar bord ers from significant illegal traffic, or arrest and depor ter/same sex atmosphere w ill quickly transform it into a tation becomes a fruitless exercise. Employers knowingly gay subculture. hiring illegals should be sent to ja il ; those hiring them unknowingly should be heavily fined. We should be able to SOLUTION-The Pentagon currently follows a cut the flow of illegal immigrants by 90 percent; if it takes temporary "don't ask, don't tell " policy toward gays: the employment of the army to do so-do so. recruits are no longer asked about their sexual orientation, Some on the national stage have suggested a mora and homosex uals may remain in the service as long as they torium on all immigration for as long as five years. That limit their relations to off-base venues and do not let their would be an overreaction harmful to our economy and passions affect their professional performance. Given the should be rejected. There would be no immigration prob merit of confli cting concerns on th is issue, that would lem if our existing laws were simply enforced. appear to be a good, if somewhat oblique resolution tha t should be made permanent. STRATEGY: Although the libe ral media PC Patrol Segregation of the sexes is not much of a logistica l can be expected to depict any efforls to enforce our immi obstacle in the Navy or Air Force. As for women in infantry gration laws as bigoted, the swing middle-class segment of combat: all staudards for such units-including physical the electorate will respond favorably. capabilities-should be uniform, regardless of sex; women who pass these standards should be assigned to their own Trade combat units. PROBLEM/CONFLICT- In recent years, we have STRATEGY- These solutions may not be celebrat gone a long way toward establishing a "New World Order" ed by the "PC Patrol" of elite opinion makers, but the voters of global community, one that is virtually secure against w ill not stand for more liberal policies, nor is it clear they nuclear conflagration or even massive a rmed conflict. Such should. Such a tack provides an opportunity to appear tol relative tranquility lends itself to the institution of interna erant, yet traditional, and avoids attracti ng the undyi ng tional free trade, the optim um economic condition for enmi ty of single-issue activists on either side. worldwide prosperity. Pacts such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GAIT) and the North American Free Immigration Trade Agreement (NAFfA) go a long way toward achieving that ideal, but we must ensure that such arrangements do PROBLEM/CONFLICT: As trade with underdevel not export the lowest denominator of life quali ty and free oped countries has increased, the economic pressure to hold dom in the name of competition and the bottom line. down our bottom-rung wages has intensified. That has led America became the world 's economic colossus to a stagnant minimum wage; many welfare recipients are and beacon of liberty for fou r primary reasons; now reluctant to surrender their benefits for a $4.25/ hr. job. 1) We were blessed with an abundance of virtually all Consequently, there is a strong demand for low-wage labor raw m .. terials critica l to Culling edge economic development. in this counlry w hich is satisfied by illegal immigrants, 2) We attracted the most ambitious of the world 's largely from Latin America. The flow of such people has peoples, willing to leave fami ly, home and heritage behind in reached a flood tide-more than a half-mil lion per year, exc hange for the opportunity to make the most of themselves. mostly from Mcxico---exerting yet another downward pres 3) Our society was based on meritocracy; who or sure on U.s. wages. Until recen tl y, very little has been done what a perso n was didn't mailer; what th ey acco mplished did. to stem the flood of illegals, perhaps the result of pressure 4) Free horizons of opportunity were maintained, from employers who require a cheap labor source. first by the the presence of the frontier. When that was gone, progressive legislation took its place, making sure the eco POLITI CS: Public patience on this count is wearing nomically powerful did not dominate and corrupt the free thin. In 1994, California was offered an initiative that would enterprise system for their own narrow and selfish purposes. deny state services to illegals: it passed by a decisive mar gin, despite the opposition of most Democrat state leaders Unfortunately, tllany of the world's nations have and much of the news media. With worki ng class not followed such a course. Some ha ve allowed a small oli Americans increasingly anxious about their economic garchy of the wealthy and powerful to rule unchallenged futures, demand for extraordinary action to halt illegal over impoverished masses for their own benefit, us ing immigration may soon become politically irresisti ble. predatory labor and environmental practices to lower pro duction costs. Others have chosen to refuse just rewards for SOLUTION: It is completely illogical to provide individual accomplishme nt and s uppressed the free government services to people w ho are known to be in the exchange of ideas in search of a classless society. Still other country illegally. If anyone-government official or private na tions have economic and politica l systems patterned after January/February 1996 15 ours, but insist on maintaining unfair barriers to free trade. progress on either front (Taiwan, Singapore) would draw a America d id not recreate the aristocratic, totalitari "B" rating- a ten percent general tariff. A totalitarian coun a n systems our people had come here to escape. Instead it try that utilizes slave labor, gives workers no free agency nurtured a dominant middle-class, making sure ind ustrious and pays little heed to environmental concerns (Chi na) labor and fruitful innovation went properly rewarded. The would earn a "C" rating- a 25 percent general tariff. This result was the world's great economic colossus, but one system could be even more precise: South Korea and the which can be undermined if the bulk of its people are Philippines would probably earn an A- or B+ rating- about expected to compete for the bottom line with repressed a five percent general tariff. populations and plundered environments. Such "blind All other existing barriers to trade (including spe trade" will greatly enrich the top fi ve percent of Americans, cial protection for certain industries) would be dropped, but the rest w ill continue fa Uing fu rther behind as our soci though nations w hich heavily subsidize certain industries ety slowly begins to emulate the systems of socialism or would be subjected to quotas on that particular product. unbridled capitalism that generate the greatest possible This plan would let the benefits of an international return for those at the apex of the pyramid . free market system fl ow through a filter that would greatly POUTICS--TIle Washington elites-media person reduce its poisonous side effects. Developing nations \'.'ould ali ties, bureaucrats and lobbyists-are overwhelmingly be much more motivated to clean up their acts, and in doing supportive of most any measure so, would achieve pros perity that promotes free trade. One rea more quickly- not to mention a son may be personal perspective: more fai r society. The world their jobs are not threatened. environment- a direct concern Beltway powers also tend to fol of everyone-would be much low the advice of professional improved. economists, most of whom favor a STRATEGY: The presiden laissez-faire trade policy. tial bid of Patrick Buchanan has However, the credibility of many ironically been a blessing to the of these free-market devotees i$ GOP establishment, serving strained by the source of their notice that the middle class rec funding. Middle-class voters, on og ni zes its quality of li fe has the other hand, tend to be far deteriorated over the past gen more skeptica l about free tTade, eration while those at the top of though a substantial number are nudged along by opinion the economic scale rocketed to unprecedented heights of makers when showdowns arise, as wi th the NAFfA debate. prosperity. If class warfare erupts el gelin, the first casualties At least half of the electorate, however, is receptive to will be Republican offi ceholders, just as they were in the appeals of economic nationalism, including contentions 193Os. As the "lord s and barons" sla y the a nnoying messen tha t blind trade with economically depressed countries will ger with his own politica ll y incorrect rhetoric and repulsive mean a net loss of hi gh-paying American jobs. sociel l agenda, they must avoid the temptation to bury the SOLUTION-Our first course of action must be to message with hi m. break down trade barriers with our fellow post-industrial As indicated in the "tax reform " section, blather ized nations. Favoring free-trade is like fa vo ri ng world about "growing" out of this problem has no credibility: we peace: it is an admirable and lofty goaL but you a re bound have seen reasonable overall gro\vth in recent years while to be trampled underfoot if you insist on practicing pacifi the middle class has started sinking out of sight . And do not cism. We must answer protectionism from one of these trad try to tell them its all in their head: family income is slight ing parhlers with equivalent retaliatory action. Also, we ly up only because working mothers are now the rule rather must base our trade relationships with depressed, oli than the exception; job growth has usually remained strong garchic or socialistic economies on commitments from those because people a re taking lower-paying posts-somctimcs nations to gradually open their economic and political sys more than one. tems and protect the environment. If ambitious targets are There are three substantial reasons for the decline of not met, free trade with these countries should be curtailed. middle incomes: automation, the changing economic rea li This could be accomplished with the equivalent of ties of America's growing service economy and the a bond rating: a developing country with an open, democ unyielding pressure of a blind trade policy. The voters ratic political system, that gives workers full recourse to col know this almost in stinctively, even if the Beltway Barons lective bargaining and is making good progress on the envi are coming to the realization only now. If we do not address ronmental and worker safety (i.e. Costa Rica, Chi le, Poland) these trade inequities with the precision they deserve, we should be given an "A" rating- no ta ri ffs whCltever will soon witness in terror the swinging meat axe of the regardless of the level of wages. Another trading partner next, more marketable Buchanan. that has an ostensibly democratic system directed by an oli garchy, grea tl y constrained collective bargaining, and a minimal environmental a nd workplace standards with little NEXT I SS UE PART II: SOCIA L I ssues AND SOCIAL P IWGIUMS 16 The RI.PON FORUM THE ANALYST by Christine Matthews What's Behind the Voter Revolt? nyone who has ever been in iI America Enters the Third Phase occupational groups that we see relationship knows that it can Noted public o pinion researcher expressing their economic diss(l tisf(lc Abe quite tricky to accurately Daniel Yankelovich h(l s identified tion by their increasing poli tica l inde rcad another person. You have to listen three stages of evolution for industrial pendence. The first group consists of and watch carefully to detect what that ized democracies since World War II. those who fear they will be left behind person really means, which is often Each a rc characterized by the people's by the Information Age; the second is quite different from w hat they say. perception of their co untry's economic composed of those who are leading it. Nuances are all-important. sitU (l tion- a phenomenon Yankelovich The first group is comprised of The same is true w ith public calls the "affluence effect." high school graduates w ho may have opinion polling. It is not enough to America's first st(lge (World some vocational or specialized traill simply look at polling data. One must War II until the late 1960s) was marked ing. Jobs that h(lve typically sustained also strive fo r an intuitive understand by a depression mentality- fear and them are disappearing; they discove r ing of the current social and cultural insecurity- a nd the belief th(lt eco they do not have the skil ls for a "high cl imate in order to make connections nomic instability was just around the tech" world; they find it increasingly that may not be obvious at the time. comer. Y(lnke1ovich contends that difficult to s uppo rt their fam ilies . A brilliant example of the syn America's second st(lge-m(lrked by Consider this: fifteen years ago, college thesis of polling data wi th an intuitive an increased sense of economic securi educated m(lles m(lde 49% more than understanding of the Zeitgeist was ty, a rising level of individualism, a their counterpa rt s with high school performed by the 199'1 campaig n of "Ji ve for today" (lttitudc and an avoid educations: today they make 83% Harris Wofford (D) for a U.s. Senate ance of sacrifice-lasted until the 1992 more. (US. News & World Report). In seat from Pennsylvania. Wofford start election. 1994 exit polls, 43% of voters said they ed his race against ex-governor/US. were working harder, but earning less. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh at M(lny (lfe beginning to believe a huge disadvant(lge in money and th(lt as we shift from the Industrial to recognition. According to most enrly the Information Age, we are moving polling, the health care issue was not into a caste syste m in which the even" blip on the public's rad(lr " American Dream" w ill beco me but (l screen. A litera l interpretation of the / memory, and power and money will numbe rs would have elimin"ted . be in the hands of the few. health care as a vehicle for the cam In contrast, the second group paign's message. would seem to have it made. They are Skippered by the perceptive typically younger, college-educated James C(lrville, the Woffo rd camp (lnd well-equipped w ith technical understood that there W(lS a profound skills. But this group is also incre(ls sense of economic insecurity in the ingly individualistic, with little insti- "swing" electorate, a long with a wide , tutional 10Y(llty. The attitudes they spre"d feeling th(lt the privileged had share in common with the first gro up much, while most worked h<'lrd for lit Since then, are 1) a lack of faith in job security, and tle-and that even this very little could America has been in its somber third 2) the belief th(lt government is a hin be taken "way at any time. Connecting phase, akin to waking up with a giant drance, not a help, in (lchieving the the dots, they were able to usc the hangover. It is in this context of American Dream. health care issue not only in winning renew ed economic insecurity th(lt At a lmost all places (lIang the the Sen(lte r(l ce, but also in shifting the Americans increasin gly see others as economic continuum, bo th pare nts focus of national attention for the next competitors for SC(lfce resources. As must work to maintain an acceptable severoll years. one moves down (l few notches on standard of living for the family. Few It is in this spirit of "connect Maslow's ladder, the more noble mothers feel they have an economic ing the dots" that we should take a instinct to care for the less forhmate is option to stay at home with their chil fresh look at the economic and cultural placed in direct conflict with the need dren, a conditio n tha t is deeply upset context that is giving rise to so much for care for oneself. ting to them. As noted by Robert discontent in today's electorMc. Today, there are two distinct Wright in (l recent Time magazine arti- January/February 1996 17 de, "finding a middle ground enabling th is issue. What a mockery they make and going our own way." women to be workers and mothers is of your most heart-felt values! And, in a n ethnic sense, our one of the great socia l challenges of This is how many, many melting pol is beginning to boil over. our day." Americans fecI about politicians a nd Et hnicity and eth nic nationalism have While economic conditions the political system. Of the policy come to be the primary source of iden play quite a significant role in citizen making process, veteran political tification fo r many, sentiment p.:'linfully d iscontent, other factors are contribut reporter Hedrick Smith descri bes an in evidence at the conclusion of the ing to increasing voter volatility and "iron triangle" which consists of lob O.J. Simpson trial. dealignment: byists, senior legislative staffers, and At risk, many believe, is our executive branch offi cials. There is no collective identity as Americans. 1) Ideologica l polarization. room for citizen involvement in this 1lle "inside-the-be.ltway" notion triangle, and the public now knows it. 5) The disintegration of society. that most Americans are ideo- This is at the root of a great logical is fundamentally mis deal of discontent and is Inliy ta ken. Ame rica ns have few ide Conditions In this Country Satisfied Unsatisfied aU·encompassing. Po lls tell us, ological moorings, a t least not Jobs and the economy 42% 55% fo r example, that cri me is a top in the academic sense. That is Political system 25 72 concern of mosl America ns. why the GOP revolution in Moral values 21 76 Indeed it is. Politicians tnlk of Congn..>ss ca n thrive alongside Safety from violent crime 18 80 building more prisons and get- support and respect fo r Colin ting tough on criminals-good December 1995Wall Street JournallNBC poll of 2007 Powell. In a purely ideological solutions that most people sup adults by Hart & Teeter, margin of error 2.2%. reading, such concurrent atti port. However, what is often tudes constitute something of a missed is the nuance: Ame-ri- paradox. However, w hat Americans 3) The increasing i.rre levance of aver ca ns are fa r more threatened by the want above all from government is age ci tizens in the politica l process. pervasiveness of violence than actual effecti ve leadership. They cra ve prag On a 1994 Time Mirror study cri me. The violence that Americans so matic action, and agree on more th ings of nearly 4000 adults nationw id e, 66% fear is evident on television, at the than most politicos rea li ze. completely agreed that "I feci it's my movies, in chiJdren's computer games, In fact, the views o f most duty as a citizen to always vote." In in song lyrics, in the gestures humans America ns are probably renected in th is same survey, however, just 24% make to one another in their cars, and Colin Powell's assessme nt of the completely agreed that "voting gives in the angry language that is often extremes: "I am troubled by the politi people like me some s..1y about how used to express hate and intolerance. cal passion of those on the extreme the government runs things." While On this s.:1me track, people a re right w ho seem to claim d ivine wis our upbringing tells us that voting is very concerned about the breakdown dom on political as well as spiritual important, we do not sec much benefit of the fa mily unit and all the pressures matters. I am d isturbed by the class from actually perfo rmi ng this duty as aimed at lea ring people a pa rt, not and racial undertones beneath the sur individ uals. keeping them together. TIley a re wor face of their rheto ric. O n the other side Certainl y, far fewer of us are ried that young children are growing of the spectrum, I a m put off by acti ve s take holders in the politica l up too fa st a nd that it is increasingly patronizing liberals who clai m to process. While campaigns in the past difficult as p 18 The RJPON FORUM F======"""'" THE PULSE-STIR Clinton Clobbers GOP with Indies The Final Four Natiollal survey of 858 registered voters surveyed 2/21-22 by Yallkdovich Par/llers, mnrgil1 of error +/- 3%. By Prillcetoll Re5l'nrch 511n7ey of 566 GOP primllry voters released 011 2/25, mllrgill of error +/- 4%. General Election Matchups GOP primary NOW 1/96 Men Wllln Choice #2 ALL GOP INO OEM Dole 37% 43% 37% 37% 19% Clinton 52% 17% 55% 84% Buchanan 21 8 21 22 19 Dole 39 73 35 12 Alexander 14 4 15 12 17 Forbes 8 17 9 6 8 Clinton 53 23 54 81 OK/Other 20 28 18 23 25 Alexander 35 61 33 14 Clinton 54 27 55 81 Buchanan 35 58 32 15 Bill, Ross & Newt Exit Polls, Exit Polls A naliollal srlfVI:y of 1,002 adrl/ls The Edison Poll srmli'yed 1,788 NH COP Is He too Extreme or is He too Old? by CNN/USA Today/Gal/op, mar Jlrimllry volers. gill of error +/- 3%. A survey Ily CBS/NY Times taken 011 2/22-24 wilh Which issue should be the fi rst 1,223 adults IIIld (/ margin of error of +/- 3%. Clinton Job priority of the President-elect? Approve 53% Reduce deficit 29% Is Buchanan too extreme? Disapprove 40 Reform tax code 19 ALL GOP IN O OEM Creating Jobs ·10 Ye, 54 % 46% 55% 60% If Ross Perot Runs Ed ucation 7 No 32 40 31 26 Vote for 23 Medicare 6 Won't vote for 74 Welfare Reform 6 Dole's Age Fig ht Crime 5 Generic House Vote Health Care 5 Will help him 4 5 4 3 Ban Abortion 4 Be an obstacle 36 25 33 48 Dem candidate 48 Strong Milit Wherefore Art Thou, Colin? And Even Yet Another NH Exit Poll Survey of 526 GOP and GOP-leaning indies 2/21-22 by for Those Who Haven't Had Enough Yaukdovich Parillers, margiu of error +/- 4%. The Edison Poll. Are you satisfied with the Republican candidates? Satisfied 40% Should GOP Platform Are You a Born-Aga in Like to see someone else 54 Ban Abortion? Christian? Yes 28% Ye, 22% Would you like to see Colin Powell run for President? No 72 No 78 Ye, 54% No 39 Of the GOP candidates running, who: Should Dole Drop Out? Dole Buchanan Alexander Has vision to be president 47% 28% 16% Prillct'lol/ SlIn1CY Resl'lIrcir Will p rovide economic leadership 47 20 16 Has experience to be preSident 73 10 7 After NH, Dole should ... Best understands average Americans 29 29 23 Dropout now 22% Will provide moral lead ership 43 33 10 Stay & fight 72 January/ February 1996 19 Jmrtril\lTt~ or 'ara""ids 7 The Modem Militia Movement Claims Constitutiollal Legitimacy Through the Second Amendment. But Are They the "Well-Regulated" Units the Founders Had ill Milld? hen word got out that Terry question: since the militia concept was Nichols had once attended a By ANDREW BRANAN recognized by our founding fathers as W local "militia" meeting with a legitimate check on the national gov· his brother in Michigan, America ernment and mi litary structure, at turned with wary curiosity to examine what point did the notion of an orga~ an apparently new and widespread f1 well-regulated /I1;/;I;a, being nized collective of gun-o\\'ning, non movement: collectives of gun-owning felon citizens become so alien? Just l1ecessary 10 tiN! s(!curily of a free men and women, drilling in paramili how different are these groups from tary fa shion, unified and armed to pro Slale, ti,e rigllf of tile people to those over which our Founding tect their privacy, their land-and keep and bear Arm s, sl10ll 110t be Fathers agonized and 20 The RIPON FORUM attempt will be made to assess the rea which are Protestants may have arms defeat while approaching Ft. sonableness of the concerns that have for their defense suitable to their con Duquesne (Pittsburgh). A British rebuff inspired these new groups, nor will we dition, and as allowed by law." Though of Washington hubris-a demand for examine the contention that the Second this embryonic right to bea r arms was equal ranking with British regular offi Amendment is now antiquated and hardly univers January/Febm ary 1996 21 tered such a gathering on the village armed the people under the guise of A Century of Divestment green at Lexington, they shot at it. game laws." In their minority propos Local militias continued to fl our Following the engagements at al, the dissenters called for a separate ish in the years leading up to Ihe Civil Lexington and Concord, with open amendment dealing specifically with War, sometimes being employed in dis insurrection in full Oower, the Second state organization of militias, stating: putes between local ities and beyond. Continental Congress faced a problem: "Firstly, the personal liberty of every Resplendent in a magnificent military how to create a standing army without man from sixteen to sixty years of age uniform, Mormon Church "prophet" organizing a permanent military. The may be destroyed by the power Joseph Smith often reviewed a church result was the crea tion of the Congress has in organizing and gov army of hundreds of well-trained and Continental Army, whose enlistees erning of the militia .. .The absolute well-equipped troops in his ca pital at were required to serve only the dura command of Congress over the militia Nauvoo, Ill inois. After Smith's subse tion of the war and whose commander may be destructive of public liberty; quent aS5<'lssinatioll and the westward (Wa shington) was a congressional for under the guidance of an arbitrary migration of his nock, the Mormon appointee. Traditional militia tactics government, they may be made the mi litia battled the US. Army in the such as firing at-will and in loose for unwilling instruments of tyranny." mountains and deserts of Utah in the mation behind cover-gave way to the In New Hampshire, a majority 1850s. During Reconstruction, black more traditional European battle tac of the delegates called for a bill of militias were organized by the U.S. tics of firing in close formation. rights to protect a rmed formation. The government throughout the South. With a body resembling (if not convention added an important excep Following a tradition of black frt'emen in fa ct) a standing army in place dur tion to this protection against federa l that dated back to the 1840s, these new ing the constitutional debates of the government di5<'l rmament of citizens: units were intended to provide self 1780s, each former colony's ratification "actual insurgents" were fair game (a protection of recently gained rights. convention wrestled with the relative legacy of the Shay's Rebellion.) But the submersion of states' merits and roles to be played by a Eventually, a federal bill of rights over the last century and the national standing army versus the tra rights was tacked to the Constitution in rapidly closing frontier began to leave ditional reliance on militias (which, at the form of ten amendments. But, if the militias without an obvious mission. that point, had evolved into instru Second Amendment protected the As the 19th century progressed, says ments of the states, and had by and right of every citizen to bear a rms, historian Robert J. Spitzer, the history large fought as such during the Congress took it a step further and of state militias as a fighting force "is Revolution.) As these militias were mandated it with the Militia Act of one of total abandonment, disorganiza now recognized as falling under a larg 1792, w hich required every "free and tion and degeneration." Any common er, though still decentralized control able-bodied" w hi te male ci tizen aged reference to "militia" came to mean the (Le. individual states), the debate eighteen to forty-five to arm himself "select" militia: regularly trained state emphasis shifted away from an indi with musket, bayonet, and ammuni units which became the basis of the vid ual's right to defend toward lion. Those skilled with horses were to National Guard. w hethe r individual ci tizen-soldiers own a pair of pistols and a 5<'lbre. Like Effecti vely established by the could be depended upon to defend Parliament a century before, a practical Dick Act (passed in 1903, the same year effectively. Congress had simultaneously granted the Militia Acl was repealed ), the [n examination of the thirteen a right, then placed it under federal National Guard had absorbed all the state debates that led to the ratification jurisdiction with a law mandaling it be state units into a federal framework by of the federal Constitution, a linguistic exercised. the close of Wo rld War I. However, preference for an individual's right to One by one, each state passed notes Spitzer, "The idea of universal bear arms and ally with others into a its own militia law to bring their regu militia service would persisl...as part of militia became submerg<.>d by a debate lation in sync with those of the federal the political symbolism surrounding over the extent of federa l control over government. These la ws-<:ombined the Second Amendmenl." the militia. Thus arose the anti-federal with a new federal statute that vested Finally, Americans may rea ist concern: d isarm the citizenry and the President with the authority to sonably ask: In today's atmosphere of you are left to the yoke and whip of summon militias--enabled President overintrusive federa l government, is central control. Washington to quell western Pennsyl the practical application of the Second At first, delegate blocs which vania's " Whiskey Rebellion" (1794) Amendment so unthinkable? Such favored amending the Constitution to with 15,000 quickl y gathered mili tia questions beg after the excessive force include the right to bear arms wCre in men he himself led into action. used by federal agents at Waco and the minority. For example: when But that same year, federal Ruby Ridge. Today's militia movement Pe nnsylvania approved the federal troops were faced dow n by the Georgia may nol be precisely w hat the fo und constitution without a "declaration of militia in a dispute over treatment of ing fathers had in mind, but we may rights," dissenting delegates tied the Creek and Cherokee Indians. [n 1798, want 1"0 consider resurrecting the spirit right to bear arms not only to militia when fed eral troops a ttempted enfor of "well-regulated" in order to allay organizing, but to hunting and self cement of the Alien a nd Sedition Acts desperate fears that are now only bare defense of property as well. Writing in (later declared unconstitutional), they ly below the surface for some. the Valparaiso Llllv Review" Halbrook came to a similar standoff with the observed "Pennsylvanians were very militia in Virginia. [t seemed the check Andrew Branan covers referellda for familia r with British laws which dis- on centralized power was working. Campaigns & Elections masazille 22 The RIPON FORUM The Dixification of the GOP Signing on Conservatives ill the Soutfi ana Socia[ 'RJgfitists 'Everywhere, the 'L\pallaing %pu6licall Party is Sliifting Its :;{istoric Orientation B y RUODES COOK s the GOP presidential candi Lee Atwater trumpeted a few years the number of registered Democra ts dates of 1996 turned their ago? Or is it growing more because It has remained fairly static, increCl sing A attention to the COP primary is becomi.ng the consensus home of the from slightly more than 2.1 million and caucus voters this winter, they nation's conservatives, attracting rural voters eig ht yea rs ago to slightly less found them even more numerous than and small-town Democrats across the than 2.2 lllill ion now. ever before. Since Senate Majority South and social conservatives every Barbour sees much of the Leader Bob Dole of Kansas last ran for where? COP's recent growth as a legacy of president eight years ago, the number Each viewpoint has its cham Ronald Reagan, who made the of registered Republicans has grown pions, and the results of the 1996 nom Re publican Party attractive to three dramatically, particularly across the inating events will be pored over by la rge, previously De mocra tic con Sun Belt. They have increased by more both sides. Ye t what is indisputable is stituencies: young voters; ethnic, blue than 1 million in Florida, by more than that the Republican Party is growing collar Catholics; and Southerners. As a 600,000 in California, by nearly 450,000 larger, and that this g rowth could result, says Barbour, "We're the con in North Carolina and by almost affcct the outcome of the nominating servative party of the United States 230,000 in Arizona. process and the November election as and the Democrats are the liberal Viewed in terms of the rate of well. party." increase, the figures a re even more More than just population striking. The number of registered growth is involved, because Democratic Confederate Consolidation Republicans has morc than doubled Party registrations are not keeping That certainly appears to be at over the last eight years in Nevada, pace. Altogether, 28 sta tes register vot hand in the South. From the piney jumped by at least SO percent in ers by party (or independent status) woods of north Florida to the bayous Florida, Louisiana and North Caroli na, and tabulate the totals on a statewide of Louisia na, GOP o ffi cials see the and increased by roughly o ne-third o r basis. (The rest either do not compile a party expanding its appeal into histor more in Arizona and New Mexico. statewide total or do not require voters ically Democratic rural areas. to register by party at all.) "The growth has come all over Righteous Movement In virtually aU of these states, ILouisiana]," says Ryan Booth, a With growth comes change, of the surge in Republicans registrations spokesman for the state GOP, "but course. But just how this growth will ha s easily surpassed the increase on especially in rural conservati ve areas change the Republican Party is less the Democratic side. In the aggregate, where people used to be Democrats clear. The GOP is a "bigger, broader, the GOP numbers have grown by but were always conservative." more d iverse" party than it was a about 4.2 million, the Democratic num In the past eight years, the decade or two ago, says Republican bers by just 1.4 million since early number of registered Republican vot National Committee (RNe) Chairman 1988. ers in Louisiana has surged upward Haley Barbour. In several Southern states, the from barely 300,000 to nearly 500,000. But its ideological diversity is disparity has been enormo us. The At the same time, the number of open to question. It is becoming the North Carolina COP, for instance, has Louisiana Democrats has declined "big tent" that the late RNC Chairman grown from 850,000 registered voters from nearly 1.7 million to just over 1.6 to nearly 1.3 million since 1988, w hile million. Ja nuary/February 1996 23 Yet even with the GOP's recent Branstad and then-Congo Fred Grandy. A k'''' Sep 24 The RIPON FORUM vote of economic protest against Bush. RESEARCH & REVIEWS Yet Buchanan's 37 percent share of the STUDIES New Hampshire vote fell well short of victory. The Primary That Wasn't Meanwhile Robertson's g reat est success in 1988 W January / February 1996 25 ______IB v JEFF MACNELLY______ WhiteHouse... SanDiei10- 26 The RIPON FORUM ,y ASHI~GTO~ • 'OTES & Q UOTES FOR LEASE: 1600 Pa. Ave. Forbes can only cast severe doubts cx-R<1ncho Palos Verdes ma yor /'94 rom the first, it was clear the all the fairness of o ur campaign nominee Su san Brooks (CA-36), Ppresidential candidacy of fiMnce system. Snelling would oppose Malcolm Forbes, Jr. would test the populnr Gov. Howard Dean (D) in electoral limits of money, and the Labor Unlimbers November, Ti nsman faces U.S. Scn. initial results \'\'cre d isturbing. With Confirming a strategy the Tom Harkin (D), Sweetser chnl very little in the way of political FORUM first revealed last July, the lenges Socialist Congo Bernie Sanders, experience. communicative powers AFL-CIO announced it will commit Swift targets Congo John Olver (0)' or charisma-and only a single some $35 million low.lrd influenc and Brooks seeks a rematch with issue, gimmick-driven platform ing 75 House races this year. The Congo Jane Harman (0 ). The others Forbes vaulted to the forefront of campaign w ill take the fo rm o f inde are running for open seats. the pack of presidential wannabees pendent expenditure med ia cam WIS H bundles donations plodding after Bob Dole. What the paig ns and direct voter contact from members and delivers them in publishing heir did have was a bot through grassroots organizations. large chunks to the candidate com tomless war chest to The vast majority of these efforts mittees, funne ll ing more than spend against o pponents will be directed fo r the benefi t o f $600,000 since its founding in 1992. who were legally limited Democrat candidates, w ith to modest budgets. Republican freshman making up Run Ralph, Run! This inequity most of the targeted incumbents . Famed consumer advocate was mad e possible by The ambitious move has Ralph N ader will appear on this the Federal Election been motivated by congressional year's Califo rnia ballot as the presi Campaign Act, which Forbes: Prez reform attempts and the pro d ential nominee of the Green Party, nounced and sudden shift in the and is in the process of gaining bal matches contribu tions of consumer up to $250 made to candi direction of PAC money away lot e nlry in several other states dates for major party p resid ential from Demos and towa rd s COPers. receptive to a nco-populist message. nominations-p rovided the cam n le election of the aggres Such a third ba llot option could cost paign ag rees to spending limits that sive John Sweeney as president last President Clinton la rge numbers o f can only be described as draconian year has also proven to be a p relude eil><: toral votes by draining leflish fo r such disproport ionately influen to the labor federation's moving votes in key states. tial sta tes as Iowa and New onto the warpath. Sweeney won the Ham pshi re. Forbes came to the race post with by pledg ing to launch a What Ails Roger? prepared to outspend any competi $20 million campaig n to boos t Roger Ailes has resigned as tor at 4:1 in the early, cnlCia l con membership by o ne million, but president/CEO of the CNBC and tests, drawing on his inherited for that strategy has been put on hold America's Talking cable TV cha n tune of half a billion d ollars. in favor of the electoral approach. nels. Althoug h the former Reagan As country philosopher and Bu sh media advisor had Tom T. Hall once observed, "With WISH Lists Stars succeeded in boosting the that kind of money, you could get Women in the ratings o f CNBC by increas McCovem elected." Y\'eII, a lmost. Senate a nd House (WISH) ing its political content, he Fortunately, Forbes did not List has endorsed ten pro was infuriated by a recent spend wisely. By bashing his ri vals choice women Republicans decision by N BC to turn before establishing his identity in for election this year- America's Talking into a the minds of the voters, he defined For governor: LI news channel intent o n com· hi mself a s a mudslinger. Voters Cov. Barbara Snelling (VT); Ailes: Rupe peting with CNN, a venture eventua lly recognized his one for U.s. Senate: Atty. Cen. makes it right in w hich it will be joined by plank platforms was tailor-made to Galc Norton (CO ), s t<1te Bill Gates' Microsoft Corp. worsen the gravest errors of federal Tre<1surer Nancy M ayer (RI), and Ironically, Ailes w ill now head a economic policy: too much deficit state Sen. Maggie Tinsman (l A); for similar all-news cable channel being spending and too much tax burden U.s. House: ex-stale Rep. Virginia launcht'd by billionaire tycoon on middle incomes. Blankenship (IN-lOt ex-NJ/NY Rupert Murdoch. The reformed But whal if the next mega Port Authority chair Kathleen political consulta nt took command millionaire with a yen for the White Donivan (NJ-9), county Crnsr. o f CNBC in A ug ust 1993 and Housc has d ecent communicntion Karen Martynick (PA-16), state Sen. launched his innovative all-talk skills and a plausible program? The Susan Sweetser (VT-At L1rge), show channel a little more than a sudden political success of Steve state Sen. Jane Swift ( M A~l), and year ago. January/February 1996 27 ALA BAMA- Mindful of the '94 BEYOND THE BELTWAY MA1NE-The unexpected retire elections--which saw a Repub (Population 250 million) ment announcement of moderate lican sweep across the statewide U.S. Sen. Bill Cohen (R) elicited ballot-ten Birmingham judges CON NECTICUT-Moderate sla te an immediate Ripon press release, announced their mass defection to the Rep. Lonny Win kler (R) seemed calling on cx-Gov. John R McKernan, Jr. GOP in January. ready to take on vulnerable Congo to gel in the race and warning of Sa m Gejdensen (D ) this year, and her severe consequences that may a rise ALASKA-Wealthy banke r David prospects looked good. "She would from the recent exodus of six GOP Cuddy has launched a well-financed have been a formidable candidate," moderates fro m the Sena te. "All of primary challenge against fi vc-term ex-GOP chair Richard Arnold told the these Senators have expressed exas U.s. Sen. Ted Stevens (R), ca lling the New London Da y. "I've received a lot peration with a system that rewards veteran conservative a of favorable feedback about partisan infighting and penalizes pe0- "Clinton Republican." A her." But Winkler assessed ple fo r trying to govern," complained "movement" conservati ve, the things d ifferently, declaring "I Ripon President Bill Frenzel. "If the 43-year-old Cuddy cla ims am reluctant to throw my hal two major parties continue driving Stevens' moderate positions into the ring because of the out their moderates... we will soon see are out of touch with Alaska. Re publican position coming a third pilrty on the horizon, along Although Stevens is expected out of Washington." According with more gridlock. /I Mc Kernan's to become Appropriations to Winkler, the policy of slash wife is U.s. Sen. Olympia Snowe. 1 1t chair in the 105th Congress, Johnson: ing social spending while pro appears that Ross Perol's Reform this threa t to his tenure is very Combat duty viding tax relief for the Party has fa iled in its effort to gain a serious, for two reasons: 1) the wealthy-a strategy widely ballot line here. Sec. of State 8ill scion of a powerful banking fam ily, identified with unpopula r Speaker Diamond (D) announced the Newt Gingri ch-will cost GOPers Cuddy will likely outspend the Reformers had fallen 515 short of the "big time" at the polls this year, mak incumbent; and 2) the prima ry will be required 25,565 valid signatures of ing it a n "uphill battle for anyone w ho restricted to registered GOPers for the registered voters. The blow is espe d ecides to run." 1 Congo Nancy fi rst time in three decades, giving cia ll y telling as Miline was Perot's Johnson (R) is finding her chairman· rightists a leg up. strongest stilte in 1992 and had e[ected ship of the House Ethics Committee has a hot seat. A [ate December poll by an Independent governor in 1994. CA LIFORNIA-Assembly Spea ker Political Med ia Research shows However, according to an in vestiga Brian Sele ncich--., freshman GOPer Johnson is still popular with her con tive report by the Maille SlI lIday handed the gavel in yet a nother mas stituents (54% favorab[e/17% unfa Telegral,/1, local election officials com terful display of political gamesman vorable), but her handling of the case mitted "widespreild e rrors" in the ship by Democrat ex-Speaker Willie against Speaker Gingrich has made processing of the Reform Party peti Brown-has finally been deposed by only eight percent more li kely to vote tions. A spot check of nine of the a Republican majority that was d ivert for her, 18% less likely. state's 400 towns ilnd ci ties by t.'(! from laking control of the chamber the newspaper reveilled more fo r nearly a year. 'I While being inter IOWA-Centrist state Sen. thiln 300 signatures that had viewed by The Advocate-lesbian Maggie Tinsman leads the been mistakenly rejected. daughter Chastity in tow-Congo polls for the GOP nomination Diamond nevertheless insists Sonny Bono (R-CA) declared gay to face U.s. Sen. Tom Harkin he is powerless to reverse the marriage "seems fine, if that's what (D) in November. A mid- local actions. Stay tuned. 1 In they want to do." Asked by Chastity if January Mason-Dixon survey yet another manifestation of he and Speaker Newt C ingrich ever put TInsman's support at 19%, Branstad: Maine's maverick political discussed the fact they both had les to 17% for state Rep. Steve Musical Chairs WilYS, the state House has fallen bians in their immediate families, the Crubbs and seven percent for news- into a 75-75 partisan tie as Democrat singer-tumed-pol reported "never." 'I paper publisher Leroy Corey, with a state Rep. Beli nda Cerry switched her Sta te government goals for hiring whopping 6·1% still undecided. 'I It's allegiance to Independent. In a letter minority and women contractors for beginning to look li ke Terry Branstad announcing her act ion, Gerry transportation projects have been (R) will finally step down after 16 declared Democrat Party efforts to halved from 20% to 10%. Instituted by years as governor, attempting a job overturn a term limits initiative Gov. Pete Wil son (Rt the action was swap with U.s. Sen. Chuck C rassley approved 2: 1 by Maine vo ters made over the strenuous objections of (R) in '98. Although centrist Fred "reveal the true anti-democratic and the U.s. Department of Transportation Grandy nearly upended him in the '94 elitist attitude of the Democratic Party and will likely cost the state millions primary, Branstad appears to be posi- hierarchy." of dollars in federal funding. honing to run as a social conservative. 28 The RIPON FORUM MINNESOTA-Calling himself an opposition in the '98 GOP primary band. Waldholtz has decided not to alternative for the "passionate center," from black state Treasurer Ken run for re-election: this decision made state Sen. Roy TelVlilliger has entered Blackwell or LG Nancy Hollister. '"II on the heels of a Dan Jones poll w hich the fight for the GOP nod to take on Taft may not have endeared himself to showed her losing by better than 3:1 leftist U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone this Perot voters with his declaration that to Demo challenger Jim McConkie. November. A pro-choicer who voted the Reform Party had fallen 2,438 for Minnesota's gay rights law, valid signatures short in its bid to gain VIRGINIA-The radical right-domi Terwilliger first must hurdle ex-state a Buckeye ballot line. At last report, nated state GOP has abandoned its Commerce Cmsr. Bert McKa sy and however, Taft had let the Perotistas legal challenge of Sen. John Warner's conservative ex-Sen. Rudy Boschwitz, review the sigs rejected by his offi ce legislated right to call a primary to who lost the seat to Wellstone and a reversal seemed possi decide the Republic.:"ln nomination for in 1990. Terwilliger admits he ble. 1 Meanwhile, VOiJ10vich his seat. The moderately conservative has little chance of capturing appears to be running for vice Warner is facing a fierce intra party the endorsement of the state president, having made cam challenge from ex-OMB director Jim GOP organization-which is paign appearances for Bob MjJJer, who is backed by rightists. dominated by social right Dole in Iowa and New wingers-but plans to take his Hampshire and releasing a WEST VIRGlNIA-Moderate ex.cov. case directly to Republican Voinovich: slick, resume-style videotape Ceci l UndelVlood (R) has surprised voters in the primary. 'I Veep Quest? to GOP activists and the state operatives by launching an Incidentally, the state GOP national press. exploration of the governor's race. known for a generation as the Although the 74-year-old Underwood "Independent Republican Party" OKLAHOMA-After polling nearly a began his political career 50 years ago recently dropped the "Independent" quarter of the '94 vote for governor as and was first elected governor in 1956, part from its moniker. Some suggest a n Independent, centrist ex-Con go he is given an excellent cha nce of win the impetus came from DFLers who Wes Watkins is running for his old ning the nomination over ex-state claimed the "IR" designation now House seat as a RepubHcan. Wat ki ns party chair David McKinley and ex stood for "Intolerant Rightists." gave up the seat for a 1990 gubernato astronaut Jon McBri de. A mid rial bid as a Democrat. January independent survey had it NEW HAMPSHIRE-A Ja nuary Underwood 21 %, McBride 20%, American Research Group poll indi OREGON-The vote-by-mail contest McKinley 11 %, with almost half of cates rightist U.S. Sen. Bob Smith (R) for the U.s. Senate between state GOP p rimary voters u ndecided . is in big trouble. Ex-Cong. Dick Swett Senate Pres. Gordon Smith (R) and Underwood ran best of the three In (D)- turned out of office in '94-ran Congo Ron Wyden (0) drew the par November matchups. Democrats are only five points behind Smith, while ticipation of two-thi rds of the state's expected to nominate ex-state Sen. Gov. Steve Merrill thrashed the registered voters, a unheard of pro Charlotte Pritt, a controversial labor Gramm-backing Senator by better portion for a special election. [t was backed liberal who once rode a Harley than 3:1 among GOPers. Merrill the first postal election for federal onto the floor of the slate Senate. Pritt reportedly considered a challenge, but office in American history. Wyden alienated partisans of Gov. Gaston has decided against it. prevailed by little more than a per Caperton (D) by running a write-in centage point afte r eschewing effort against him in the '92 NORTH CAROLI NA-The field negative ads through the 20- general election, after losing appears to have shaken out for GOP day window when ballots the primary. gubernatorial primary leaving moder were being returned. In the ate Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot judgement of professionals W I SCONSIN-Superior faci ng state Rep. Robin Hayes, an engaged in the race, the rich, Court Judge Mac Davis (R)-a Intolerant Rightist. Hayes has co telegenic Smith lost the race in former state Senator and son of authored a book that advises sexually the Portland suburbs, where the longtime Congo G lenn Davis: Chip acti ve teenage girls to swab their gen his anti-green, pro-life record Davis (R)-has kicked off a off the block itals with Lyso!. did not play well among GOP campaign to unseat Congo leaning voters. Gerald Kleczka (D) in subur OHIO-Cov. George Voinovich (R) ban Milwaukee's 4th District. A strong has endorsed Sec. of State Bob Taft as UTAH-Embattled Cong. Enid Greene fiscal conservative with tolerant social his successor in what some observers WaldhoUz has made yet another dam views, Davis is thought to have an see as a payback for Taft's forebear aging admission: She owes $50-130K even chance against the seven-term ance in staying out of the 1990 guber in back state and fed eral taxes, a con incumbent, who registered his second natorial race. Taft may yet see stiff dition she blames on her estrange hus- OWl a rrest last May. January / February 1996 29 A Deal Between Mutually Regarded Devils he off-year election resuHs suggest the COP's win suddenly find that they have powerful allies among Log dow of opportunity for ushering in a new paradigm Cabin Republicans, what should Log Cabin ask for in T for government may be slamming shut, pushed by return? rejuvenated images of Republicans as henchmen for the rich Let me offer a suggestion: gay marriage. Andrew who want to throw ailing oldsters onto the icy streets. Party SuUivan argues in his new book, Virtually Normal, that gays leaders had better wake up fa st to the reality that sweeping should seek public equality before the law, and stop there. changes are effected only by super-majorities. The modest As he writes, "We need nothing from you, but we have edges Republicans now hold in Congress are not nea rl y much to give back to you. Protect us from nothing; but treat enough, and expanding upon them in a significa nt way will us as you would any heterosexual." To Sullivan, g()()l.i gov require a brotldening of the GOP coalition. ernment is small government, committed to equal treat Much as FDR had commies and Klansmen pulling ment for all. And that means, he believes, that the state in the same harness to topple the Depression and fa scism, would no longer distinguish between heterosexual and Republicans are now faced with a ripe opportunity for unit homosex\lal marriage. ing disparate clements in the crusade against intrusive, inef The heart of Sulli van's argument for gay mar fective government. Elements as disparate as the Christian riage-marriage for all-is that since gays and lcsbitms arc Coalition and Log Cabin RepUblica ns. born, not made, it makes no sense to exclude them from the One such new alliance issue is school choice. For a conservatizing, traditionalizing bonds of marital obligation. decade, we have been "reforming" bureaucratic, monopo In that sense, civil marriage is a profoundly conserv,l li ve listic education, a nd the results are in: we spend more on idea. As Edmund Burke put it, the goal of conservative educa tion than any country in the world, and yet our stu statesmanship is to channel the tides of change into the dents are sixth, or sixteenth, on various standardized tests. ca nals of custom. If you want to know the quickest way to get to the Blade I realize that this is not the argument that the dom Runner-like future of rampant crime and squalor, it's with inant faction of conservatives in America today is waiting to kids w ho ca n' t compete in the age of quicksilver capital. hear. From my own personal experience, I know how con The best solution to this proble m is a market that would troversial these issues are. I got fired two years ago for a col permit altruists and capitalists, the sacramental and the sec umn [ wrote on the conservative case for gay marriage. It's ular, to compete for the right to educa te the next generation. a paradox of conservative thinking that while conservatives Conservative Christians find their children have to a re eager to see immutable biological distinctions between go to schools controlled by teachers unions and academic males and females-and sometimes even between blacks bureaucrats who are generally hostile to their values and and whites-they refuse to attribute any genetic predisposi viewpoints; they frequentl y cannot ilfford to send their chil tion to homosexuality, because that spoils their gay-bashing d ren to the school of th eir choice. And so we come to the fun! But smarter conservatives, those more interested in alliance opportunity. actuall y win ning elections, will see that homophobia, in this Freedom- including freedom of choice-is indivis day and age, is counter-productive. ible. Freedom for you means freedom fo r them equals free No group in America today ca n win without being dom for all of us. That was the lesson of the original log in some sort of broad-based coalition. Republicans of all cabin Republican: a nation cannot exist only half free. The stripes must focus on those issues that unite us: smaller world will know that Log Cabin Republicans are serious government, lower taxes, tough law enforcement. Then let about expanding choice and empowerment fo r all when us raise our sights to those new concerns-such as the they take a strong sta nd in favor of full school choice school choice for same-sex marriage swap-Ihat enable the including public, private, and religious schools-for all alliance to move to a highest common denominator. America's children. Such a principled stand would be good politics, both within the GOP and the country at large. But alliances must be based on mutual advantage. As the New Deal A former aide to Pres idelfts Reagan and 8us/l, James Pi nkerton experience demonstrated, it's not so much that factions is a lecturer at C('Orge Was/lingtoll Universify and a colWllnisf must like each other. Rather, they must need each other. for Ncwsday. His book, What Comes Next: The End of Big ll,is is polit ics: I help you, you help me, and soon we have Government and the New Paradigm Ahead, was pllb/is/led a pyramid of alliance that transcends that which once divid by Hyperioll tllis willter. ed us. If conservative Christia ns want school choice, and 30 The RIPON FO RUM tream • • • and - ~ \ sys- \ military service and --_.- City: ______--it ~ale : __Zip,: ____ _ x.:::;' You may FAX your subscription card 10 (202) 547·6560. Or mail il 10 77le Ripon Fomlll, 501 Capitol Coun NE. Suite 300. Washington, DC 20002. ,------j