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.