Social Conservatives Locked Out of GOP Prime Time

NewsMax ^ | 7/12/04 | Phil Brennan

[wagglebee]

Social conservatives feel they are getting short shrift from the Republican National Committee’s lineup of speakers at the GOP convention in New York this year, reports the New York Times.

Thus far, prime time speaking slots are nearly bereft of those who share the views of the party's conservative majority - a vital voting bloc the Bush campaign desperately needs if it is to win in November.

Still, the Times writes:

Even though Karl Rove "emphasized the importance of turning out conservative churchgoers" who didn't vote in the numbers he expected in 2000, and even though they are a "major target of [GOP] voter registration efforts," it doesn't seem they will be well represented in prime time at the convention in NY.

The Rev. Donald E. Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, told the Times the "Bush campaign had made mistakes, including its outreach to churches and the omission of more social conservatives from the convention so far. 'They have alienated people who they desperately need, big time,' he said."

The Bush/Cheney campaign has miffed some churchgoers with certain voter-registration tactics, including having congregations send the campaign their registries.

Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the conservative Southern Baptist Convention, told the Times: "I'm appalled that the Bush-Cheney campaign would intrude on a local congregation in this way."

President Bush is the only visible national conservative who has "turned up his own talk of opposition to abortion and especially same-sex marriage," which is up for debate in the Senate this week.

Moderates like McCain, Giuliani, Pataki, and Schwarzenegger will all speak in prime time at the GOP confab, but no true social conservative other than President Bush will garner precious, limited network airtime.

The most like-minded person with a featured speaking role is Senator Zell Miller, a Democrat from Georgia.

He drew fire from National Review's Washington editor Kate O'Beirne, who wrote, "When the only Reagan Republican to enjoy a prominent supporting role at the party's convention is a Democrat, the GOP has a serious identity problem."

The roster of speakers, she added, "is not the mark of a self-confident party establishment."

More ominous was the warning from long time conservative activist Paul Weyrich: "I hate to say it, but... If the president is embarrassed to be seen with conservatives at the convention, maybe conservatives will be embarrassed to be seen with the president on Election Day."

More conciliatory was Gary Bauer, a social conservative candidate who sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2000.

Noting the Bush backs the Constitutional amendment defining marriage as being solely between a man and woman, now being debated in the Senate, Bauer, the founder of the American Values organization, added. "We had been assured months ago that as this vote happened the president would take an active role - both publicly and on Capitol Hill. So they are keeping their word and my hat goes off to them for that."

But he told the Times, "If they are going to win the values debate - and it looks like there is going to be one - it is important for the president's words to be reinforced by other major personalities at the convention."

He added that his fellow social conservatives continue to push for greater representation at the convention, and said that the President should address abortion, same-sex marriage and similar issues prominently when he speaks to the convention.

Answering conservative critics, Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt told the Times Sunday: "The Republican Party is a national party, and the convention lineup will reflect the broad national appeal of the Republican Party. When the speaker lineup is complete, it will reflect that."

[Tamzee]

Nope, not pretty. Kerry is Clinton Reloaded.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

and it would be a missed opportunity to not give some early national exposure to some potential Presidential candidates in 2008 like Senator George Allen of Virginia, and Gov Bill Owens of Colorado.

Don't kid yourself, the Party has gone so far Left that these are the likely Presidential candidates in '08. Sad, isn't it? When the only Conservative on the platform is a Democrat, we're in big trouble folks.

[nopardons]

If the "answer" is fringe paarties,then the question had to be:

What do political naifs push,becuase they are only truly happy,when radical,lefty Dems hold every elected office in this land?

[gipper81]

Because the choir is uncertain as to whether George Bush still wants to be a member.

Come on! Let's introduce a little big time, national election reality to the table! Does someone really have to suggest to you that there is a difference between conservative principles and a national presidential marketing and vote getting campaign??? Go ahead and be disappointed with Bush's conservative principles and allow the other guys to select the next 3 Supreme Court justices!

[ladyinred]

What in the world is the matter with Republicans? Good grief, a bunch of whiners if ever I saw any. The party consists of more than just one issue!!!!! The enemy is the left, and I do mean the enemy. Some people need to grow up and realize they aren't the center of the universe.

[nopardons]

I really wish that the fringers would stop claiming that they are "the base"! They may be BASE, but they certainly are NOT the GOP "base" at all.

[George W. Bush]

Bush IS a conservative.

With a discretionary spending record that would make LBJ blush.

It isn't just the social conservatives that are excluded. It's also the fiscal small-government conservatives who are being swept under the rug.

And it's not just the convention. It's a very deliberate long-term strategy.

[nopardons]

Mrs.Cheney just said that gay marriages should be up to the states,not the fed gov.Wanna take back what you just said now?

[Howlin]

We've already discussed all this and I'm not going through it again.

[Howlin]

Exactly!

[nopardons]

You're absolutely correct!

The blinkered "purists" here don't understand politics at all;sadly.

[nopardons]

Oh go back to LP,out damned spot, and spill your bilge over there.

[nopardons]

And they aren't Conservatives either! LOL

[Captain Beyond]

Hey now! Watch it pal. Don't go putting the truth out there.

After all it was Pat's speech that derailed the election for 41.(/super amount of dripping sarcasm with eyes doing 360 degrees)

[George W. Bush]

McCain and Giuliani will almost certainly focus on security issues -- something that is definitely conservative.

I don't want to see Guiliani run for president in '08, having noticed his primary appearances this year as a GOP surrogate in Iowa and New Hampshire which is the classic warmup for a run in the next election cycle.

But of the liberal GOP speakers already slated, I think he is by far the best choice. It's his city, one more identified with his policies and him personally than with anyone since Koch (or before). And it is now floundering under liberal mismanagement by a Dim-in-wolf's-clothing. And there will be some great video of Rudy leading his city through 9/11's aftermath. I predict that it will be very compelling and emotional. So for him to stand up and plead Bush's case with regard to the human tragedy and the response to 9/11 will be a highly effective tactic. It will the slow easy pitch to Bush's own later remarks defending the War On Terror. Rove will be trying for the home run on this one. And he has a good chance of pulling it off.

I see Guiliani as a real winner here. And not because I actually like him much. Just an excellent combination of resume and experience and the circumstances of his public service. It's politically irresistable.

Rove is dead right about using Guiliani. But Rudy won't be giving a speech that is socially liberal. Not in Bush's interests in '04, not in Rudy's interests in '08.

[George W. Bush]

Mrs.Cheney just said that gay marriages should be up to the states,not the fed gov.Wanna take back what you just said now?

Actually, this is what the original Defense of Marriage Act actually boils down to.

I try not to fault the Cheney's on this one. Their lesbo daughter has their arms behind their backs, I'm afraid.

However, before someone makes much ado over the federal marriage amendment, I'll point out that sodomy marriage will be a well-established fact in a number of states long before we can get it passed. And doesn't it seem just a little late in the game, even after we knew 8 months ago that MA was going to go ahead with it?

Sham issue against Cheney. It'll be over and done with long before state ratification efforts begin. Just like Roe. And the Dim lawyers will be waiting for some mushy extreme case to ram it through the Supremes and make it the law of the land. Wait and see.

[Howlin]

The BASE is supporting George W. Bush, according to the latest Pew Research survey. 97 percent of us.

[George W. Bush]

I really wish that the fringers would stop claiming that they are "the base"! They may be BASE, but they certainly are NOT the GOP "base" at all.

Perhaps you could then explain the role of social conservatives and fiscal conservatives within the GOP. They were always considered the activists of the party prior to 2000.

So, if they aren't the base, then exactly who is? The neo-cons? Guiliani, Schwarzenegger, Pataki and McStain?

I always thought it conventional wisdom that they are the GOP base. But if they're not, please tell me exactly who is the real GOP base and exactly what their issues are.

Answers like "The GOP base are those who will elect Bush president-for-life" will not be taken seriously.  ; )

[nopardons]

Barbra Streisand,in spades.

The V.P. is also the parent and he's standing four square FOR the Marriage Amendment.

Since you have yet to be correct about much of anything,of late,I'll take your prognostications with massive amounts of salt.

[nopardons]

But EW wouldn't be aware of that,since as out damned spot,she spends so much time over at LP.