Friday, June 3, 2005
A true Republican litmus test
Posted: June 3, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Kevin McCullough
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
As someone who has been registered as a Republican for the last several election cycles I sometimes weary of the wing of the party that seems to have forgotten what it is to be one.
It seems like in recent years I have been forced to hear how "all enlightened" John McCain, Arlen Specter, Lincoln Chaffee and others are – who stand on the advantage of being part of the majority won by grassroots conservatives. My appearance on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal" last week only aggravated my annoyance with the "all-knowing" wisdom that mostly liberals, Democrats and the media seem to anoint the turncoats of the party of Lincoln, Reagan, and W. Bush. The hate-mail I received from supporters of Sen. McCain was absurd and completely over the top. The critical mail I got on my remarks concerning Lindsey Graham was not as harsh, but filled with fury nonetheless.
So I ask the question: Why should I be groveling in the dirt, and kissing the ring of King McCain and his little princes?
I personally don't think I need to. I understand the grass-roots voter who put the current Republican president in office – and it wasn't the "great gaggle of confused moderate minds."
In New Jersey, a changing state that barely went blue on election night, another one of these moderate stand-for-nothings is asking for the chance to run against John Corzine for the governor's seat in 2005. New Jersey primary voters go to the polls on Tuesday.
Corzine has the Democratic nomination locked.
On the GOP side, there are eight men in the race, but on the most recent round of polls only two men achieve higher than 10 percent showing. They are Bret Schundler and Doug Forrester.
Schundler is the former mayor of Jersey City. He won the post as a conscience-driven conservative. And was handsomely rewarded with re-election. Schundler lost in 2001 for governor against Jim McGreevey, the most scandal-ridden governor in the state's recent memory.
Forrester is also a former mayor, and he lost the last U.S. Senate race against the decrepit Frank Lautenberg, who was the winner in the Torricelli "bait and switch" Democratic candidate-selection process.
But now I ask the question: Who is the more "true Republican" for New Jersey voters?
Schundler is deemed by all as solidly pro-life. Forrester is even more solidly pro-abortion.
Schundler respects marriage and the American family. Forrester is on the record as opposing the definition of marriage as we have known it for thousands of years.
Schundler desires "rule of law" judges who will interpret the state laws and Constitution. Forrester pledged as a candidate for the U.S. Senate that he would obstruct President Bush's choice of nominees if they weren't deemed activist enough to suit him.
Schundler believes in capping state spending and returning the surplus back to the school districts and relieving property taxes – in the most overtaxed state in the Union (according to those who live there). Forrester's plan raises property taxes for 17 of the next 20 years.
And after Forrester spent more money than all of the seven other GOP candidates combined – Schundler is still neck and neck with Forrester in the latest round of polling. To no one's surprise, Forrester, according to the Star Ledger, began to smear Schundler, and on some facts flat out lied as to Schundler's record.
For some reason, the GOP in New Jersey is being asked the recurring question again. Pick between a candidate who holds few of the base voter's values, raise their taxes, and promote judicial tyranny or one who believes the basic Republican values of faith, family, lower taxes, smaller government.
One pouts when his message doesn't get through, the other has let his integrity speak volumes about his character, even when maliciously attacked.
I only hope the Republican voters of New Jersey know the difference and cast their votes accordingly.
Kevin McCullough is heard daily from 1 to 4 p.m. EST in New York City on AM 570 WMCA, and in New Jersey on AM 970 WWDJ. Additionally, you can read his daily postings at The KMC Blog. For information on how to bring "The Kevin McCullough Show" to a station near you, call Dave Armstrong at 201-298-5700.
