Posted on 12/22/2008 2:07:55 PM PST by Publius804
Paul Weyrich: RIP
Paul Weyrich, a leader of the conservative movement, was laid to rest today in Fairfax,Va.
Paul was not a household name. He was well known to many in Washington, certainly in Republican circles.
For Newsmax readers, he was an old friend. Almost from the beginning, Paul has been a contributing “Pundit” in Newsmax’s online commentary section.
When I heard of Paul’s passing last Thursday, I thought of Bill Buckley’s death this year.
When Buckley passed in February, he was eulogized as the intellectual father of Reagan conservatism. If Bill Buckley was the intellectual godfather, Paul Weyrich was the five-star general who oversaw the implementation of the Reagan Revolution in Washington.
The job couldn’t have fallen to a better, more decent man.
The great direct mail guru Richard Viguerie recently explained to me how Paul Weyrich masterminded the unraveling of the liberal chokehold over Congress and Washington.
As Richard related, it was the early 1970s and Paul convened a group of conservatives and told them he had devised a strategy to defeat the left. Paul had studied the left and “reverse engineered” it – he showed how liberal groups had created a series of think tanks and policy groups to move through legislation to create political and social change.
Paul soon began spearheading this effort to counter the left by using the left’s blueprint. In short order, he not only founded his organization, the Free Congress Foundation, but he was also a co-founder of The Heritage Foundation. Paul was also instrumental behind the scenes supporting many other groups and individuals.
In recent years Paul had been failing in health, and his influence had waned. I do believe that, had he been healthy, he would have been a much more vigorous opponent of many of George Bush’s initiatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
"His life was simply about doing what was right for his family, his Church and for the United States of America. For having such a man in Washington, I am indeed grateful."
It was my privilege to travel north Georgia with Paul and USMC General Lew Walt as they accompanied Larry McDonald on a campaign swing during the 1980 election cycle.
They’re all gone now.
R.I.P. Paul. I’m sure you, Larry and General Walt are talking politics at this moment.
To borrow a line from the classic James Michener novel and film “The Bridges at Toko- Ri,”
“Where DO we get SUCH MEN?”
Indeed!!
We Have Lost A Wonderful Friend: Paul Weyrich 1942-2008
December 18, 2008 - Washington, DC – Paul Weyrich, one of the pioneers of the conservative movement in America, died this morning at the age of 66.
Weyrich was an early founder of the Heritage Foundation and served for years as head of the Free Congress Foundation. He was also a deacon at the Holy Transfiguration Church, a Melkite Greek-Catholic church, in McLean, Virginia.
He was a longtime friend of the Traditional Values Coalition and its leaders, Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, and Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty.
Rev. Sheldon issued the following statement on learning of the death of his friend:
Paul Weyrich was a pioneer of the conservative movement and a staunch defender of traditional values.
He was a brilliant strategist, an aggressive defender of the faith, and a determined foe against the failed philosophy of liberalism.
Most of all, he was a good friend, confidant and someone who could be relied upon to do the right thing for our nation and for the Christian faith, which he embraced.
We will miss him – and the conservative movement has lost a giant whose influence will be felt for years to come.
God has chosen to bring into His presence, one of His beloved disciples, Paul Weyrich. I had the honor of first meeting him during the presidential campaign of 1976 and there was no question in my mind that this man was full of knowledge and wisdom concerning public affairs and the Christian’s relationship to that arena. For years he has been a prominent guiding light leading many people into a greater understanding of their role in influencing the culture for the Kingdom of God.
He did not just talk about it; he held a weekly luncheon for many years to facilitate action for those who were like-minded. The White House, U.S. Senate and House gave great attention to his counsel. It was his leadership and precise insight into critical issues that gave him the command as the admiral of the fleet.
Paul and his leadership wisdom will be greatly missed, but he leaves a legacy of many vice admirals to principally administer their fleets. I am extremely honored that just a week ago I received a handwritten note of encouragement from Paul regarding what is needed for 2009.
To his wife, Joyce, and the entire family we send our deepest sympathy for the passing of a great American, husband and father and that God will comfort them during this time of loss.
I always thought that he was older than dirt, four years older than me, this hurts. Are all of the Goldwater Kids dieing off without descendent’s?
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