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Gary Bauer: Bryant Belongs in Senate
Campaign for Working Families ^ | Gary Bauer

Posted on 06/03/2002 1:12:48 PM PDT by afuturegovernor

One of the most important battles for pro-family, pro-life conservatives this year will be fought in the state of Tennessee. The primary election between Lamar Alexander and Rep. Ed Bryant offers us a clear choice between the pragmatism of the past and bold conservative leadership for the future. It is absolutely vital for our conservative movement that Ed Bryant wins this primary.

Lamar Alexander is a decent man, but he embodies the "pale pastel" politics rejected by Ronald Reagan. For example, during his 2000 presidential campaign, Alexander refused to sign a pledge defending the importance of marriage and the family.

The pledge contained two main promises: First, that the signer resist all attempts to provide the benefits and privileges of marriage to unmarried "domestic partners" and, second, to oppose homosexual adoptions.

The fact that Lamar Alexander would not agree to preserve the sanctity of marriage and to oppose homosexual adoptions is very disturbing.

In fact, on values Lamar Alexander's position on is to have no position at all. During his 1996 presidential campaign, Alexander said, "Everybody has an idea about prayer, about gay rights, about abortion. My feeling is that Washington ought to stay out of all that."

But that is precisely the problem! Washington is not staying out of these issues and politicians like Lamar Alexander won't do anything to fight back.

It was the Supreme Court that banned prayer in schools nearly four decades ago. Since then, it has banned prayers at graduation ceremonies and football games. It was the Supreme Court in 1973 that legalized abortion on demand in every state across the nation. And the Supreme Court may very well end up legalizing homosexual marriage.

On the right to life, Lamar Alexander has stated several times that he does not believe the federal government should try to prohibit abortion. He is also opposed to overturning Roe v. Wade. But abortion on demand will continue as long as Roe remains the law of the land. Alexander's position does nothing to end the slaughter of over one million unborn children every year.

The fact is the liberals have been attacking our values for decades and they have been using the power of big government to force their radical agenda on the American people. If elected to the United States Senate, what will Lamar Alexander do to reverse this trend? Will he fight for faith and family? Will he oppose pro-abortion judicial nominees for the Supreme Court?

Unfortunately, I believe the answer is no. How could he be an effective advocate for our pro-family, pro-life values when he evidently believes Washington has no role in defending or promoting those values?

And, it's not just values issues. According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Governor Lamar Alexander's 1984 tax hike "resulted in one of the largest dollar increases in state revenue ever."

Fortunately, my friends, there is one candidate who will aggressively fight for Tennessee values and that candidate is Ed Bryant. Ed Bryant has earned a 96% Pro-Family score from the Campaign for Working Families and he has earned my respect. I am proud to endorse his campaign for the United States Senate and I hope you will join me.

You see, powerful special interests are trying to anoint Lamar Alexander as the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. But, we don't need another "moderate" voice in Washington, which is already mired in mediocrity. We don't need another "compromiser" who will work with Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton.

We need bold leadership! We need a confident conservative who will fight Daschle, Kennedy and Clinton. We need Ed Bryant in the United States Senate!

This race is also important because the power of the conservative movement is being tested. Are pro-family, pro-life voters willing to "go along to get along?" Are we satisfied with lip service and no action on the issues that matter most? If your answer is "Yes," then Lamar Alexander is your candidate and the powerful special interests in Washington are hoping you'll support their man.

But, if you want an independent leader in Washington who will put Tennessee values first, then please help me support Ed Bryant.

I believe this primary is so crucial that I have instructed the Campaign for Working Families to do something unprecedented. CWF is limited in the amount of money that we can give directly to Ed Bryant's campaign. Political action committees like CWF can only give candidates $5,000 per election. Individuals can give $1,000 to a candidate per election. So, while we're limited in the amount of money we can give, we're not limited in the amount of money we can raise from individual supporters for Ed Bryant's campaign. And that's where your support can make a tremendous difference.

If you agree with me that Tennessee needs Ed Bryant in the United States Senate, then please prayerfully consider making a contribution to Ed's campaign. I'm not asking you to donate to CWF. I am asking you to write a check payable to Ed Bryant for U.S. Senate. Then, just send your contribution to CWF and we will "bundle" your donation with that of as many other pro-family conservatives as we can get to join our cause.

If we can find 100 people who are each willing to write one check for $100, then CWF can deliver $10,000 to Ed's campaign. If 100 CWF supporters are each willing to write one check for $1,000, then CWF can deliver $100,000 to Ed's campaign! By bundling contributions, we are only limited by the number and generosity of our supporters who will help Ed Bryant's campaign.

Again, I can't emphasize enough just how important this primary really is. What is the future of our conservative movement? Are we strong enough to deliver the support pro-life candidates, like Ed Bryant, need to win? I hope your answer is a resounding, "YES!" If so, please mail your contribution, payable to Ed Bryant for U.S. Senate, to CWF today. (See address below.)

Gary L. Bauer

If you would like to help CWF support Ed Bryant, please mail your contribution, payable to Ed Bryant for U.S. Senate, to the following address:

2800 Shirlington Road
Suite 605
Arlington, VA 22206.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: alexander; bryant; tennessee
I agree with Gary Bauer on this election, Alexander is a respectable gentleman but I would rather see Bryant in the Senate.
1 posted on 06/03/2002 1:12:48 PM PDT by afuturegovernor
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To: afuturegovernor
May the best man win. I do think Alexander is constitutionally correct in stating that Washington should stay out of matters which rightfully belong to the states and the people.

The excuse that leftists don't take that approach, so why should we, is pretty lame.

2 posted on 06/03/2002 1:26:40 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: afuturegovernor
On the flip side of this, Ed Bryant doesn't believe the feds should remove themselves from matters regarding education nor from welfare nor from health care nor from retirement planning, etc., etc. I know, I've asked him about these things on more than one occasion in person. Granted, he's probably more conservative than Alexander but he's no real conservative either although he IS a very nice and personable man. Given my choices, Ed will proabably get my vote but it will be like my vote for GWB; voting for the lesser of two evils because I'm realisic enough to know that no third party is going to win any major offices.
3 posted on 06/03/2002 1:32:41 PM PDT by KentuckyWoman
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To: KentuckyWoman
Lamar has a lementable habit of filp flopping on issues. The income tax is one of them. BESIDES his 4 inch file folder the dems have is good black mail material. He's made money in deals similar to shillary's cattle futures. VERY shady.
4 posted on 06/03/2002 2:34:44 PM PDT by GailA
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To: GailA
VERY shady

I TOTALLY agree. Of course, I remember when he was in local office here before so I have more to base my opinion of him on than some of the younger generations.

5 posted on 06/03/2002 2:38:07 PM PDT by KentuckyWoman
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To: KentuckyWoman
On the flip side of this, Ed Bryant doesn't believe the feds should remove themselves from matters regarding education nor from welfare nor from health care nor from retirement planning, etc., etc. I know, I've asked him about these things on more than one occasion in person.

But you still think that he is a Conservative?

I will make my usual disclaimer. This matter is, of course, entirely Tennessee's business. Whom you select to represent your State in Washington is your business. But there is something which bothers me about what Gary Bauer has written. For one thing, Gary goes overboard on one or two issues, and is not himself at all consistent on other equally important issues. And his flip to McCain in 2000 obviously indicated a flawed judgment.

The other thing which bothers me, is that I sensed something in Alexander in the 1996 debates, which suggested that he is actually more Conservative--or was definitely moving in that direction--than he actually wants to telegraph aggressively. He seems to be picking his words very carefully, so that an essential Conservatism emerges, but not one that will scare off those who are not too ideologically oriented. I am basing this, not on pronouncements that are intended to confuse, but on a very careful picking of words.

Of course, that may all be window dressing. But the fact that he recognizes the limitations on the Federal role, today, is at least a start.

These rambling thoughts are more in annoyance at Gary Bauer's recent path, which has sent very mixed signals, than actually pretending to know enough about the choice in Tennessee to make an informed selection. But again, that is not my business anyway.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

6 posted on 06/03/2002 2:53:27 PM PDT by Ohioan
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To: afuturegovernor
Gary Bauer endorsed John McCain when the former withdrew from the Republican presidential primary. Gary Bauer deserves every conservative's scorn, not their respect.
7 posted on 06/03/2002 3:00:55 PM PDT by IronJack
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To: KentuckyWoman
"I'm realisic enough to know that no third party is going to win any major offices".

So I guess you are satisfied with this status quo. You are probably expecting higher taxes, more gov, less freedoms, etc. Thanks for contributing to the worsening situation with a vote in the "Two-Party Cartel".

8 posted on 06/03/2002 3:08:42 PM PDT by Digger
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To: Digger
You are probably expecting higher taxes

The last two major tax cuts in American history happen under Reagan in 1981 and Bush twenty years later in 2001. I would also add that I do not believe any of may fundamental freedoms have been taken away by George Bush. I would actually say people are a little more free because taxes are lower today than when George Bush took office.

9 posted on 06/03/2002 10:29:39 PM PDT by afuturegovernor
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To: IronJack
Wow! You guys are really tough on Bauer. But has anyone bothered to find out why he endorsed McCain? And what about Bush? I didn't realize he could walk on water. GWB has gone out of his way to legitimize the homosexual rights movement within the GOP. His first choice for the Supreme Court is Alberto Gonzales, whom Bush appointed to the TX Supreme Court. Gonzales voted to gut the parental notification bill Bush signed as govenror. If he can't support parental notification, do you really think he will vote to overturn Roe? So, if Gonzales is Bush's first choice for the Court, we're going to get another Souter, just like Poppy gave us. His education bill was written by Ted Kennedy. School choice was the very first thing stripped from the bill. He's a free trader who imposes tariffs, i.e. taxes. And, for the coup de grace, he -- George W. Bush -- signed the evil McCain-Feingold bill, which he vowed to veto as a candidate. I'm sorry, but in my opinion, Gary Bauer has been far more consistent that George W. Bush.
10 posted on 06/06/2002 6:32:41 AM PDT by winnebago1
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To: winnebago1
Oops! Made one of the first mistakes of rational debate, didn't ya? See, you assumed that I somehow favored Bush, or that Bauer's defect lay in not endorsing him.

The closest ideological heir to Bauer's (non-existent) claim was Alan Keyes. Keyes is a deeply religious man, and his platform was based on strongly held Christian beliefs. If anyone should have received Bauer's endorsement, it should have been Alan Keyes.

Instead, Bauer gave his imprimatur to a man who has virtually NO principles of any identifiable origin, and who barely even qualifies as a conservative, let alone a fundamentalist. The only motivation had to have been some cloakroom deal with the devil.

Bauer needs to reap the harvest of his betrayal. A foul harvest it is. He should never again be a force in conservative politics.

11 posted on 06/06/2002 2:44:44 PM PDT by IronJack
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