Posted on 03/29/2006 11:02:37 AM PST by Sonny M
Senator George Allen (R-VA), the third subject in Townhall.com’s series on potential 2008 presidential contenders, visited South Carolina this past Friday. As keynote speaker, Allen drew in the crowds to a fundraiser for Ralph Norman, Republican candidate for South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District. After his speech, Allen sat down with Townhall.com to discuss his thoughts on today’s issues and what the future holds for conservative politics. Included here are excerpts from both the speech and exclusive interview.
COLUMBIA, SC -- George Allen is a serious contender for the Republican nomination for president. A former governor, he wears cowboy boots and can often be found outside with his can of dip. Consequently, some Republicans like Allen, because he seems the most like George W. Bush—a charge Allen can’t quite understand, and frankly, rejects. "I don’t know why people say that," he said. "My two role models are Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan. Most people who know me think I’m most like Ronald Reagan." At the start of his speech, Allen proclaimed himself a "common sense, Jeffersonian conservative" and later quoted Patrick Henry. In fact, his talking points on government were so similar to Reagan’s that it seemed as if he had just read a few of the Gipper’s speeches on the way down to South Carolina.
Allen passionately emphasized his Reagenesque fiscal conservatism and Jeffersonian ideals on limited government. Most of his speech focused on lessening government and lowering the burdens placed on businesses. It is business, he said, that really drives the American economy: "Free people should be able to make free decisions."
He added, "Government doesn’t create jobs […] but government should get the field ready." In other words, government should get out of the way.
One way for government to get out of the way is to lower taxes. "Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem; Washington has a spending problem," he said. "The taxpayers are the owners of the government. That’s who we [Congress] work for."
When asked if the Senate would take up tax reform in the near future, he replied, "Nothing has been proposed as far as legislation goes. Our focus right now needs to be on extending the tax cuts: the capital gains cut, the dividend cut, and the elimination of the death tax, which sunsets in 2010." Tax cuts equate to economic growth. He added, "The tax cuts since 2001 have created 5 million new jobs in the private sector."
Allen went on to argue that Congress should view the taxpayers’ money as its own and spend it frugally, just as members would spend their own paychecks. "We need to look at things and see if it is absolutely necessary to spend the taxpayers’ money," Allen argued.
Allen not only identified the problems with the government, but he offered some innovative solutions. He suggested a federal line-item veto. "I had it as governor of Virginia, and the president should have it as well.”
Allen is also an advocate of a federal balance budget amendment. "We need a balanced budget amendment in Congress." He added, "49 states required balanced budgets, so why doesn’t the federal government?" Ultimately, he has decided, "We need to focus on what’s essential: national defense and the military […] then we need to bind down Congress with the Constitution."
Perhaps his most innovative suggestion is the "Paycheck Penalty." Congress often doesn’t pass the appropriations bills in time and adds millions of dollars worth of pork spending at the last minute. "If Congress does not pass the appropriations bill by October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, [congressmen’s] paychecks will be withheld. It’s their job; they need to get it done."
"Of course," he added laughingly, "that didn’t get a lot of support."
Allen also touched on immigration. He replied, "First and foremost, we need to secure our borders. They have been neglected." He highlighted the need for more personnel, more fences (both real and virtual), and more detention centers. "I don’t think we should reward illegal behavior […] you must punish illegal behavior, or you’ll get more illegal behavior." He also replied, "I’m not for amnesty […] I’m for immigration, but it must be legal immigration."
Of course, Allen couldn’t visit South Carolina and not field tough questions on social issues. When asked about abortion, he stated, "That should be decided by the states." He seemed to think the South Dakota ban is too strict and added, "I personally would add an exemption for rape and incest." If the Nebraska ban on partial birth abortion—which will soon be before the Supreme Court—is upheld, Allen foresees the Senate passing a ban again. "We did once, and it was held up."
Allen also defended the 2nd Amendment. "The 2nd Amendment is part of our Bill of Rights." "Law abiding citizens should be able to protect themselves and their property," he stated.
Unfortunate for Allen’s presidential prospect tour, the senator has an opponent for re-election. James Webb, former Secretary of the Navy running as the opposing Democrat. However, with the right effort and the same message on which Allen has delivered for Virginia since being in Congress, he should emerge victorious. "We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. He [Webb] is very formidable, but if we work hard and keep doing what we’re doing, we should be fine."
Allen is clearly the secret presidential frontrunner in the minds of many political types in South Carolina. These political types see two spots for contenders in the Republican primary: Senator John McCain and someone else. A lot of South Carolinians think Allen is that someone else. While McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Bill Frist all have made trips to South Carolina in the past year, the consultants and strategists have all been hesitant to back anyone. Everyone is waiting for Allen to jump in.
The question remains though: Is America ready for another George wearing cowboy boots?
Eliot Peace is a Townhall.com political reporter and a Project Manager for Starboard Communications, a conservative political marketing and strategy firm in Lexington, South Carolina.
You just made my case for me. People are always ready to roll back government and poll after poll shows people think government has grown too big. Only a liberal republican would argue that we can't roll back government now.
Get off the planet SDGOP. Not everyone thinks like you. Every time the GOP tries even the most modest government roll-back, we get our heads beat in. I guess you forgot the mid-1990s and what the Democrats did to us then over merely wanting to reduce the growth of government. And that was before 9-11. Go look at any poll and show me one where the size of government is mentioned as being the most important issue or even anything more than a blip.
That being said, I think the GOP should make the case that we need to downsize government, but that has to come after securing the White House in 2008. We need an EFFECTIVE spokesperson who can make that case and Allen isn't it. I feel McCain could be more effective at it by starting with rolling back pork spending. He has credibility on that issue and he could then leverage that political capital to then work on rolling back govt. in other ways.
So now do you want to respond to the SUBSTANCE of my post or do you just want to take me out of context AGAIN to try to prove me a "RINO?" As I said, if you want to have an intelligent, civil debate then let's have it. If you want to just keep making this about me then I'll accept your admission of defeat implied in your inability to stop labelling me and to stop making this debate about how you misperceive my views.
(I'd like to compare that to your own military record),
Mccain is not as electable as you claim, Bush was polling higher than him in 2000 and look where it got him. The media will turn on him the second he gets the republican nomination(not that he will).
Mccain has stabbed us in the back so many times and cares only about himself. He opposed bush's tax cuts, opposed anwr, is for universal health care, is for amnesty, gutted the constitutional option, pushed the most arrogant piece of legislation in decades on us in the form of CFR, ran around in 2000 talking about 'tax cuts for the rich' and the wealth gap in this country, is trying to regulate the internet. I'm sorry, but i will never vote for this guy and he will never win the primary or the general election, no matter how many times you guys say it.
Typical of you to bring up his service, none of us are attacking it and once again you confuse the debator with the debate. Only a LIBERAL would throw out that BS line of arguement about comparing someones military service to another.
I'm done here, theres no point in arguing with you. If your ego so demands have the last word.
Freedom, Allen couldn't even kick Boxer's ass...
That being said, I have nothing against Allen's conservatism. That is not my problem. My problem is his inability to ennuciate the conservative message and to fight these Democrats. I wish you could have seen what I saw in those various TV appearances. It was gruesome.
Now come back to the planet reality. I have never been a Clinton supporter and indeed was one of their most vocal critics. Your need to label me says far more about you then it does about me. It tells me you really have nothing much to say in defending Allen other than a few meaningless soundbites.
And if Allen wins, fine. I will not feel that my "ass has been kicked." I will just get behind him and fight the losing battle for him to win, unlike you if McCain wins who will sit back and not vote and just let Hillary win. And you dare accuse me of helping Hillary?
Only a LIBERAL would throw out that BS line of arguement about comparing someones military service to another.
Come up with a prior post of mine yet showing that I am a Clinton supporter?? I'm still waiting. But I guess it's easier to throw out a brainless label than to actually back it up...and easier than making an intelligent argument against what I'm saying.
early George Allen support bump...
He's lying.
Allen is deserving of respect, having served both as a Conservative state Governor and a Senator.
He is the 8th most conservative Senator in America.
He believes in small government, and a strong defense.
I'm the "liar" and you still can't provide one single prior post that shows I'm a "Clinton plant?" Looks like it was you that was lying son, which actually makes you more like a Clinton supporter than me.
"He is the 8th most conservative Senator in America. "
That isn't saying a darn thing in my book.The fact that he isn't top five is a warning sign.The Senate is a joke.
Pence will run if we make him.Considering the alternative I say we make him.
Where did you come up with that crap? Pence never folded anything except liberals(of both parties) in half.Pence has the strongest backbone in our conference.
Heck,according to this Allen is pretty much a centrist.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/spectrum.xpd
But, Kyle, your book is a closed one.
You're Pence all the way, so please be a big boy and back Pence, without trying to tear down George Allen.
Listen,I am not tearing down anyone just posting things that you can take or leave.
Of what?
onyx style moderation.
Oh good, thanks! I like George Allen even more now. You persuasive little guy you.
not a problem.you are welcome.Is that all?
It didn't come across to me as an attempt to tear Allen down, but rather a scrutiny of the attempt to build him up. He's quite right that given the nature of the Senate, we need something more than "8th most conservative Senator" to show that he really is conservative.
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