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.
I'm heartened to hear that. Must be that I know the messenger!
Go back to kissing your hero Felix's ass, and get off mine. The National Journal rankings are ridiculously skewed. Orrin Hatch and Trent Lott scored as well or better than George Felix. And National Journal considers quite a few at best questionably conservative votes "conservative" in their survey, as well as having used the Brookings Institute to compile the votes.
For instance, NJ considered voting to put federal courts in charge of class action suits conservative. They considered voting against retaining the cap on U.S. contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations to be conservative. Ditto confirming John Roberts. By that latter measure, 78 of 100% senators are conservative. They also mix in so many other judicial confirmation votes that the survey is certainly bilge.
Yet that's all you have to support Allen? How about these against him? He is for background checks at gun shows. He voted to maintain the offshoring tax subsidy. He voted for the Mikulski amendment to raise the H2-B numbers. He voted against the Sullivan amendment to force non-citizens to register during entry and exit from the U.S. He voted FOR the Kennedy amnesty amendment in 2005--TWICE.
And most important, while Governor, he supported the asinine Clinton-Feinstein gun ban. He oozes closet gun grabber, frankly, and I don't trust him any more than I trust Hillary. And I wouldn't vote for her, contrary to your childish comment otherwise. And the more I learn about Allen, the more I think he's everything the CFR would look for in a President, and the less I think I'd vote for him.
But still, I'd CONSIDER Allen if he'd come out strongly as I suggested above in favor of border control.
Allen is pro low taxes, and permanent tax cuts.
He's pro strong military defense.
He's pro family.
He's for responsible gun ownership.
And he can win.
Not a bad beginning, considering no one else can.
You can't buy me with tax cuts at the same time you're selling my country. Who defines "responsible?" And Hillary Clinton WON--but I wouldn't vote for her, either. People leveled that "can't win" charge against Reagan, too. But there are certainly other people who according to public perception 'can win' the general election. Acting as if Felix is heir apparent is silly. It's an open field.
Acting as if Senator George Allen is not a legitimate and worthy candidate for President of the United States is a fool's game, and undermines the credibility of anyone shilling that farce.
Who's acting as if he's not a legitimate candidate? Every voter decides who's most worthy of their vote. All I'm saying is that I'm not voting for a gun-grabber or an open-borders advocate. Allen may prove to be neither. But until I hear forceful statements from him that renounce his prior pro-gun-control and anti-American-national-sovereignty votes, based upon his record, I'm suspicious of him on both issues.
But your insults, implied or otherwise, are childish and improper. I'm just saying I won't vote for him RIGHT NOW, and would consider him were his stance clarified as I wish. Meanwhile, you claim his worthiness on an amorphous record. What would be clear enough to make you NOT vote Allen? Evidently it doesn't matter all all to you that he was with Feinstein, Clinton and Kennedy on some pretty important issues. Where would you draw the line, or is it all about 'winnability' with you? What if he came out in favor of an assault weapons ban or for a national law against concealed carry? What if he came out for open borders publicly?
Now, that's FUNNY!
To see "closet gun grabber" whispered about Allen means someone is losing their mind... probably McCain since he has so short a way to go.
Haven't paid much attention to the immigration debate in the Senate since it's all so fluid. The few Allen statements I've seen seem in line with the Kyl plan (they have to go back and reenter legally and there's some "guest worker" plan or something like that ).
What will count is what comes out of conference with the House- if anything.
Thanks for the ping. Lots of Allen trashing by the usual suspects!
Strange that some find it necessary to point out perceived faults with other candidates in order to build up their candidate.
And we haven't even begun the horse race yet! Allen hasn't declared if he is running yet.
Believe me, the other candidates fear him and the Democrats fear him....not bad eh?
He's looking much the best every time I see him or read about him.
I appreciate your insight on MikeA. I was kind of suspicious about him when I saw that he supported McCain. Anyone who supports that guy, well, you wonder what he is doing on FreeRepublic anyhow.
He is affiliated with the council on foreign relations and therefore an unsuitable candidate for the presidency.
Wadhams will lead Allen's campaign for re-election
BY PETER HARDIN
TIMES-DISPATCH WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT Mar 29, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Dick Wadhams, recruited in 2004 by Sen. George Allen to head his Senate staff, will take over the helm of Allen's re-election campaign next month.
Wadhams, 50, a Colorado native, will take a leave of absence from the Senate to start managing Allen's campaign April 10. The Republican senator is expected to make his announcement tour some time that week.
"He's a proven campaign manager. He's a winner. He's an all-star," Allen said yesterday about Wadhams, a nationally known strategist who in 2004 helped engineer the ouster of then-Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.
Wadhams was likened to a political "pit bull" in 2004 by John Thune, a former Republican congressman from South Dakota who that year defeated Daschle, the Rocky Mountain News reported then.
When Allen campaign manager Jason Miller announced in November he was departing for a South Carolina gubernatorial campaign, Wadhams said he hoped to have a new manager in place by Jan. 1. As the weeks slid by with no announcement, it became expected that Wadhams would switch hats when Allen saw fit.
Former computer-industry lobbyist Harris Miller and former Navy Secretary James Webb will face off in a June Democratic primary for the nomination to challenge Allen, running for a second six-year term.
In a fundraising e-mail last week, Allen said national Democrats were targeting his seat to seek "payback" for 2004, when he headed the Republican Senate arm devoted to electing senators. Republicans increased their Senate majority then by four. Among the challenges facing Wadhams will be helping Allen balance his twin interests in re-election and in exploring a possible White House bid for 2008.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935264&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835006282&path=!news!politics
..I love it, Beagle...
Why? I have no interest in voting McCain, who IS a gun grabber. But anyone who initially backed the Feinstein/Clinton gun bill has real room to be questioned on that issue. I cannot imagine a committed advocate for gun rights standing in line with Feinstein anywhere.
"Haven't paid much attention to the immigration debate in the Senate since it's all so fluid. The few Allen statements I've seen seem in line with the Kyl plan (they have to go back and reenter legally and there's some "guest worker" plan or something like that). What will count is what comes out of conference with the House- if anything."
So they do. But I have listed quite a few exceptions to a closed border that Felix voted for, and I'm not gonna be taken in by 'no new amnesties' in 2008. Been there, done that. There had better be strong sentiment from any Congressman against any guest worker plan that involves essently a pardon and retention of currently present illegal workers--those Congressmen who expect to win the middle American vote had better stand up for it.
Another candidate may emerge, but right now, Allen looks like the frontrunner.
Everyone running in 2008 is somehow, someway connected to the council on foreign relations.....meaning 2008 won't have any "suitable" candidates.
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