6/27/00 5:45 p.m.
FRC Tightens Its Belt
America's most respected socially conservative organization is in trouble.

By Ramesh Ponnuru, NR senior editor, & Ben Domenech, NRO

he Family Research Council, one of the most respected socially conservative organizations in the country since its founding in 1981, is in trouble. Since its president Gary Bauer left to run for president in January 1999, the group has fallen on hard times under the dual leadership of executive vice president Chuck Donovan and chief spokesperson Janet Parshall. In a letter to donors this weekend, James Dobson (a board member) pleads desperately for financial help. According to Dobson, FRC is currently operating with a $3.2 million deficit.

Many of FRC's traditional donors have been withholding financial support to the organization this year, which still hasn't named a replacement for Bauer. Dobson's letter points to FRC's past legislative successes, and warns that, "If this shortfall isn't eased, the organization will have no choice but to pare back its public policy efforts."

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Last week we suggested that Al Gore's retirement savings plan was (1) on balance, a pretty good idea and (2) likely to prove popular. Both points have been disputed by many conservatives. The early returns are in on the second point. Newsweek's weekend poll found that 67 percent of registered voters favored the Gore idea when it was described to them (without his name). That's 16 points better than Bush's plan fared — and Gore's idea was favored by all age groups, while seniors rejected Bush's (49 percent opposed, 29 percent in favor)...

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