7.28.00
Restoration Weekend

7.25.00
They're Still Crooks

7.20.00
FBI v. Trulock, Cont.

7.20.00
Former Coverdell Staffer Kyle McSlarrow

7.14.00
Lou Cannon

7.11.00
The Oklahoman's Patrick McGuigan on Frank Keating

7.07.00
The Heritage Foundation's Baker Spring

7.05.00
Harry Browne

6.30.00
Nebraska Attorney General Donald Stenberg

6.29.00
Grover Joseph Rees Says...

6.28.00
Pro-Life Activist Clark Forsythe

6.22.00
Condoleezza Rice

6.21.00
Rep. Richard Baker

7/28/00 11:40 a.m.
Restoration Weekend
Horowitz's party by the sea.

By Cristopher Rapp, NR associate editor

This weekend, conservatives are gathering in Absecon, N.J., for the fifth annual Restoration Weekend, the right-wing answer to the Renaissance Weekend put on by friends of the Clintons. Its organizer is David Horowitz, president of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, editor of The War Room, a twice-weekly political-strategy guide, and author most recently of The Art of Political War.

RO: How did the Restoration Weekend come about?

David Horowitz: It was started several years ago by Jay Lefkowitz and Laura Ingraham, and it was called the Dark Ages weekend. The Center was really the institutional framework for it. But Jay and Laura went on to busier careers and three years ago the Center became the home of the Weekend.

The original name, of course, was a joke. But it was also one of those self-inflicted wounds that conservatives are so fond of. It seemed to accept the Democrat depiction of Republicans. There was actually boycotting of the event because of the name. Gingrich, and other Republicans, wouldn't come because of the name, and others. So we dropped the name Dark Ages after the second year. And this year I gave it a new name: Restoration Weekend, which seems an appropriate mood for this election season.

NRO: What is the idea behind holding an event like this?

Horowitz: I can only answer for myself. First of all, it's to have a lot of fun. It's a kind of pre-party to the convention. In addition to the panels and speeches, we have a comedian performing, and the Capitol Steps — two nights of entertainment and political wisdom. We also have the Annie Taylor Awards, named after the first woman to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel and survive. Last year we gave it to the House Managers for the impeachment — Asa Hutchinson, Lindsey Graham, and Bob Barr. This year we are giving it to Ward Connerly, Wayne LaPierre, and Tom DeLay. Of course, every public conservative probably qualifies for the award, having experienced the wretched bad manners and intolerance of the Left.

NRO: Is there a particular theme this year?

Horowitz: I think the title — "Restoration" — sums up the theme. We don't try to be too heavy with our punditry. We'll have Charlie Cook look at the electoral map. We'll have a panel of consultant types, including Ron Faucheux, the editor of Campaigns and Elections, and Marc Rotterman of the John Locke Foundation, to talk about how the campaigns are doing. In addition to the election coverage, we have panels on media culture, national security, the Microsoft decision, and Hillary Clinton.

NRO: The Hillary panel sounds especially interesting — in addition to biographer Barbara Olson, and pollster Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, it includes The Nation's Christopher Hitchens and David Corn — two names one would not expect at a conservative event.

Horowitz: Yes. The idea is to mix it up and have fun. Actually, I don't think Hillary is going to get much mercy from Christopher. Hitchens is tougher on her than some conservatives!

NRO: One of the scheduled speakers is Shannon Reeves, the president of the Oakland NAACP. Would you tell us a little about him?

Horowitz: He's been a member of the NAACP for 19 years. He came up through the ranks. It was Benjamin Hooks and Jesse Jackson who taught him that being a conservative is the only way to be if you really care about black people. They did it by their bad example. As Shannon has said, being a Democrat means making people comfortable in their poverty, which he feels is no solution for the problems of the African-American community.

He is a young, charismatic figure. He ran for mayor, and came in third behind [eventual winner] Jerry Brown. If the Republican party has any brains, Shannon will be governor one day.

NRO: On Sunday you'll be talking about your new book, The Art of Political War, which is a kind of battle plan for conservatives. What do you think about Dick Cheney as a vice presidential pick, and what does it tell you about the Bush campaign?

Horowitz: It was a safe pick. And we'll see whether it was the wise one. I think that a Colin Powell or a John McCain, whatever problems they might cause in the future, would have locked down the victory. And I'm a great believer in winning. But I'm sure that Dick Cheney adds luster to the ticket and will do the same to the administration.

NRO: In the book you discuss the ways that Republicans can present their message to appeal to the majority of Americans. Do you see the GOP doing that now?

Horowitz: Yes — Bush, and Jim Nicholson too, if you look at Jim Nicholson's speech to the NAACP. Bush's speech to the NAACP was good, but Nicholson's was even more aggressive and on the message that I've been pushing, both in The Art of Political War and The War Room. Which is, for example, to stick to the Democrats the fact that they have controlled inner-city administrations and inner-city school boards for 50 years in ever major city in America. And insofar as bad policies are responsible for the school mess and for the blight of the inner city, Democrats are 100 percent responsible. There are no Republicans on the school boards. Nicholson went right in their face with that, and I applaud him for it. And I'm gratified if my agitation and insufferable nudgery has had any kind of impact on Republicans.

The Bush campaign is a good example of the way Republicans can take away issues that are usually labeled "Democrat issues." How can education be a Democratic issue, when they've destroyed the public-school system, the bottom rungs of the ladder of opportunity for blacks and Hispanics? Why should they have the Social Security issue or the health-care issue? It's not that Republicans don't care, it's that they don't present themselves as caring. And that makes all the difference in the world.

NB: The Restoration Weekend runs July 27-30 at The Seaview Resort in Absecon, N.J.

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