For the Record

Sen. Phil Gramm’s May 6 speech at Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University—meant to appease Religious Right—won praise from social conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum and Gary Bauer of Family Research Council. Gramm’s emphasis on family values and flat declaration, “I’m pro-life,” another sign evangelical Christians are becoming to Republican politics in Nineties what union chiefs like George Meany were to Democratic politics in Sixties. The same week as Gramm’s speech, his presidential rival, Sen. Bob Dole, took Bauer and his mentor, Dr. James Dobson—host of radio’s popular Focus on the Family—to “support me” lunch. (Dole and wife, Elizabeth, have also left D.C.’s Foundry Methodist Church because of new pastor’s liberal views.) But Christian Coalition’s Ralph Reed—subject of Time magazine cover story that profiled him as “choirboy to the rescue”—has told Wall Street Journal that absence from ’96 presidential race of Jack Kemp, William Bennett, and Dan Quayle has left social conservatives restless: “It’s the Kentucky Derby, you’re all dressed up in your best jockey clothes, and there’s no horse to ride.” Reed also reminded Washington meeting of Newt Gingrich’s GOPAC that evangelical Protestants are only one part of coalition of “Reagan Democrats.” Reed noted role of ethnic Catholics in big GOP presidential wins in ’80, ’84, and ’88 (and their desertion of George Bush in ’92). Privately, Reed hopes Catholics will organize themselves in manner similar to his own Christian Coalition. . . . Meanwhile, Speaker Gingrich’s closest political associates say his refusal on Meet the Press to rule out presidential bid is no accident—he will make final decision this fall. But Newsweek political analyst Joe Klein knows what Speaker Newt will do: “My guess is he’ll be in Iowa by Thanksgiving. ”

GOP House members’ determination to get massive spending cuts this year was buttressed during two-day retreat in Leesburg, Va., by speech of Ralph Klein, premier of Alberta, who won re-election overwhelmingly after cutting spending by 25 per cent. . . . Further sign of GOP determination on issue was press conference blasting American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). “I just view them as a tool of the Democrats. . . . They never even talk to Republicans,” said Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.). Supposedly independent AARP, which actually has close ties to liberal National Education Association, supported Clinton’s health-care boondoggle and led opposition to Balanced Budget Amendment. . . . But GOP presidential candidate Lamar Alexander is worried about Senate action on budget and other issues: “Our greatest danger is a Republican Senate that is too timid. . . . the best hope of the Clinton White House is a do-nothing, timid Republican Senate.” . . . Heritage Foundation report says cutting farm subsidies would increase farm income $14 billion and decrease deficit by $27 billion by year 2001. . . . GOP push on budget cutting also seen at state level in budget impasse between N.Y. Gov. George Pataki and state legislature, in which he has refused to pay himself or legislators until he gets budget reductions. Pataki’s firmness is based partly on Arthur Finkelstein polls showing that for the first time the public wants spending cuts even more than tax cuts.

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Sen. Phil Gramm’s May 6 speech at Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University—meant to appease Religious Right—won praise from social conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum and Gary Bauer of Family Research Council. Gramm’s emphasis on family values and flat declaration, “I’m pro-life,” another sign evangelical Christians are becoming to Republican politics in Nineties what union chiefs like George Meany were to Democratic politics in Sixties. The same week as Gramm’s speech, his presidential rival, Sen. Bob Dole, took Bauer and his mentor, Dr. James Dobson—host of radio’s popular Focus on the Family—to “support me” lunch. (Dole and wife, Elizabeth, have also left D.C.’s Foundry Methodist Church because of new pastor’s liberal views.) But Christian Coalition’s Ralph Reed—subject of Time magazine cover story that profiled him as “choirboy to the rescue”—has told Wall Street Journal that absence from ’96 presidential race of Jack Kemp, William Bennett, and Dan Quayle has left social conservatives restless: “It’s the Kentucky Derby, you’re all dressed up in your best jockey clothes, and there’s no horse to ride.” Reed also reminded Washington meeting of Newt Gingrich’s GOPAC that evangelical Protestants are only one part of coalition of “Reagan Democrats.” Reed noted role of ethnic Catholics in big GOP presidential wins in ’80, ’84, and ’88 (and their desertion of George Bush in ’92). Privately, Reed hopes Catholics will organize themselves in manner similar to his own Christian Coalition. . . . Meanwhile, Speaker Gingrich’s closest political associates say his refusal on Meet the Press to rule out presidential bid is no accident—he will make final decision this fall. But Newsweek political analyst Joe Klein knows what Speaker Newt will do: “My guess is he’ll be in Iowa by Thanksgiving. ”

GOP House members’ determination to get massive spending cuts this year was buttressed during two-day retreat in Leesburg, Va., by speech of Ralph Klein, premier of Alberta, who won re-election overwhelmingly after cutting spending by 25 per cent. . . . Further sign of GOP determination on issue was press conference blasting American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). “I just view them as a tool of the Democrats. . . . They never even talk to Republicans,” said Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.). Supposedly independent AARP, which actually has close ties to liberal National Education Association, supported Clinton’s health-care boondoggle and led opposition to Balanced Budget Amendment. . . . But GOP presidential candidate Lamar Alexander is worried about Senate action on budget and other issues: “Our greatest danger is a Republican Senate that is too timid. . . . the best hope of the Clinton White House is a do-nothing, timid Republican Senate.” . . . Heritage Foundation report says cutting farm subsidies would increase farm income $14 billion and decrease deficit by $27 billion by year 2001. . . . GOP push on budget cutting also seen at state level in budget impasse between N.Y. Gov. George Pataki and state legislature, in which he has refused to pay himself or legislators until he gets budget reductions. Pataki’s firmness is based partly on Arthur Finkelstein polls showing that for the first time the public wants spending cuts even more than tax cuts.