Viguerie says “Halloween Scare Tactics” Won’t Help GOP
[With veteran strategists like Viguerie & Luntz despairing over
Republican prospects in two weeks, you gotta wonder - is this all
some clever ploy, or are they serious?]
** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
RICHARD VIGUERIE: “Halloween Scare Tactics” Won’t Work for GOP
Republicans Must Propose a New Contract With Voters and Promise to
Govern Differently
OCTOBER 25, 2006 — Manassas, Virginia — Richard A. Viguerie, author
of the new book, Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other
Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause (Bonus
Books), warned Republicans that scare tactics against Democrats will
not succeed in increasing social or economic conservative voters on
election day.
“The big-spending, high-deficit, morally-deficient Republican
Party hasn’t anything to offer conservatives except Halloween scare
tactics about the Democrats,” said Viguerie. “But since the GOP
majority in Congress has engaged in an unprecedented spending spree,
conservatives know that Democrats cannot be any worse, and that
divided government may lead to less spending.”
“And conservatives have learned that while Republicans sometimes
provide significant symbolism on social issues, in truth, many of
them have a disdain for values voters,” he added.
“Trying to frighten conservatives by yelling ‘Nancy Pelosi’ and
‘Harry Reid’ won’t work this time. As I mention in the Introduction
to Conservatives Betrayed, similar tactics didn’t work in 1948, 1960,
1976, and 1992, either,” he said.
Viguerie said that for the Republican Party to retain its
majorities in the House and Senate, President Bush and Congressional
leaders should convene a summit to spell out specifically what they
would actually do if they were left in power. He said Republicans
should enter into a new contract with the voters, to include such
items as:
A complete termination of “earmarks” and pork barrel spending in
appropriations bills. Opposition to all increases in non-defense
spending.A constitutional amendment to balance the budget and limit taxes. Making permanent all of the temporary tax cuts and pushing for
significant additional tax relief.Recommit to securing the border with Mexico to stop the invasion of
illegal aliens.Fighting hard for the confirmation of strict constructionists to
the federal judiciary.Energy independence through increased exploration for oil,
development of coal resources, and expansion of nuclear energy.Appointment of many more Reagan-type conservatives, rather than big- business establishment Republicans.
Senate confirmation of John Bolton as U.N. Ambassador.
“Many conservatives and moderates have tuned out the Republican
Congressional leaders,” said Viguerie. “But President Bush owns the
world’s largest microphone. If he will use it to make serious
promises on issues that grassroots conservatives can relate to,
voters might give Republicans one more chance.”
Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of American Target Advertising,
pioneered ideological and political direct mail and has been called
“the funding father of the conservative movement” for his role in
helping build dozens of conservative organizations. He is the author
of 5 books including the newly released Conservatives Betrayed: How
George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the
Conservative Cause (Bonus Books, 2006).
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