The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 26, 1996                 TAG: 9607260018
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A18  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   27 lines

CHRISTIAN COALITION IS NOT THE GOP

The Virginian-Pilot's recent article on the power of Ralph Reed's Christian Coalition was ridiculous. Why would state Sen. Ken Stolle pay Ralph Reed for a list that he could have gotten from Republican headquarters for free?

Ralph Reed's group didn't defeat former state Sen. Sonny Stallings; the Republican Party did. Stallings was a liberal Democrat, and Virginia Beach votes Republican most of the time.

The Republicans win elections not because of the Christian Coalition but in spite of it. Our party is a group of people who vote for what we believe in. We have people of all races and religious persuasions. They are both conservative and moderate.

If a person is for less government control, lower taxes and a balanced budget, he should vote Republican.

I agree that Pat Robertson should not use tax money to get his candidates elected, but I believe he has a right to support anyone he wants with his own funds. Even Jesus said ``Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God what is God's.''

J. ANNE McCOY

Virginia Beach, July 13, 1996 by CNB