ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994                   TAG: 9409240014
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PARTY POOPER

PAT ROBERTSON is taking out after "moderates" in the Republican Party (assuming there are still pockets of them, in hiding, here and there). In a speech to the Christian Coalition the other day, Robertson said the moderates "don't stand for anything."

Not a fair accusation.

Now, don't get us wrong. We're not in the business of telling either political party how to go about building its ranks. Perhaps the Republicans can afford to take down the big tent and declare that only Robertson admirers will be allowed in the club. It's their party, they can do what they want to.

A good argument, indeed, can be made that depth of conviction is as important to winning elections, in the long run, as is breadth of appeal.

To say, however, that moderate Republicans don't stand for anything: Well, that's going too far. There are lifelong Republicans who believe very strongly in a philosophy that led them to become party members years before Robertson's Christian Coalition coalesced. They believe government should stay out of the lives of individuals as much as possible.

Always there have been disagreements about the degree to which government should stay out. (Anyone for abolishing Social Security?) But there is a consensus among such Republicans that government governs best that governs least; that guaranteeing individuals certain basic liberties, then letting them work things out for themselves, will serve society better than trying to impose state solutions which don't work for everyone, and which create unintended problems.

This libertarian-style philosophy puts some moderates in opposition to the authoritarian Christian right, on issues - such as abortion, prayer in public schools, and discrimination against homosexuals - where Robertson would graft his religious dictates onto the arm of government power.

But if Republican moderates don't stand for what Robertson stands for, that doesn't mean they stand for nothing. Not surprisingly, they believe in moderation, and in a big political tent that made room for Robertson and his followers.

The moderates' difficulty now may be in finding soulmates who are willing to be leaders - who will stand up, passionately, for avoiding extremism and intolerance. Their difficulty is rallying troops with a loudly trumpeted call to ... reason. Which may help to explain why GOP moderates are on the defensive these days, or on the run.

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