Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1994 TAG: 9406280002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Cal Thomas
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Consider the definition of ``corrupt'' and whether it characterizes not only the House leadership but the feelings of many Americans about a government and a culture now out of control: ``to degrade with unsound principles or moral values; to alter from the original ... to become morally debased; to cause disintegration or ruin.''
The Republican Party has its greatest opportunity in 40 years to transform the political landscape for perhaps as many as the next 40 years, but it will require unity and something dramatic to capture enough people's attention and allegiance. The party should consider emulating the 16th century theologian, Martin Luther, and nail its theses to the Capitol door. The next House Republican Leader, Newt Gingrich of Georgia, met recently with possible GOP presidential candidate William Bennett to plan such a strategy. Gingrich plans to invite all House candidates to gather on the Capitol steps Sept. 27, where they will ``sign a contract with the American people.''
If voters were to give Republicans control of the House this year, Gingrich says their first act would be to change the rules to require every law passed by the House to apply to its members. Next, he says, would come a new committee structure, featuring a 33 percent cut in staff and a similar reduction in staff spending. Then he would announce which firm has been hired to audit the House books for the period the Democrats have been in charge.
Gingrich says he's asking GOP National Chairman Haley Barbour to buy ads that will include a checklist so voters can check off each promise when it is kept. In the first 90 days of a Republican House, he says, legislation would be introduced on welfare reform that emphasizes work and family, and tax reform that expands the earned-income tax credit, eliminates the ``marriage penalty'' and restructures Social Security. He promises to push an economic-growth bill with tax and regulatory changes, to reduce the number of lawsuits by reforming laws concerning product liability and malpractice, and to cut crime with legislation ``that will do all the things the liberals won't let us do now.''
In addition to addressing economic concerns, Republicans must not shy away from the moral-social agenda and real education reform - their strongest issues.
As to charges that people like him and the new Virginia GOP Senate nominee, Oliver North, are extremists, Gingrich notes that the real extremists are ``the gay rights fanatics'' and ``anti-Catholic bigots like Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.''
``The elite media,'' he says, ``is terrified their world is ending, and they're right.''
North, who characterized the White House as being run by ``twentysomething kids with an earring and an ax to grind,'' and Gingrich are on to something. Most Americans are sickened by what their country has become. But the Republican message must be cast in positive, not negative terms. It would be dangerous to dwell on criticism as a substitute for vision.
On the most volatile issue of all, abortion, Republicans should craft a new approach that will emphasize life over death and helping women. Working with pro-life groups and crisis pregnancy centers, Republicans should offer financial and emotional assistance to any woman who seeks an abortion. Surveys have shown that most women get abortions for economic reasons. Eliminate that reason, demonstrate compassion and the issue is redefined.
Republicans are on a roll. President Clinton and his party have run out of ideas and out of steam. Theirs is the final gasp of big-government '60s-style liberalism.
If the Republicans can't win big this fall, if they engage in political cannibalism - carving themselves up over social issues while the nation starves for lack of moral leadership - they will not deserve the faith or support of the American people.
So far, the election results since Clinton's inaugural have encouraged them, but it's a long time between now and November - Republicans have self-destructed before. The emphasis should be offensive, not defensive. It isn't conservative Republicans who have corrupted the culture, so they have nothing to defend. It is liberal Democrats who have gutted the structures upon which America was built - by too much taxing, too much spending and a refusal to emphasize personal responsibility and accountability.
Nail that agenda to the Capitol door (and Democrats' hide) and everyone will be talking in November about the conservative comeback.
Los Angeles Times Syndicate
by CNB