Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030091
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The flare-up came after Bowers disparaged the size of Sunday's Republican rally in Roanoke, which drew an estimated 1,500 people to hear North.
During their own rally for Sen. Charles Robb on Tuesday, Bowers and other Democratic activists charged the North crowd had been inflated by out-of-towners.
"Ten days before the election," Bowers declared, "the only way he can get 1,000 people is if he buses them in from Lynchburg."
Democratic activist Betty Hosp of Roanoke County said the North supporters "were probably exhorted by their Pharisee preachers and bused in."
On Wednesday, Republicans took offense - and fired back.
A phalanx of party leaders called a news conference at GOP headquarters in Roanoke County to blast Bowers' reference to Lynchburg.
"Now obviously, that is a euphemism for Jerry Falwell and Liberty University," charged Don Duncan, 6th Congressional District Republican chairman. "That statement is a complete insult and religious slur."
He also took aim at other Democrats and their more direct references to Falwell, calling them "an example of religious bigotry at its worst."
For one thing, Duncan said, no one was bused in from anywhere for the North rally.
Also, he said, "our religious beliefs vary all the way across the spectrum."
Besides, said Roger Jarrell, a Roanoke-based Republican field worker who organized Wednesday's event, "we thought religion was dispensed with as a campaign tactic in 1960 after John F. Kennedy was elected president."
Former state Republican Party Chairman Don Huffman said the Democrats' attempt to depict North supporters as followers of Falwell fits into what he sees as a nationwide pattern.
"That's one of the things that has us upset," he said. Democrats, he charged, are "trying to demonize the Christians who support Oliver North and Republicans across the country."
Duncan said Democrats have a double standard when it comes to ministers being involved in politics.
"It's all right for [the Rev. Jesse] Jackson to go into churches and preach, but you take someone who preaches conservatively, and it's no good."
Bowers brushed off the attack, saying, "I certainly respect everyone's religious beliefs. What this country needs is more people going to church or synagogue each weekend. America would be a lot better off."
He pointed out that for the past two years, he has issued a proclamation declaring a "National Day of Prayer," which drew fire from the American Civil Liberties Union.
But Bowers charged that the Virginia Republican Party has been taken over by extremists.
"I know lots and lots of Republicans who talk to me, and they're quite concerned about the future of their party," he said. "They're concerned about their party being taken over by the right wing."
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by CNB