ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on August 16, 1996.
Emily Swope's first name was left out of an article in Wednesday's
paper on the Good Looks nail salon. NOTE: Story ran August 15, 1996.
Republican unity: facade or reality?
SAN DIEGO - The Republicans may be a Grand Old Party, but are they really a happy, rosy party that welcomes a diversity of views? Or does it just appear that way because the opposing views are swept aside and ignored by party leaders?
With the ever-choreographed convention unfolding as the political love-in leaders promised, the professed inclusiveness could be regarded as a facade. Pat Buchanan wasn't allowed to address the convention, nor was Pete Wilson, the host governor. Both would have been a risk to air views at odds with the party platform.
But the mood and spirit seeping from the Virginia delegation is consistently one of unity and cooperation - and little regard for those who don't like it.
"If a governor doesn't want to cooperate, why let him participate?" asked Virginia delegate Pat Mullins, from Fairfax County.
When asked about the most important message or product to come from the convention, Virginians inevitably point to the GOP phenomenon they see unfolding: the gelling of the party's presidential ticket.
They describe it as a feeling that started weeks before the convention when Dole delivered his positions on economic issues, which included tax cuts. And it swelled with the announcement of Jack Kemp as the vice presidential nominee - largely regarded by Virginia delegates as the best choice available.
"A couple or three weeks ago, I was really disappointed that we were apparently going to lose the presidency and maybe even the House of Representatives," said Mullins. "But now, it's come together and produced the excitement we need."
And Mullins offers some advice to the ticket: "They cannot go negative - anybody who's going to vote knows how they feel about Bill Clinton's character and his background, and you're not going to influence them on that," he said.
"And I don't think they need to get into the social issues at all. Those are another thing. If you feel strongly about abortion, you know where you stand. It's not what the party needs to be fighting for right now.
"The important thing is the right economic program for the country - tax cuts, downsizing of the government and a new investment in working people and families. That's the program the country needs, and the message we need to give them."
- WARREN FISKE
Babies won't win the votes of some
The regulars at Good Looks nail salon have a request to the Republicans in San Diego: Please. Get a baby sitter.
The women getting manicures at the Brambleton Avenue salon Wednesday morning said they were impressed with the previous night's line-up of women speakers at the Republican National convention. They were aghast, however, at the number of babies being waggled in front of every available television camera.
Donna Woodson, owner of the salon, gave Rep. Susan Molinari of New York high marks for her keynote address, but added, "I personally didn't like the fact that her baby was in the audience. That baby's going to be deaf."
"That bothered me, too," said customer Rose Stevale, looking up from her manicure.
"I don't believe that was the place for a baby," Woodson continued. "The germs alone would be enough to kill it."
"I was surprised that they really zeroed in on the women and the babies," said Meg Johnson as she applied a coat of polish to another customer's nails.
Although they felt the prominence of Republican offspring smacked of overkill, the women are happy to be courted by the GOP for a change.
"They need to include middle-class white women," said customer Harriet Heinemann.
Cute babies will not win these women's votes, however. They want to hear more about issues that concern them, including taxes, health care, the deficit and immigration laws.
"When they bring up the word 'taxes' I'm always interested," said Woodson.
So far, they're still waiting to hear anything substantial on those issues.
"I think these first two days have mainly been a lot of fluff," said Betty Lee Silverstein.
One topic they don't want to hear about is abortion, which they consider a medical issue, not a political one. They agreed that the Republicans handled it well by selecting pro-choice speakers who nevertheless steered clear of the topic during their presentations.
Jack Kemp and Colin Powell both get a well-manicured thumbs up from the Good Looks crowd, but they're still not convinced that Bob Dole is a winning candidate.
"He comes across as a crotchety old man," said Swope. "Clinton, he's a big, lovable teddy bear, and Dole isn't, which for me doesn't make any difference but to some voters it would."
- CHRISTINA NUCKOLS
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ROGER HART Staff. Betty Lee Silverstein (right) andby CNBDonna Woodson, owner of the Good Looks Nail salon, give their
opinions of the Republican convention - and of all the babies
present. KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENT