THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 18, 1994 TAG: 9411180003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A22 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The defeats of Oliver North and Mike Farris in Virginia are symptomatic of a division in the Republican Party. It is divided between conservatives for less government and conservatives for government-imposed morality.
It's ironic that ``conservatives'' who ridicule liberals mercilessly for social programming want to try the same thing with family values. Government cannot mend the moral fabric of our society. Only the people can effect that change.
The conservative victory in the Congress was a vote for fiscal responsibility and political reform, not for government-imposed morality. The religious right would have us believe that Americans want Roe vs. Wade overturned and prayer returned to the schools. Americans voted for less government and political reform.
If the Republican Party embraces the views of the religious right, it will end up just like the Democrats did this year, and cynical Americans will reject both parties and vote independent.
Is Newt Gingrich listening? I read that he wants to restore voluntary prayer to the schools. Voluntary prayer is fine, but it's not why he was elected. Eliminate the deficit, whittle away the national debt.
Is Gov. George Allen listening? A governor should have better things to do than limiting school counselors' ability to do their job. Maybe someone should be limiting the governor's ability to govern.
Republicans have won both an incredible opportunity to make change and the corresponding responsibility. Fix the federal budget, and the economy will follow. Pursue a moral agenda, and get booted out next term.
I commend Sen. John Warner for opposing Oliver North's candidacy. He need not worry about losing my vote when his term is up.
ROBERT C. INGE
Virginia Beach, Nov. 11, 1994 by CNB