THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 27, 1994 TAG: 9411240028
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
The national resurgence of Republicans to power has some ominous spinoffs that are not necessarily political. Even before exit polls were confirmed, the GOP and the religious right were celebrating victory.
The Christian Coalition was particularly vocal about its role in the election results. Its massive voter-guide distribution (33 million), phone-bank contacts (millions of calls) and saturation TV time carried the message. Distribution of campaign literature on cars in church parking lots during services were objectionable to many.
Whether these efforts actually turned the tide is not the question. More-important issues must be addressed: Do actions such as these violate the principle of separation of church and state? Should religious beliefs be injected into the political process?
Easier to examine (and it should be) is the issue of funding this expensive endeavor. How many donors realized their contributions would be used to fund this campaign?
The IRS should investigate this whole operation to protect innocent contributors and their hard-earned money.
CHARLES TRAUB III
Virginia Beach, Nov. 14, 1994 by CNB