‘Hijackers of the conservative movement’
This is a great article about why many of us have lost all faith in the Republican party. Does anyone think that Richard Viguerie is wrong about Congress selling out our Country to the lobbyist money changers in Washington?
RAW STORY-He didn’t support invading Iraq. He says national security decisions are too often made for political gain. And he maintains that Tom DeLay used “legal plunder” for the “immoral purpose of holding onto power.”
A Democrat? No – His name is Richard Viguerie, a conservative icon and key architect of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 victory. Known to many as the godfather of direct-mail campaign fundraising, his four-decade career has succored scores of conservative candidates and grassroots causes.
A balding grandfather with a wry Texan’s smile, Viguerie is a seasoned conservative who confidently brushes aside accusations that his criticism of Republicans is intended for personal gain. On Monday, he sat down with RAW STORY to talk about his new book, Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.
Good story but I would like to correct his statement”I think conservatives are in the similar position as the biblical Jews who had to wander in the desert for 40 years until the corrupt leaders had passed away. Then they can go to the promised land.”
He should have said”I think US citizens are in the similar position as the biblical Jews who had to wander in the desert for 40 years until the corrupt leaders had passed away. Then they can go to the promised land.”
The problem is the money behind the corrupt leaders!
One solution I have is for us to send a message to Congress. If 30%-40% of us would for 1 month stop withholding Federal Income tax it wouldnt cripple our government but would get them scrambling.
From the article: “The purpose of government is not to redistribute the wealth, not to promote diversity, not to promote this cause or that cause — it’s national defense,” he says. “That’s the purpose of government.”
Then two paragraphs later, he says Bush should have pushed the federal marriage amendment, even though it’s not government’s role to promote causes.
You’ll have a share of republican office seekers lining up behind Viguerie’s statements acting like they’re trying to reclaim the republican party, only to get into office and continue government expansion and corruption. Viguerie already addressed their stealth campaigning tactics by promising traditional conservative values that end the minute they get elected. And they will continue using this ploy as long as people continue voting for them based on their “campaign rhetoric.”
What’s worse?
The Republican loss of faith in their own politicians?
Or my loss of faith in my fellow Americans?
CM
Senator Schumer claims it is not much better in the Democrat party in his new book.
Did you see Meet The Press today?
I cannot disagree with Richard Viguerie. We need to clean house!
Dave S.
I agree. I’m beginning to have a sinking feeling that our political process here in America will be our undoing. I have no faith in any politicians. They’re all experts once they are no longer accountable (out of public office), but getting the truth out of an elected official seems impossible these days.
The truly sad part of it all is that we elect these idiots.
Captain_menace and I are normally on opposite sides of the debate, but I most whole heartedly agree with his post #9
I think that Viguerie is MOSTLY upset about over-spending, big gov’t, and lack of border control.
I don’t think that Viguerie’s differences with other Republicans over Iraq is near as big a deal to him as these other things.
Or, to put it another way, I think that Viguerie would consider Bush’s Iraq policies as “betrayal”, in spite of his differences with Bush over Iraq. But Viguerie does consider these other things as a betrayal of conservative principles.
Of course, I’m not Viguerie so I can’t be sure… but this is my impression from reading some of his newsletters.
ooops, I mistyped something. I meant:
“Or, to put it another way, I do not think that Viguerie would consider Bush’s Iraq policies as “betrayal”, in spite of his differences with Bush over Iraq. But Viguerie does consider these other things as a betrayal of conservative principles”
Rob
Richard Viguerie was against the Iraq war from the start.
John… you’ve got no argument with me there… that is besides the point.
My point is that the Iraq war is far from Viguerie’s main passion in his anti-establishment movement… and, to expand this point further, the Iraq war is NOT where he is getting his “traction”.
But he is quite passionate in his fight against big gov’t, overspending, and border control.
My main point is that I think trying to equate Viguerie’s overall grassroots efforts and the attention he is getting as being more proof of anti-iraq war sentiment is very disengenuous considering that there OTHER things are more in the forefront of Viguerie recent writtings.
For example, consider Viguerie’s response to Bush’s recent State of the Union address… not a darn thing about Iraq… but plenty of complains about these OTHER areas I alluded to…
http://www.conservativesbetrayed.com/gw3/articles-latestnews/articles.php?CMSArticleID=617&CMSCategoryID=19
(BTW – John… don’t take the bait… don’t be too quick to jump too far over that anti-Iraq war bridge… I know you are probably already there, but you might not want to proclaim this so loudly because, in the long run, you might find this to be a political liability rather than the political feather in your cap that it seems to be right now…. or, whatever… do whatever you feel like… I’m just looking out for YOUR best interests because I have reason to believe that things might just be starting to shape up in Iraq already and especially in the coming months.)
John,
A piddly article. Whimpy to say the least. Grow some manhood.
John,
You are as much a conservative as Sean Penn.
WEST
For you to put down Richard Viguerie demonstrates you are do not understind what the conservative movement is about.
You are the poster child for what is wrong with the GOP.
Rob
I do not care about the politics of the war. At the end of day the key is getting off Middle East oil.
John,
I repeat you are as much a conservative as Rosie Odonell.
You understand the conservative movement very well. Well enough, to act the part and push the liberal agenda.
You are a perfect Billary all by yourself.
JK to westrook — “You are the poster child for what is wrong with the GOP.” I thought I held that title.
In reality, Konop you as an invader of the party qualify as the epitome of all that is wrong with the GOP and politics in general.
Bart Brannon as VICE CHAIRMAN of the GOP you made it clear you are against a real conservatives like Richard Viguerie.
You have a made it clear with your support of big government pork bills like Highway, Energy, No child Left Behind… You also like having big debts with Countries like communist China.
In fact you like the communist one party rule system that no one has a voice.
You are right my conservative brand of politics was not welcomed by party leaders like you.
BB,
John here is going to lead out the conservative charge with Pelosi at his left and Billary, with a ring his nose, on his right.
He’ll be yelling go Billary go! While the true boss swings him around like a chihuahua at the end of lease.
John,
Why do you keep running from the following??
http://controlcongress.com/uncategorized/words-from-those-who-know
West
This post is about sell-outs like you and Bart Brannan in both parties.
Richard Viguerie makes some good points AND offers ideas…thus the difference between an intelligent, thought provoking conservative analyst and a chicken little, doom & gloom, querulous whinner like you Konop.
Bart Brannan
His platform was the same one I ran on. Viguerie and Price are on the opposite side on almost every issue. Why did you support Price if you like Viguerie?
Trade
Spending
Debt
Education
Transportation
Iraq War
Energy