Dueling Declarations: `The Mount Vernon Statement' vs. the Tea Party's "Contract From America'
The 'Mandate' and 'Manhattan Declaration' At the recent National Tea Party Convention, long-time Religious Right leader Rick Scarborough unveiled his "Mandate to Save America," a ten-point program -- signed onto by a bevy of veteran conservative leaders - designed to attract Tea Party activists to the Religious right's social agenda. Last November, it was the "Manhattan Declaration: A Call of Christian Conscience," which, according to its website is a "4,700-word declaration speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty." And, coming soon - April 15 to be exact - is a Tea Party-initiated "Contract From America." 'The Mount Vernon Statement' On Wednesday, February 17 - on the eve of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) -- a group of conservative leaders gathered at the Collingwood Library and Museum in Alexandria, Va., to issue yet another document. They hope that this one - called "The Mount Vernon Statement: Constitutional Conservatism: A Statement for the 21st Century" and which was signed onto by many of the same Religious Right leaders that have embraced the other documents -- will "codify what it means to be a small-government, principled conservative." According to a press release issued by Tony Perkins' Family Research Council, "The Mount Vernon Statement" is "a new document that brings together the three legs of the conservative movement - social, economic, and national security." Perkins pointed out that "The Mount Vernon Statement" is modeled on the 1960 Sharon Statement, the historic affirmation of conservative principles launched by William F. Buckley, Jr." The statement declares that: "A Constitutional conservatism based on first principles provides the framework for a consistent and meaningful policy agenda."
* "It applies the principle of limited government based on the rule of law to every proposal." Interestingly enough, Richard Viguerie, the guru of right wing direct mail and the chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, at first suggested that "The Mount Vernon Statement" was "pablum," and would cause "the tea party people ... to make them [the document's signees] seem irrelevant." Nevertheless, Viguerie signed on, saying: "This is an attempt to draft a document that conservatives -- whether they're Tea Party conservatives or social or economic or foreign policy conservatives -- can get behind and begin the process of reclaiming the Republican Party for small-government conservatives." Tea Party's 'Contract From America' Just how groundbreaking and game-changing is "The Mount Vernon Statement"? People for the American Way's Right Wing Watch, called it a "pretty underwhelming" and "utterly meaningless" statement whose lack of relevance is underscored by the fact that "its unveiling was timed to coincide with the beginning of the annual CPAC conference ...." Thus, "The Mount Vernon Statement" was unveiled at the same time that the "Contract From America" campaign is being launched. Newt Gingrich, one of the originators of the 1994 "Contract With America," recently pointed out that "the Tea Party Patriots will unveil a grassroots-generated, crowd-sourced, bottom-up call for real economic, conservative and government reform." Gingrich, who continues to be a ubiquitous presence in D.C. and environs but who has never been a popular public figure, is savvy enough to declare that the "Contract from America" is "not the handiwork of me or any public official." He assures supporters that "It is the genuine voice of the American people." Ryan Hecker's grand idea The idea for a new "Contract" apparently comes from a fellow named Ryan Hecker, a national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots and a member of the Houston Tea Party Society. Hecker, a lawyer based in Houston who was an opposition researcher for Rudy Giuliani's ill-fated presidential campaign, claimed that "We started this to give every American the opportunity to make a difference and to tell elected officials that it's now time for them to listen to the people. We also see this as a way to help unite the Tea Party movement and transform it from a purely protest movement to one calling for proactive and positive reform." Tea Party activists will have the opportunity to vote on the issues that will be included in the "Contract." Thus far, there are no so-called "family values" issues (abortion, same--sex marriage, stem-cell research) or national defense issues among the choices. "By putting social issues in, we would immediately be dividing our movement," Hecker said. National defense issues also "might be somewhat divisive for our base. Especially libertarians versus conservatives." "Our movement is free markets, constitutionally limited government, economic freedom," said Hecker. Thus far, the list includes:
* Amending the constitution to require a balanced budget and a two-thirds majority for any tax hike. According to ABC News, Ryan Hecker, who claims that he's "not AstroTurf," has been "aided in this process by former House Republican Leader Dick Armey, whose conservative group, FreedomWorks, has established close ties with many Tea Party activists around the country." Later this month, online voters will have an opportunity to vote on the top ten to twelve issues that will be officially contractified and unveiled at April 15 tea parties. The fact that Hecker's "Contract From America" might eschew social and/or national defense issues could disturb long-time Religious Right leaders as well as the GOP's neo-conservatives. It would appear to leave Rick Scarborough and his "Mandate to Save America," and the authors of the "Manhattan Declaration" and "The Mount Vernon Statement" twisting in the wind.
Dueling Declarations: `The Mount Vernon Statement' vs. the Tea Party's "Contract From America' | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Dueling Declarations: `The Mount Vernon Statement' vs. the Tea Party's "Contract From America' | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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