ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611040020
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: BRIEFLY PUT . . .
* DID SEN. John Warner suddenly get religion? One might think so from the Christian Coalition's latest ``voter guide'' showing the Republican in agreement with the group on five of six campaign issues.
This, mind you, after it declared him out of sync on eight of 10 issues when he faced Republican challenger Jim Miller in the GOP primary last summer. Then, the coalition would have voters believe, Warner had sharply fallen from grace since January, when it had put out a congressional scorecard hallelujahing his 100 percent support for its agenda.
Which suggests either that Sen. Warner is a saint-and-sinner equivalent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or that the coalition manipulates its guide to cast candidates in a favorable or unfavorable light, depending on whether the candidate has the coalition's endorsement for a particular election.
Did we say endorsement? The coalition does always seem to favor Republican candidates. But this might suggest it is little more than a GOP political-action committee, skirting federal and state laws that govern campaign financing and disclosure. Better not hint such things. If Pat Robertson got wind, he might send a hurricane our way.
* It's one thing to blame voters for his possible defeat. ``I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about - or if people are thinking at all,'' said Bob Dole this week. "I'm going to win this election whether you like it or not.'' (No one can call that pandering.)
It's another thing to blame immigrants. ``We have all these new people coming into America, rushing through the immigration process,'' Dole said. ``We find out that maybe 10 percent are criminals. They want to get them ready for Election Day.''
America needs immigration reform, but in a way that doesn't continue the sorry political tradition of exploiting resentment and picking on newcomers. Now Dole is picking on people who become naturalized citizens. ``America is for Americans,'' he said in California. Shame on him.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESS POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB