THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060361
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 61 lines
A voter guide released by the Christian Coalition on Wednesday has been criticized by Sen. John W. Warner's campaign as inaccurate and unfair.
``The senator does not have a bone to pick with Christian voters,'' said Eric Peterson, a spokesman for Warner's campaign. ``But it's clear to me that whoever put this guide out has an agenda.''
Coalition spokesman Mike Russell dissmissed the complaints as ``amazing.''
The coalition, founded by broadcaster and businessman Pat Robertson, plans to distribute 750,000 copies of the guide before Tuesday's Republican primary election for the U.S. Senate.
Although the tax-exempt coalition is barred by federal law from endorsing candidates, challenger James C. Miller III seems to come off much better than Warner on 10 issues the influential group selected for the guide.
Miller backs the coalition's position on each of 10 issues listed on the guide. Incumbent Warner, on the other hand, is listed as backing the coalition only twice.
Russell said Warner never replied to a questionnaire sent out for the guide. That's why, he said, the senator is listed as giving ``no response'' on four issues: raising federal income taxes, taxpayer funding of abortions, abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and barring taxpayer funding of ``obscene'' art.
Peterson said the campaign sent its answer to the questionnaire by fax on May 20. ``That's just not true,'' replied Russell. ``My guess is that someone in the campaign is embarrassed the questionnaire fell through the cracks.''
The document also cites Warner for opposing voluntary prayer in schools, a constitutional amendment banning abortion and term limits while favoring condom distribution at public schools without parental consent.
Peterson said Warner favors voluntary prayer in schools and has co-sponsored legislation that would require a super majority in both houses of Congress to raise taxes.
The coalition's guides have become a subject of controversy in a recent years. To keep its tax-exempt status, the organization is not allowed to endorse candidates.
But critics say the coalition gets around that requirement by choosing issues for the guide and otherwise structuring it in a way that favored conservative candidates.
Robertson has made a $1,000 personal contribution to Miller and given nothing to Warner.
Warner in recent years has had strained relations with the Christian conservative wing of the state GOP. He refused to support two recent nominees who are popular with that wing: Oliver L. North for senator in 1994 and Michael P. Farris for lieutenant governor in 1993.
The guide seems at variance with the 100 percent rating for voting compliance Warner received last year from the coalition. Russell said the rating was unusually high for Warner and that the senator voted more conservatively than in the past.
Russell said the coalition remains neutral and that the guide is fair. ``We pick issues that highlight differences between the candidates,'' he said. ``It would have helped if Warner had filled out his questionnaire.''
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARY ELECTIONS
CHRISTIAN COALITION U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA
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