THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130424
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Compiled from reports by staff writers Bob Little and Warren
Fiske and by the wire services.
LENGTH: 119 lines
For Va., it's a room with a view . . .
. . . But for the heads of a few Mississippians.
Virginians have one of the clearest views of the podium in the San Diego Convention Center. The state's 53-delegate contingent is 10 or so rows from the front - almost within spitting distance of the seat of honor.
The ceiling is so low - about 27 feet - and the room so oblong that lesser delegations were seated halfway to the Mexican border.
So how did Virginia score so well? Those last few decades of voting Republican didn't hurt. The Pat Robertson, George Allen, Ralph Reed celebrity status might have helped.
But the consensus among Virginians is that plum seats are a consolation prize:
Downtown San Diego is littered with posh high-rise accommodations, but the Virginia delegation scored rooms in the Holiday Inn Hotel Circle, a $12 cab ride from the convention.
Oh, the hotel also has a simmering view of San Diego's busiest freeway.
Free speech is fine; just keep it outside
It is not so bizarre an idea to say this convention city has become an idea bazaar.
Interested in socialism? The Young Socialists are here. So are the environmentalists. The farm workers are marching. Anti-abortion demonstrators holding huge photographs of crushed fetuses. Jews for Jesus passed out tracts.
That's outside the convention. Inside the hall, you had better sing in chorus.
The Republicans say they are reviewing speeches in advance. Debate is not invited.
Virginia party leaders asked their delegates not to wave signs or chant messages that might run counter to the GOP's unified tone.
The problem: Virginia is seated so close to the front, it's an easy target for the television cameras.
Eugene Delgaudio of Falls Church pledged to defy the request, calling it a free speech infringement.
Few expected any flare-ups. While Delgaudio and other pro-life delegates have displayed their views in graphic detail in the past, this year most have resorted to an anti-Clinton or anti-liberal tack. Delgaudio has prepared small placards that read ``Conservatives Rule, Liberals Ruin,'' which he says are sponsored by his new Committee to Promote the Intolerance of Intolerant Liberals.
We'll see how well his group is tolerated.
This smoking gun travels down tobacco road
Try digesting your hors d'oeuvres with a sampling of shock journalism.
Rep. Tom Bliley did. So did Attorney General James S. Gilmore.
On Sunday, cigarette manufacturer R.J. Reynolds threw a three-hour reception on Bliley's behalf.
Why? Well, Bliley is a congressman from Richmond, home to tobacco biggy Philip Morris. He's chairman of the House Commerce Committee, which oversees the tobacco industry. He gets heat from anti-smoking interests for his unabashed defense of the industry and for accepting money from its political action committees.
As guests left, they were confronted outside by Brian Ross, a reporter for the ABC news show ``20/20,'' which is doing a story on the political influence of the tobacco industry.
``He was basically rude, obnoxious and insulting,'' said Gilmore, one of those who was confronted. ``I think he was trying to shock me into saying something that would appear defensive or angry-sounding.''
Bliley, as usual, was nonplussed. ``The congressman from Richmond supports the tobacco industry,'' he said, ``and once he stops, I suspect he will stop being the congressman from Richmond.''
Big elephants on sale - please spend liberally
Fancy some Nixon's Nachos? How about a cut-price carved elephant, or a Sonny T-Bono Special?
From the ``Parking for Republicans ONLY'' signs to the extended hours at The Cuban Cigar Factory, businesses in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter are waging a campaign for delegates' dollars.
``Our motto is if all the Republicans could get together and smoke they'd be a more united party,'' said David Baker, vice president of the cigar factory. His establishment bears a sign on the door reading, ``Warning: Politically Incorrect Area.''
At the African Art Warehouse across the street, owner Selwyn Schachat was trying to bring in business with a special on carved elephants.
``The convention - it's a big elephant sale,'' he said.
Hunker down, Colonel; there's fire from the right
Oliver L. North has plenty of experience being heckled. Just not by fellow conservatives.
The former Virginia Senate candidate and Iran-Contra figure got the kind of reception he normally encounters from more liberal audiences when he dared to implore hundreds of Patrick J. Buchanan supporters to give up thoughts of bolting from the Republican Party.
``I know that some came here urging the formation of a new political party,'' he told a crowd Sunday night. ``But . . . such an action could diminish the extraordinary legacy of what you have accomplished.''
That set off the previously friendly audience. They bombarding the conservative icon with angry shouts.
``I've never seen Ollie have so much trouble with a conservative crowd. Ever,'' said Virginia conservative Michael P. Farris. ``I think he was real surprised.''
Pssst... It's James in a cakewalk
To no one's surprise, Chesapeake resident Kay Coles James was named the convention's secretary Monday. She'll play a small but conspicuous role Wednesday night when she calls the roll of the states and tallies their presidential nominations. ``I've been practicing in front of the mirror,'' said James. ``That was just a joke, of course. I think I'm ready.'' . . . Democrats are cruising the streets with a large ``mobile billboard'' that carries a different anti-Republican message each day. One billboard has a photo of an unemployment queue with a caption: ``Unfortunately, people will line up behind the Gingrich/Republican economic plan.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Gov. George Allen and his wife, Susan, try out the computerized
voting system. It wasn't activated yet. But there's good news: Few
besides the TV cameras have better seats.
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 1996 by CNB