THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608140067
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO LENGTH: 41 lines
The Republican Party is the Grand Old Party, but does it really welcome a diversity of views? Or does it just appear that way because the opposing views are swept aside and ignored by party leaders?
The convention is unfolding as the political love-in leaders promised. Pat Buchanan wasn't allowed to address the convention, nor was Pete Wilson, the host governor. Both are at odds with the party platform.
The mood and spirit from the Virginia delegation is one of unity and cooperation - with little regard for those who don't like it.
``If a governor doesn't want to cooperate, why let him participate?'' asked Virginia delegate Pat Mullins, from Fairfax County.
When asked about the most important message from the convention, Virginians inevitably point to the GOP phenomenon they see unfolding: The jelling of the party's presidential ticket.
They describe it as a feeling that started two weeks before the convention, when Dole gave his speech advocating a 15 percent cut in taxes. And it swelled with the announcement of Jack Kemp as the vice presidential nominee - regarded by Virginia delegates as the best choice available.
``A couple of three weeks ago, I was really disappointed that we were apparently going to lose the presidency and maybe even the House of Representatives,'' Mullins said. ``But now, it's come together and produced the excitement we need.''
Mullins offered some advice to the ticket: ``They cannot go negative - anybody who's going to vote knows how they feel about Bill Clinton's character and his background, and you're not going to influence them on that,'' he said.
``And I don't think they need to get into the social issues at all. Those are another thing. If you feel strongly about abortion, you know where you stand. It's not what the party needs to be fighting for right now.
``The important thing is the right economic program for the country - tax cuts, downsizing of the government and a new investment in working people and families. That's the program the country needs, and the message we need to give them.''
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 1996 by CNB