Falwell Calls For "Conservative Revolution"
March 8, 2002
[BuzzFlash Note: This is not satire.]
FALWELL CONFIDENTIAL
FROM:
Jerry Falwell
DATE: March 7, 2002
IT'S TIME FOR A CONSERVATIVE REVOLUTION
I want to make something perfectly clear. I am a George W. Bush fan. I think he's proving to be an extraordinary leader at a pivotal time in our nation's history.
However, I believe it is now time for Mr. Bush to step up to the proverbial plate by helping the conservative movement take a gigantic leap forward. Specifically, he must devote himself to helping Bill Simon win back California from the Democrats.
This week, Mr. Simon tallied a consequential upset by defeating former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The Simon campaign will now work to oust Democrat incumbent Gray Davis in November. The "experts" had deemed Mr. Simon's chances of victory as unlikely because he is staunchly pro-life and pro-family — the exact opposite of Mr. Riordan.
The big story here — and I hope the White House is attentive to this — is that conservative ideals actually propelled Mr. Simon to his astonishing victory. Mr. Simon's triumph was all the more stunning when one considers that President Bush — greatly popular at this time — had endorsed Mr. Riordan, the establishment candidate. Mr. Riordan received the president's support even though his own political views are dramatically hostile to those of the GOP platform.
Following this week's California election, President Bush told Mr. Simon he would back his candidacy "any way I can." That's great news, but Mr. Bush's support would be more decisive if he had backed the conservative candidate from the onset. Such support would impact elections across the nation.
There appears to be a pattern here. The White House similarly ignored the candidacies of conservative gubernatorial candidates Bret Schundler (New Jersey) and Mark Earley (Virginia) in November 2000.
In addition, Mr. Bush remained quiet on judicial nomination Charles Pickering until this week. Some have suggested that Mr. Bush's delayed public support may be too little too late. We'll know in a week.
If Mr. Bush had seized control of the debate over this nomination from the get go, Democrats would not be so resolute in challenging the deserving Mr. Pickering.
Mr. Bush needs to portray the Democrats as the party that is completely out of touch with mainstream America. [BuzzFlash emphasis] The GOP needs to go on the offensive and take control of the political debate and Mr. Bush is the man who can lead this effort.
I am convinced that people will rally around this president if he launches an aggressive campaign to support the candidacies of pro-life, pro-family candidates.
This
week, Mr. Bush, speaking of the Democrat challenge to Judge Pickering,
said he believes the country is "tired of people playing politics
all the time in Washington."
I fully agree. Our nation is absolutely tired of the petty political games
in Washington. That's why it's important that Mr. Bush gets serious about
supporting conservatives like Bill Simon. The conservative base of the
GOP does not want political games in which liberals like Richard Riordan
receive the support of this administration.
Such support simply doesn't make sense.
I believe the nation is hungry for a bold and courageous leader. And I believe most Americans want Mr. Bush to vigorously support those men and women whose political policies mirror his own policies.
Mr. Bush can lead a Reaganesque reawakening in this nation if he wants to. But he will have to ignore those timid voices within the White House that want him to steer away from political controversy and contention.
It's time for true political battle and I am praying that George W. Bush will take up the mantle of leadership and exuberantly pilot the effort to steer our nation to a moral reawakening, in the same magnificent way he is leading our war on terrorism.
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