Cranky since the ’80s: Yesterday, Jon shared a the sad tale of an arch-conservative rending his robes over the betrayal of neo-conservative Bushco. “Reagan-era dinosaur” Richard Viguerie, as Jon accurately labeled him, spewed his vitriolic attack on the administration in the pages of the Washington Post and participated in an on-line forum held by that newspaper.
Today, Viguerie was even hotter under the collar after the administration followed “standard operating procedure for this White House,” as Viguerie wrote, and circulated an e-mail showing him to be a crank from the Reagan era:
— Richard Viguerie
[Viguerie wrote in his e-mail] Peter Wehner, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Initiatives, sent the following e-mail message to an unknown number of persons:
Original Message—–
From: Wehner, Peter H. [mailto:Peter_H._Wehner@who.eop.gov]
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 11:54 AM
Subject: Richard Viguerie: Now & ThenNow
“Sixty-five months into Bush’s presidency, conservatives feel betrayed… The main cause of conservatives’ anger with Bush is this: He talked like a conservative to win our votes but never governed like a conservative.” — Richard Viguerie, “Bush’s Base Betrayal,” The Washington Post, Sunday, May 21, 2006
Then
“[Richard Viguerie], who also is a leading fund-raiser for conservative candidates, indicated he would not support Reagan in 1984, adding: ‘I’m very disillusioned with a president that walks away from the Soviet Union.’” — “Conservative Leader Blasts Reagan on Plane Reaction,” Associated Press, September 8, 1983
“‘Just like Jimmy Carter gave conservatives the back of the hand, we see the same thing happening in the Reagan administration,’” said Richard Viguerie, the direct-mail wizard who is the leading fund-raiser for conservative candidates and causes. ‘Almost every conservative I have talked to in the last two months has been disappointed in the initial appointments to the Reagan cabinet,’ Viguerie said.”– “Conservatives Angry with Reagan,” Associated Press, January 27, 1981
“‘The White House slapped us in the face,’ says Richard A. Viguerie, the conservative direct-mail expert. ‘The White House is saying you don’t have a constituency we’re concerned about. We don’t care about you.’” — “For Reagan and the New Right, the Honeymoon Is Over,” Washington Post, July 21, 1981
“[M]any longtime conservative activists are not buying Reagan’s rhetoric. ‘The emperor has no clothes on; just about every conservative I know is now acknowledging it,’ said Viguerie.” — “Reagan Seeks to Calm His Right-Wing Critics” Los Angeles Times, September 6, 1987
“In other important matters he [Reagan] has changed sides and he is now allied with his former adversaries, the liberals, the Democrats and the Soviets,” said Viguerie.” — “Conservatives Hit Reagan on Treaty,” Los Angeles Times, December 5, 1987
“Eight years after Reagan’s nomination for president, the conservative movement is directionless” — Richard Viguerie, “What Reagan Revolution?” The Washington Post, August 21, 1988
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s a really lame response, ain’t it. But what can one expect from a Bible thumper, which is what Wehner is (he’s also Bush’s speech writer). Here’s how SourceWatch describes him:
Peter Wehner is a dedicated Christian, and his writings on religion and politics have pushed Christian conservatives to ponder whether they’re in danger of pushing conservatism while leaving Christ behind. In one widely circulated essay, he wrote a C.S. Lewis-style “Screwtape” letter describing how the devil’s tempters could spoil Christians with political passions.
Well, if that didn’t get our arch-con’s panties in a twist even further. Here’s Viguerie’s reply to White House:
Apparently the White House’s response to my article in the May 21 Washington Post is to send out an e-mail from Peter H. Wehner, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, consisting of six quotes by me criticizing Ronald Reagan during his presidency.
That’s a lot easier than trying to respond to my arguments. That’s a lot easier than trying to explain away the many examples I give of how Bush has betrayed the conservative movement. And that is standard operating procedure for this White House: Put the spotlight on the president’s critic, rather than respond to the critic’s arguments.
Peter, I plead guilty to your implied criticism of me. I am, indeed, a consistent conservative. I put loyalty to conservative principles above loyalty to the Republican Party or a politician.
Yes, I followed that policy even during the Reagan presidency. President Reagan was a hero to me and most conservatives. I voted for him in 1980 and 1984, and the conservative organizations that used my direct mail services helped elect him to the White House. But he was not perfect by any means, and his administration disappointed conservatives on a number of issues. Reagan’s true friends were those who would tell him when he was not governing as a conservative, such as the appointments of Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy to the Supreme Court, the tax increases of 1982 and 1983, and signing into law the amnesty of illegal aliens in 1986.
Viguerie then goes on to quote himself from his upcoming book, “Conservatives Betrayed.” I’ll spare you that (thank me), but I will share Viguerie’s parting shot — especially since it was borrowed from Democratic vice prez candidate and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, who died yesterday:
One final word, Peter. I knew Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan. Bush’s presidency follows in the tradition of Big Government Democrats and Republicans like Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and George H. W. Bush. That is not a conservative line-up!
You go, Richard!
me