ORANGE COUNTY VOICES : GOP Hopefuls Must Break From Wilson

Much was on the minds of the Republican delegates last weekend when they met in Anaheim for their semiannual convention. But those thoughts did not fall under the category of party unity.

No, it was an angry crowd, and it is that anger, not the antics of the delegates, that should concern the party’s leader, Gov. Pete Wilson.

It was less than 12 months ago that the rank and file of the California party enthusiastically cheered as their nominee for governor won a narrow victory over his Democratic opponent, Dianne Feinstein.

And the conservatives were there. Wilson wasn’t “one of us,” the conservatives said, but he was an anti-tax, pro-business candidate. He said so himself. No “tax-and-spend Democrat,” went the argument.

That was last year.

This year’s delegates were again told by their elected leaders to unify. Two U.S. Senate seats, not to mention numerous congressional and legislative races, are dependent upon it. As they spoke, they looked directly at the disgruntled conservatives.

But as a conservative, a question comes to mind: Why? Does Pete Wilson expect conservatives to support new taxes, more regulations and inefficient government, not to mention special consideration to the homosexual lifestyle?

Why should conservatives care if candidates with an R after their name beat candidates with a D, if all the candidates support the same policies?

Does Wilson not realize that conservatives are concerned more about their children, their community, and their state than about the Republican Party?

Does the governor not understand that conservatives are Republicans because they have strong beliefs about government and that in the past the GOP shared these beliefs?

If he does understand, why then would he ask conservatives to support candidates and elected officials who want us to put these beliefs on the back burner for his concept of unity.

It is clear the governor doesn’t understand conservatives. He writes them off as an insignificant minority. But last year, without their support, he never would have been elected.

The conservatives have regained their sense of purpose, and for that they can thank the governor. Wilson, by betraying them with a tax increase of almost $8 billion, has rallied conservative opposition.

The governor’s men, however, are right in one respect; a California Republican convention is not a significant event. It’s a one-day story, good or bad.

But the anger of the delegates is not isolated to a day--nor is it limited to those individuals in attendance. And that is where the problem lies for Pete Wilson.

Orange County was the first to be the bearer of bad news. It came earlier this summer in the special election for the 67th Assembly District seat. The two leading Republican candidates were Mickey Conroy, an anti-tax conservative, and Bill Steiner, a popular local official. Steiner had Conroy beat 4 to 1 in money; 10 to 1 in local endorsements, and the governor let it be known that Steiner was his man. The voters responded: If your man is Steiner, governor, our man is Conroy. It is this same sentiment that permeated the convention. Why would half the delegates of the convention walk out on Sen. John Seymour? Because he is the governor’s man!

Wilson would be wise to speak with his old colleague from New Jersey, Sen. Bill Bradley. When the angry voters of New Jersey couldn’t get to the man who had raised their taxes, Gov. James J. Florio, on Election Day they sent the message through his friend, Sen. Bradley, and almost sent the big man into early retirement. Next year John Seymour should expect no less.

In the past, Republicans could and did unify under the banner of “no new taxes.” You don’t have to go back into the history books to learn the consequences when Republican leaders break with their tradition, raise taxes, and ask the party to support them. Last year President Bush broke with his campaign promise, “Read my lips, no new taxes,” and Republican candidates across the country went into political oblivion.

California is no different. To win election, Republican candidates are going to have to defy their governor’s policies and speak out forcefully and credibly against new taxes if they hope to capture the GOP’s share of new and open seats. That’s the winning strategy, not party unity.