LAST WEEK, Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler won the Republican primary in New Jersey's governor's race over former Rep. Bob Franks. Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III, now Republican national chairman, was at the Schundler victory party to offer the financial support of the national Republican Party. Schundler's victory represents a dangerous shift to the right in New Jersey politics, a right whose perils were demonstrated under Gilmore.
Schundler was able to win despite going up against the New Jersey Republican establishment who supported the more moderate Franks. Franks stressed throughout the campaign that he was a moderate on many issues such as gun control and abortion. Schundler made it clear that he was very pro-gun and anti-abortion. Many see Schundler's victory as a shift in the ideology of the Republican Party in the state ("Schundler Wins G.O.P. Primary in New Jersey Governor's Race," New York Times, June 27). This shift could be disastrous for the people of New Jersey.
It was none other than Pres. George W. Bush who called Schundler to congratulate him on his victory. The message was clear: No more moderation was necessary in New Jersey. This brand of extremism is likely to hurt both the Republican Party in the state as well as the people of the state.
Many people who are devout conservatives often view their politics as a holy cause, where there is no compromise. Virginia has shown repeated examples of this. Gilmore was so intent on eliminating the car tax in Virginia that legislative chaos resulted. Many state Republicans in the legislature found themselves at odds with a man who, instead of looking at long term goals such as improved education and transportation in the state, thought about taxes in only an ideological sense. This devotion to tax cutting is one of the reasons that Gilmore was named chairman of the GOP.
Christie Todd Whitman, now head of the Environmental Protection Agency, used the same logic when she was first elected governor in New Jersey. Whitman reduced the income tax drastically in the state, but unfortunately towns still had to pay for their public schools, so property taxes skyrocketed. The result of Whitman's fiscal irresponsibility is that New Jersey is in debt, and the next governor, whether Schundler or Democratic candidate Jim McGreevey, will probably have to increase taxes or cut programs.
The tax-cutting mantra of Republicans often is felt at the University. The lack of money is caused in large part by an in-state tuition cap, which Gilmore renewed during his tenure in office, as well as by a lack of state funding. More state funding of the University would result in more taxes, and that is something that a Republican politically cannot allow.
While there is not necessarily anything wrong with being very conservative, there is something wrong with not being willing to compromise.
Ever since the New Deal, one of the worst things to call a politician in this country has been "liberal." In the political world, being a liberal implies that a person feels that money can solve anything and he keeps throwing money at problems which cannot be solved. Compare the number of conservative to liberal radio talk shows. There are almost no left-wing shows, and the majority of the "liberals" on talk radio usually are Clinton Democrats and therefore centrist. This led to some dissatisfaction during the presidential election, which helps explain Ralph Nader's surprising level of support.
Conservatives, on the other hand, are often times almost fanatic about what they believe in. They often use religious doctrines in defense or support of their proposals, which makes some of them even less willing to compromise. This lack of compromise has already hurt Pres. Bush, when Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) switched parties because of what he viewed as extremism.
Gilmore represents the best and worst of the Republican Party, and something that Schundler desperately wants to be. Gilmore represents the best because he has always stayed true to his ideology, something that is perhaps admirable. But at the same time, his devotion to his conservative ideology often hurt the Commonwealth of Virginia more than it helped it.
The future of New Jersey and that of Virginia will be decided in November when the governors are elected. Perhaps then one can judge whether a conservative movement has swept New Jersey and whether it still pervades the Virginia political landscape. But it was Jefferson who after his hard fought victory over Federalist John Adams in 1800 said in his inauguration address, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists." This message of compromise is something which the Republicans as well as the Democrats should remember to embrace.
(Harris Freier is a Cavalier Daily columnist. He can be reached at hfreier@cavalierdaily.com.)
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