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*************************************** Reagan Revolution Dead? September 2, 2003 If you're like me, reading the following will make your blood boil. But let 's not fly off the handle here. The press has a pretty poor track record when it comes reporting things accurately...or, in the New York Times case...just making stuff up as they go along. But New Hampshire's Union Leader enjoys a pretty solid reputation among conservatives, so the content of the following editorial which ran there on Sunday is cause for SERIOUS concern, if true. It's short and needs to be read in its entirety. Here you go (you might want to sit down): ***QUOTE*** Had there been any doubts about the direction the Republican Party is headed, they vanished last week when Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie visited New Hampshire. During a cheerful and pleasant meeting (that's the kind of guy Gillespie is) at The Union Leader offices, the party's new chairman, energetic and full of vigor, said in no uncertain terms that the days of Reaganesque Republican railings against the expansion of federal government are over. No longer does the Republican Party stand for shrinking the federal government, for scaling back its encroachment into the lives of Americans, or for carrying the banner of federalism into the political battles of the day. No, today the Republican Party stands for giving the American people whatever the latest polls say they want. The people want the federal government to tell states how to run local schools? Then that's what the Republican Party wants, too. The people want expanded entitlement programs and a federal government that attends to their every desire, no matter how frivolous? Then that's what the Republican Party wants, too. The party's unofficial but clear message to conservatives is: Where else are you going to go? To the Democrats? To the Libertarians? They don't think so. ***UNQUOTE*** Like I said, I was fuming after I read this...as I'm sure a great many of you are right this very minute. But in the interest of fairness and accuracy, I'd like to hear from Chairman Gillespie on this matter to make sure there's no "misunderstanding." Is this an accurate representation of Mr. Gillespie's and the Republican Party's position? Were his words taken out of context? Is this the White House's position, as well? Are you saying that Reagan was wrong in believing that government was the problem, not the solution? Does the President really believe limited-government conservatives have nowhere else to go? Inquiring minds wanna know. This is a VERY serious matter, especially coming from the head of the Republican National Committee. But let's put down the tar and feathers until we hear directly from Chairman Gillespie. Like I said, I want to give the new RNC Chairman the benefit of the doubt...but I also want to know if this is true. I suspect many of you do, as well. So let's ask him. The RNC's switchboard number is (202) 863-8500. When the dad-blasted voice mail system answers, hit "0." That will take you to a second set of extensions. To reach the Chairman's office, punch "5." The fax number is (202) 863-8820. And the main email address is: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You know what to do. Light up the phones and flood the 'net! Chuck Muth President Citizen Outreach