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The delegates responded to these other questions:
The Kemp Selection
The Controversy over Abortion
What a Republican Future Would Mean
Participate in our next Online Delegate Forum.
Question 3: A question from James Coughlin of Dallas, TX
Recent polls have indicated that convention delegates are generally more conservative than the GOP as a whole. Characterize your politics and how well do you feel you represent your party?
Gloria Hedderman - Wyoming
I'm from Wyoming. I believe in individual liberties and individual responsibility. As the greatest nation on earth, we can help those who are hopelessly helpless but in general people need to use the magic of capitalism to support themselves and make their lives better. I believe that government closest to the people best represents the people. We must lead the way for the world. The world is looking to us to show that democracy worksHans Von Spakovsky - Georgia
I believe that my views are held by a majority of Americans, not just a majority of Republicans. I am a first-generaton American and the experience of my family leaves me convinced that the American dream is available for anyone who is willing to get an education and work hard. In order to do that, to paraphrase Jefferson, we need a government that does not take the bread from citizens' mouths but does enforce the rules of a civilized society so that everone has that opportunity.
Patricia Krueger - New Hampshire
I am a Pat Buchanan Republican. I am conservative. Our delegation is predominantly conservative and I felt that, as a member of the Rules committee, it was vital to be conservative because the Rules committee sets up the order of the next set of primaries. The wrong order - [Editor's note: i.e. larger states going before smaller states] - is going to help the liberal states and liberals in general in the Republican party and hurt conservatives. With small states like Iowa and New Hampshire, lesser known, more conservative candidates like a Pat Buchanan have a chance because the party will push the party's candidate not the people's candidate and often the people's candidate is the conservative and certainly the one with the new ideas.Allen Campbell - Pennsylvania
I am a rather conservative person in matters of spending and the economy. Unless the country is at war, or in the midst of a terrible economic depression such as l929, I do not think that we should ever be spending more money that we take in. I think that our government does too many things and does a very bad job of most of them. On the other hand I have many strong personal matters in which I believe. I am a Christian. I believe in prayer, I generally disapprove of abortion as a means of birth control. However, I do not think that the government can or should pass laws to make my personal values, my religious views, or cultural values into laws. I ran on this platform as a member of no single issue or pressure group and was elected by the GOP voters in Pennsylvania's l2th Congressional District as their Delegate and in Indiana County as thei r elected Mmber of the Republican State Committee. I think I represent a vast majority of the Republicans where I live.Ken Blackwell - Ohio
I am a conservative who believes in the primacy of the individual, limited government and the creation of boundless opportunities. I believe that this is consistent with the dominant philosophy of most Republicans. This represents the tradition of the Lincoln wing of the party.Tim Knopp - Oregon
I am a businessman, a husband, a father and involved in the political process our founding fathers set up for all citizens. I am a conservative Ronald Reagan Republican and will work to see his conservative agenda adopted. If you don't get involved in the process you will not have a voice. I have chosen to be involved, have gotten elected to several positions within the Republican Party and represent fellow Republicans from my local community. I feel I represent them well because they continue to elect me to represent them.
Bob Groesbeck - Nevada
I would say that there is a certain conservative bent to the GOP now, although perosnally I would consider myself a moderate. From a fiscal standpoint, I would certainly fall within the conservative definition, although there are many issues such as abortion and illegal immigration on which I am more central than many of my colleagues. I think there is one issue on which we both can agree: the direction the country is headed under President Clinton is not a direction that has been beneficial to the country.Allen Quist - Minnesota
The premise of the question is faulty. I suggest you look at the extensive survey taken by the RNC several years ago. Some 80,000 identified Republicans responded to that survey. I think you will find that the survey results closely mirror the view of the convention delegates.
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