Changing of the guard?

Human Events, Jul 7, 2000 by Gizzi, John

Dr Joaquin Balaguer was the dominant political figure `of the modern Dominican Republic. After holding a string of high-level cabinet positions, he became president in 1961, was overthrown in a coup a year later, returned to win the office back in a free election in 1964, and held the office more often than not until 1996. At age 93, Balaguer attempted yet another comeback this year, but voters decided that he had had his day and he came in third in a three-candidate presidential race.

It happens over and over again: Distinguished politicians from the past who can't say no to that one "last hurrah" and go out as losers. True, there are some office-holders who manage to transcend the passage of time and changing circumstances and go on to win. Cecil Underwood, Republican governor of West Virginia from 195660, comes inmediately to mind. He won his second stint in the governor's mansion 40 years after winning his first, and is now running for reelection.

But the Underwoods are dwarfed by Democrats such as former Boston Mayor James Michael Curies and former Washington State Gov. Albert Rosselini, and Republicans such as former Ohio Gov. James Rhodes and former Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty All could not resist running again well after their prime, and all met crushing defeat. Most recently, former Rep. (1972-79) and Gov. (1979-83) Dave Trees, father of the modern Republican Party in Louisiana, attempted to win a U.S. House seat at age 71 and lost to a more contemporary conservative, 36-year-old state Rep. David Vitter.

With the Missouri primary just six weeks away (August 13), the question among Republicans in the open 2nd Congressional District (Greater St. Louis) is whether 64-yearold Gene McNary is up to today's politics or is just another case of yesterday's news. To the surprise of many, McNaryonetime St. Louis County executive, near-successful U.S. Senate candidate in 1980, gubernatorial hopeful in 1984, and U.S. commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) under George Bush-moved from the neighboring 1st District to the 2nd and declared for Congress when four-term incumbent Jim Talent announced for the Republican nomination for governor. It was not so much that McNary was a "nonconservative." Indeed, his record on holding the line on taxes as county executive and his pro-life stance are considered fine by local conservatives. And when he nearly upset the seemingly invulnerable Sen. (1968-86) Thomas Eagleton (D.) 20 years ago, a key issue in their contest was McNary's support from the National Conservative Political Action Committee.

What locals are talking about is that McNary is now seeking office after last being on the ballot in 1984 (when he lost the GOP nod for governor to present Sen. John Ashcroft). This has raised doubts about whether he can overcome a younger and more contemporary conservative-in this case, state Sen. Franc Flotron of Chesterfield.

'Right From the Start'

"Having had some experience with the [militant] Weather Underground when I was an undergraduate is what made me a solid conservative," recalled the 44-year-old Flotron, who launched the "Second Side" organization to combat the campus left while at Washington University in St. Louis.

Elected to the state house in 1982 and to the senate in 1988, eventually rising to the post of GOP leader, Flotron was in the forefront of every major conservative cause in Jefferson City. "You name the issue and you'll find me out there, leading the charge," he told me, recalling his leadership in the fights for term limits, against gun control, for home schools ("My sister is a homeschooler and we passed the best homeschooling law in the U.S') and for a ban on state funding of partial-birth abortions. So far every GOP state senator in the 2nd District has endorsed the House candidacy of the former leader.

Underscoring his themes of across-the-board tax cuts and "ripping the IRS out by its roots," Flotron cites his background as the "patron saint of the anti-tax movement" in the legislature and father of the 1998 law placing the burden of proof on the tax collectors rather than on the taxpayer.

There is one bit of controversy surrounding Flotron on the right, however: his 1996 support of fellow GOP Sen. Betty Simms after she voted against the state ban on partial-birth abortions and was the target of a determined primary challenge. `That does come up and I know some folks, notably Phyllis Schlafly [of the Eagle Forum], who won't forgive me;' Flotron told us. "But, look, my pro-life record is solid and I fought hard for the ban. I had given my word to Betsy early on and not said my support was conditional. I kept my word and she won. And, you know, she voted to override the governor's veto a year later." Flotron also pointed out that he had recently been endorsed by the Missouri Right to Life organization.

Flotron rarely mentions older opponent McNary, but inevitably points out that his own leadership on the right has been more recent than his opponent's and that, while McNary had to move into the 2nd District to run, Flotron's senate district is 28% of the U.S. House district. One subtle but potent issue that is now in the whispering stage concerns then INS Commissioner McNary's 1990 call for a universal worker verification card-a prospect alarming to many conservatives in the year 2000.