HOUSE GOP MUST PLAY `HARDBALL,' ROLLINS SAYS

House Speaker Thomas Foley (D) of Washington may want to get along with Republicans. But the question is: Do they want to get along with him? If Republicans are serious about changing their minority status in the House of Representatives, says Edward Rollins, director of the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, then ``you've got to make war on the Democrats, and you can't wait until the last 16 days'' before the election.

Republicans are increasingly inclined to run against Congress itself, where incumbents have become nearly impossible to unseat.

The public now senses an environment there of ``abuses of power,'' Mr. Rollins says.

But GOP tactics backfired this week when a Republican Party official circulated a memo that cagily promoted a scandalous innuendo about Speaker Foley's personal life. [The Associated Press reported Wednesday that President Bush was ``disgusted'' by the Republican document, which labeled Foley a ``closet'' liberal, Mr. Bush's spokesman said. The author of the memo resigned his party post.]

``You make mistakes when you're aggressive,'' says Rollins, who vowed not to take part in such practices.

But if Rollins vows to play fair, he notes, the game is still hardball. He says bipartisan politeness may be good for passing legislation, but it does not help Republicans unseat Democrats in elections.

You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to HOUSE GOP MUST PLAY `HARDBALL,' ROLLINS SAYS
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1989/0609/arol.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us