Tuesday, May 04, 2004

Will Roy Moore run?

Frederick Clarkson weighs in on the possibility that the Rev. Roy Moore -- the Culture Warrior who defied the law itself in an attempt to "defend the Ten Commandments" in Alabama -- may run for president:
Will Roy Moore crack the Bush base?

Clarkson at least confirms suspicions that Howard Phillips' far-right Constitution Party -- one of the original promoters of the "militia" concept and a significant nexus for far-right "constitutionalist" and related tax-protest beliefs -- is recruiting Moore to be its standard-bearer:
Meanwhile, the 57-year-old Moore is acting more and more like a candidate as he crisscrosses the country, speaking at gatherings of Christian rightists, home-schoolers and state conventions of the far-right Constitution Party, which was on 41 state ballots in the 2000 election, and is courting Moore to head its ticket. If he ran on the Constitution Party ticket, he would probably be on more state ballots than Nader this year. With 320,000 members it is the third-largest party in the U.S, in terms of registered voters.

It's worth noting, of course, that the Constitution Party continues to promote at its Web site the "official" candidacy of Michael Peroutka, a Florida fundamentalist pastor. Presumably, Howard Phillips -- who still calls the party's shots -- sees an even bigger payoff with a Moore candidacy.

Phillips is nothing if not canny. Moore's candidacy would generate tons of ink and airplay money can't buy for his little party, and almost certainly drive up both its profile and its membership. Which really is the problem with Moore running.

Liberals may cheer Moore on because he can do to Bush what Nader did to Gore, as Clarkson points out:
Will the dynamics of the race change if Moore throws his hat in the ring? Hastings Wyman, a former aide to the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., and editor of the Southern Political Report, thinks so. Wyman told Salon that he thinks Moore has the potential to "do to Bush what Nader did to Gore." Other Republican and Democratic strategists aren't so sure, but no one thinks Bush can stand much erosion in his base. Certainly some Republican leaders take Moore seriously enough to quietly court him, hoping to keep him in the party and preserve the president's Christian far-right constituency.

However, this may be a case of getting what we ask for. Moore's candidacy not only could expand the Constitution Party's reach, it could bring its extremist brand of politics into even closer contact with the broader conservative mainstream -- and all that implies.

It's certainly worth noting that, as Clarkson says, Moore enjoys rock-star status among the fundamentalist mainstream:
Whatever his final decision, clearly Moore's crusade has made him a national figure who is wildly popular on the Christian right. He has become a fixture of both mainstream and conservative Christian media from CNN to Pat Robertson's 700 Club. Charismatic and a proven vote getter, Moore won his race for an open seat as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court 878,480 to 726,348 in 2000. Now, as he barnstorms the country, he's galvanizing conservative Christians in a manner not seen since Oliver North was fired from his White House job in the wake of the Iran-Contra scandal. Wall Street Journal columnist John Fund wrote in February that he has seen Moore rouse the crowds at major Christian right conventions from Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum to Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Moore was "treated like a rock star" by the Christian Coalition, "signing autographs and getting thunderous standing ovations." Last month Moore addressed a crowd of about 1,000 Great Falls, Mont. "The crowd was very enthusiastic," says Travis McAdam, a researcher with the Montana Human Rights Network. "People were definitely there to see him [Moore]. And really liked what they heard."

Republicans are obviously hoping Moore doesn't run. Democrats, if they're wise, should hope the same. The monster that would result might not be worth the short-term gain.

[Other previous posts on Moore here and here.]

No comments: