GOP torn on effect of moral, patriotic strategy

WASHINGTON — They promised social conservatives they'd promote morality and patriotism, and last week Republican leaders in Congress tried to show they keep their word.

With Republicans looking to conservative voters to fend off a Democratic takeover in the fall elections, the House worked its way through an "American Values Agenda," which included votes to ban gay marriage and take away federal courts' jurisdiction on Pledge of Allegiance lawsuits.

But the strategy doesn't look so smart to many GOP incumbents facing close races.

To be sure, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, conservative activists and many Republican incumbents in safe seats say voting on these ideological issues is essential to restoring credibility with their party's base. That in turn, they say, should improve turnout at the polls.

"Folks want to at least see that we're talking about issues we say we're going to talk about," said Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Calif.

Others worry, however, that in close swing districts, the values agenda could turn off independent and moderate Republican voters, especially when coupled with President Bush's veto last week of expanded embryonic stem-cell research.

"I wasn't consulted" about the strategy, said Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fla.

Shaw, facing a competitive general election, supports embryonic stem-cell research and tried to override Bush's veto. That could appease elderly constituents who favor the research, so long as they know Shaw's position.

But Shaw's vote for the gay-marriage ban, which fell short, could put him in the doghouse with the large gay constituency in South Florida's Broward County.

"But you have to vote your conscience," he said.

In Connecticut, where three House Republicans face competitive races, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., complained about the values agenda. "While Rome burns, we're eating grapes. Anytime you do bad policy, it is bad politics."

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, said the values agenda gives Democrats a platform for accusing Republicans of ignoring real problems. "I could think of more important things to do," he said. "Why do we have deficits? Why is government so big and why is it getting bigger? And why are we on the verge of the war spreading in the Middle East? And why do we have a monetary policy that's going to lead to runaway inflation?"

The House values votes were mostly symbolic. The Senate either has rejected them or has indicated it won't vote on most of them this year. Senate leaders have tried but failed to advance a gay-marriage ban and flag-protection amendment. They're planning a vote on a bill limiting where teens can travel for abortions.

Still pending on the House values agenda: requiring abortion doctors to tell women that fetuses can feel pain and shielding government officials from monetary damages in lawsuits over religious expression.

Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., rejected criticism that the values agenda is futile. The votes "put each and every member in this House on record with their constituents," he said.

He also disagreed that Congress is ignoring other issues, noting the passage of tax cuts and a border-security bill that would crack down on illegal immigration.

But Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said any American who happened to tune in last week would conclude of Congress, "What they are doing is totally irrelevant to my life."

Democrats could take control of the House with a gain of 15 seats and of the Senate with a gain of six. Polls show that voters, frustrated with the war in Iraq and high gasoline prices, blame the GOP more.