Re: Richard Viguerie: I just don't understand the conservative platform.

Dear Richard Viguerie:

I really enjoyed hearing your interview this morning with Brian Lehrer on WNYC. I certainly can appreciate your ingenuity in pioneering direct mail in the 60s and 70s, and how your efforts have provided a solid grassroots foundation for the conservative platform. But I must say that I am confused about a few things that you said on the show. Actually, I am a bit confused about the conservative platform in general, but for now I'll just focus on a couple things:

1. I was a bit taken aback by your pride in the fact that your direct mail campaign effectively undermined Clinton's attempt to pass a national health care bill-- a bill that would have guaranteed health insurance for every U.S. citizen. I just don't understand how you can take pride in the fact that the HMO system is a complete disaster for both patients and doctors, and that there are currently 44 million people without any health care coverage at all. Why are conservatives against National Health Care? Please don't tell me it's because you think it's too much like communism.

2. I was also a bit shocked that you took pride in the fact that, thanks again to your grassroots efforts, poor voters in the South (you mentioned something specific, but I didn't catch it as my 1 year old was, at that moment, smearing yogurt all over her hair) consistently vote against tax increases for the wealthy... that is, they vote against policies that would directly benefit them and improve their lives. I don't understand how you, or any "compassionate conservative" can take pride in keeping people poor.

Although I am liberal and proud of it, I am not inherently against conservatives. I have many conservatives in my family with whom I am interested in finding common ground. But I must admit that I find the conservative platform to be a bit, well, unethical in its promotion of social injustices! Still, I will seek out your book, _America's Right Turn
How Conservatives Used New and Alternative Media to Take Power._ I really appreciate your sharing these strategies!

Thanks again for your candid interview. It definitely was very eye opening..

Sincerely, Citizen Kay