Council on National Policy [long]

[Eye On New York]

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E Y E O N N E W Y O R K :
G O P & P A T A K I A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
N E W S & U P D A T E S

SPECIAL ISSUE:
THE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL POLICY

Pass It On
Volume 2, Number 18b January 30, 1996

E-Mail: eo...@aol.com

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IN THIS SPECIAL ISSUE:

INTRODUCTION
RESHAPING AMERICA: CNP INSTRUMENTAL IN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
CNP RULES AND REGULATIONS
SAMPLING OF CNP MEMBER LIST (PARTIAL LISTING)
CNP AT A RECENT MEETING: QUOTABLE QUOTES

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INTRODUCTION

Giving credit where credit is due - in this case, to Skipp
Porteous at the Institute for First Amendment Studies in Great
Barrington, MA for this series of articles on the Council for
National Policy (CNP) in the most recent issue of IFAS' "Freedom
Writer Magazine." Join them.

We have added a "Keyword Search" feature on our World Wide
Web site (many of you have already been using it). As we build up
our collection of news items and articles that site, you will
find that searching by keywords will begin to create connections
between political figures, organizations, and even events you
hadn't noticed before.

Take, for example, what will happen when the articles in
this issue are added to our the web site over the next few days:
a keyword search on "Motley" will bring up at least four articles
(we didn't actually go on the web to see if there might be more):
* Motley's Crew - an overview of the ultra-right wing religious
organization, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, led by
the Rev. Duane Motley;
* Pataki Thanks Religious Right (for gubernatorial victory) - and
whose group did he personally thank? You've got it -- the Rev.
Duane Motley's "New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms"
(You'll recall our articles on "Christian Reconstructionism"
last week -- new subscribers can FTP old issues from our
site...see below);
* An announcement from Family Planning Advocates on their recent
conference which included a comment about the Rev. Duane Motley
being right up there on the podium with Pataki during the State
of the State this month;
* And of course, the articles that follow, showing Motley's
membership in the Council for National Policy (CNP) along with
his ties, through that organization, to the Christian
Coalition, and virtually every far right leader and
organization across the country.

"All politics is local."
(Don't let em fool ya.)

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RESHAPING AMERICA:
CNP INSTRUMENTAL IN GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

"If there is one group in the United States
that serves as an umbrella for the hard right,
it is the Council for National Policy.
The group's 500+ members represent the hard right's
religious, political, and business leaders."

By Skipp Porteous

1996 Freedom Writer Magazine, Institute for First
Amendment Studies * E-mail: if...@berkshire.net *
World Wide Web: http://www.berkshire.net/~ifas/

On September 19, 1995, the influential Council for National
Policy (CNP) sent its members a confidential memo featuring a
"for your eyes only" interview with Congressman Mark Souder
(R-IN), who, according to the memo, is "one of the conservative
stars in the new Congress." Souder, a conservative Christian who
interprets the Bible literally, has said that his theological
views will shape his public policy. He was one of the signers of
the "Contract with America." The confidential report sheds light
on the recent government shutdown and the battle over the federal
budget.

"We'll let the government shut down," Souder told CNP's
interviewer, Alex Mooney.

"This is not a game over whether the government is going to
shut down. This is our maximum point of leverage to insist
that parts of the revolution are executed. Because if they
are not attached to money bills, they will never get
through."

"The House Republican leadership," Souder said, "has said
that the minimum goals are to balance the budget in seven years,
reform welfare, save Medicare, and have tax cuts." However,
Souder added, "The freshmen have communicated to the leadership
that that is not enough." Without the support of the new rebels
in Congress, House Speaker Newt Gingrich found his hands tied.

"The question is the details of the budget," Souder said. He
added that there are "social issues, regulation and environmental
changes, and labor changes" that are of concern, and, for
example, "Will we compromise on he National Endowment for the
Arts?"

"We are not saying we have to have everything in all of
those categories, but it better not be a stripped, nice
presidential campaign thing for Dole and Clinton and not
have anything for our [hard right] supporters."

When asked "What would really happen in a government shut
down'?", Souder responded, "We don't know or really care."

"What can the CNP members do to support you to ensure there
is no compromise on the key social and economic issues?" the CNP
interviewer asked Congressman Souder.

"The big thing that CNP members can do is to bolster up
individual [congressional] members and tell them to hold
firm and do what you said you would do,"

Souder responded.

"Tell them if you get heavy pressure, know that we are with
you. CNP members can tell the [congressional] members with
whom they have influence, "if you have to vote against a
continuing resolution in order to get our points of the
agenda, we understand. Hold form. This is our big chance."

"The pitch the leadership is making to the freshmen is:
are you really going to bring down the entire bill just
because of your one point?'"

On January 4, 1996, three weeks after much of the federal
government remained closed, the Christian Coalition's Washington
office faxed an Action Alert urging its members to pressure
President Clinton to give in to the Republican's proposed budget,
and to keep the pressure on the House and Senate Republican
leadership and conservative Democrats.

Christian Coalition president Pat Robertson is a former CNP
President. He and Christian Coalition executive director Ralph
Reed are active CNP members.

The action alert included a list of the crucial
congressional leaders to contact. It also suggested holding press
conferences, calling talk shows, and writing letters to editors.

The Action Alert emphasized that the issue at stake is more
than balancing the budget, and included a point-by-point list of
the hard right agenda. Some of the numerous items listed
included:

* a permanent Hyde Amendment;
* abstinence education funding;
* education vouchers;
* a prohibition on unmarried couples adopting children;
* no funding in any way for abortion;
* zero funding for Goals 2000;
* a 40% reduction in the National Endowment for the Arts;
and
* elimination of the Office of Surgeon General.

After the longest government shutdown in history, time will
tell how the Council for National Policy, and its Christian
Coalition members, affected the innumerable details of the
complex federal budget.

Founded in May 1981, by the Rev. Tim LaHaye, T. Cullen
Davis, and Nelson Bunker Hunt, the goal of CNP is to make the
member's "shared moral values" dominant in domestic and foreign
policy. If there is one group in the United States that serves
as an umbrella for the hard right it is the Council for National
Policy. The group's 500+ members represent the hard right's
religious, political, and business leaders.

Former Attorney General Ed Meese III currently serves as
President; Morton Blackwell is the group's executive director.
Former CNP Presidents include the Revs. Tim LaHaye and Pat
Robertson, and Amway's Rich DeVos. CNP's first conference was
held in Dallas on January 17, 1982. Membership is $1,500 a year,
plus an additional $300 a year for "Capitol Hill Report", the
newsletter of CNP Action, Inc. The price of admission to the
CNP's thrice-yearly conference is additional.

The members of the secretive group meet clandestinely at
specially selected cities to plot public strategy. The group's
next meeting is scheduled for March 8th and 9th at the Buena
Vista Palace, in Orlando, Florida. For two days, these leading
political and religious right-wing leaders will gather under
tight security to hear speakers, attend workshops, network, and
socialize.

Ten years ago when "Freedom Writer" started investigating
CNP, a spokesperson refused to answer any questions, saying that
the group

"operates as secretly as possible; the members and officers
names are kept strictly within the confines of the
organization."

At the time, CNP was located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Today it has offices at 3030 Clarendon Boulevard in Arlington,
Virginia.

The Council for National Policy has taken credit for a
number of conservative victories in Congress. They include:

* the defeat of President Clinton's health plan;
the defeat of the President's attempt to serve openly in
the military;
* the Whitewater hearings;
* sidetracking the Freedom of Choice Act;
* preventing the passage of the Fairness Doctrine in
broadcasting;
* stopping the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) from prohibiting religious harassment in the
workplace; and
* blocking the Lobby Reform Bill.

Some members, such as John Doggett, testified on behalf of
Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearings for a seat on
the U.S. Supreme Court.

While the CNP does not endorse or oppose candidates, lobby
for or against legislation, or take official positions on policy
issues, its affiliated group, CNP Action, Inc. is politically
active.

CNP is a tax-exempt (501)(c)(3) organization; CNP Action,
Inc., is a (501)(c)(4), which is exempt from taxes, but
contributions to it are not deductible. CNP Action, Inc. can
lobby and conduct other political activity. CNP members who lobby
usually do so in their own name, or in the name of the
organization they head.

CNP Action, Inc. conducts the CNP meeting workshops, and
follows through with reports on the sessions, including the
appropriate action CNP members should take. For example, CNP
Action, Inc. interviewed Congressman Mark Souder, and sent the
confidential memo to CNP members urging them to push for a
government shutdown in order to coerce President Clinton to
include their agenda in the federal budget.

Every six months, CNP members receive "Update on Producers
of TV and Radio News and Public Affairs Programs." This
publication lists the names, addresses, phone, and fax numbers of
all national radio and tv news and public affairs producers. CNP
members use the list to write to producers to inform them of
their area of expertise and interest. They are instructed to give
the media their office and home phone numbers so they can be
contacted when their issues arise. The purpose, of course, is to
influence the thinking of the media and the general public.

Once a year, CNP provides members with an analysis of
members of Congress "who are the most open to persuasion." The
report says:

"These legislators, listed by state, have records over
several years of frequently switching their votes back and
forth between conservative and liberal positions on
legislation with the categories of economic, social, or
defense/foreign policy issues. Swing' Senators and
Congressmen determine whether we win or lose legislative
battles. If a majority of these officials vote on the
conservative side, we can prevail. If they vote with the
liberals, we lose."

"Please get to know these key legislators now,"

the report continues,

"and maintain regular communication with them. Put them on
your mailing list to receive your newsletter and other
publications. They are open to your information and ideas.
By establishing good personal and political relationships
with them, you will make a real difference in the outcome of
many votes in committees and on the floor of the House and
Senate."

CNP Action, Inc. also sponsors standing committee workshops
at CNP conferences which provide a vehicle for members to work
together to influence crucial public policy decisions. According
to a CNP memo, attendees at these workshops "formulate strategies
and execute plans to make a difference on the issues where we can
have a real impact."

The six permanent standing committees are:

* Family * co-chaired by Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the
Family and Phyllis Schlafly of Eagle Forum.

* Law and Justice * co-chaired by former Attorney General Ed
Meese and former Texas Court of Appeals judge Paul
Pressler.

* Economics * co-chaired by former Office of Management and
Budget director Jim Miller and Reed Larson of the
National Right to Work Committee.

* Defense and Foreign Policy * co-chaired by Sen. Jon Kyl
(R-AZ) and Howard Phillips of Conservative Caucus.

* Institutional Reform * co-chaired by former California
state senator H. L. Richardson and direct mail expert
Richard Viguerie.

* Environment * chaired by former Secretary of the Interior
and Secretary of Energy Don Hodel.

CNP Members receive written reviews of each workshop,
including a list of specific steps to take to implement their
ultraconservative agenda.

For example, at the September 29, 1995 meeting at the
Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Cathie Adams, President of Texas'
Eagle Forum, proposed defeating the next United Nation's women's
conference in June in Turkey. Called "Habitat Two," she said the
meeting's agenda includes zero population growth, livestock
control, redistributing economic resources among countries, and
city planning. "Conservatives," she said, must unite and plan now
to be in Turkey."

"It would be terrific," she added, "to get us out of the
U.N. Our goal must be to both derail the liberal agenda in
Turkey, and then defeat President Clinton in 1996."

The report on Ms. Adams' presentation concluded with the
following "Action Item."

"Contact the Representatives with whom you have influence
and tell them to oppose any funding for Clinton's White
House Council on Women, which he promised would implement
the U.N.'s platform for action."

Every CNP Action Inc. report ends with action items. They
often name specific senators and representatives to contact; and
often ask that the information be passed on to interested think
tanks or other groups; and sometimes ask for names of
foundations, companies, or major sponsors who might be able to
help financially with the specific intended action.

While these tactics are not new, or particularly innovative,
they demonstrate that the extreme right is well-organized. Superb
organizing and advanced communication skills help explain the
many successes of the hard right. The Council for National Policy
is the group leading the way.

After the March 8th and 9th meeting, CNP meets next on
August 9th and 10th in San Diego. Their final meeting of 1996
falls after the national election, on November 8th and 9th, in
Williamsburg, Virginia. While CNP may not endorse a Presidential
candidate, its members will surely oppose the reelection of
President Clinton, and push the ultra-conservative agenda. There
is nothing the hard right wants more than to control both houses
of Congress, and the White House.

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CNP RULES AND REGULATIONS

In order to "allow open, uninhibited remarks" from the speakers,
CNP members must adhere to strict rules regarding the meetings. A
memorandum from executive director Morton C. Blackwell listed the
rules. They are:

* Special guest may attend only with advance unanimous
approval of the Executive Committee.

* The solicitation of funds on a one-to-one basis is
prohibited at meetings.

* Council meetings are closed to the media and the general
public. The media should not known when or where we meet
or who takes part in our programs, before or after a
meeting.

* Speakers' remarks at Council meetings are off the record
and not for circulation later, except with special
permission. Members and guests are requested to keep in
their personal possession their registration packets and
other materials distributed at the meeting.

* Our membership list is strictly confidential and should
not be shared outside the Council. Fundraising from the
list is also prohibited.

* Members are asked to avoid organizing and attending formal
meetings of other groups or organizations in the same city
before, during or immediately after a Council meeting.


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SAMPLING OF CNP MEMBER LIST (PARTIAL LISTING)

*National Elected Officials*

Rep. Dick Armey
Rep. Dan Burton
Rep. Tom DeLay
Rep. Steve Stockman
Rep. Bob Dornan
Rep. Ernest Istook
Rep. Barbara Vucanovich
Sen. Lauch Raircloth
Sen. Jesse Helms
Sen. Jon Kyl
Sen. Trent Lott
Sen. Don Nickles

*Hard Right Leaders*

Rev. Duane Motley,
President, New Yorkers for Constitutions Freedoms
Gary Bauer,
President of Family Research Council
Bill Bright,
Founder, Campus Crusade for Christ
Judie Brown,
President, American Life League
Ben Bull,
senior litigation counsel, American Center for Law
& Justice
Larry Arnn,
President, the Claremont Institute
Allan Carlson,
President, the Rockford Institute
James Dobson,
President, Focus on the Family
Bob Dugan
director, National Association of Evangelicals
Mike Farris
President, Home School Legal Defense Association
Ed Feulner
President, the Heritage Foundation
Ron Godwin,
Senior vice President, "The Washington Times"
Robert Grant
President, American Freedom Coalition
Rebecca Hagelin,
Christian Coalition's Christian American
Reed Irvine,
chairman, Accuracy in Media
Bob Jones III,
President, Bob Jones University
D. James Kennedy
Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
Alan Keyes,
talk show host
Jerry Kirk,
National Coalition Against Pornography
Beverly LaHaye,
President, Concerned Women for America
Tim LaHaye,
author
Marlin Maddous,
President, USA Radio Network
Rev. Peter Marshall
Peter Marshall Ministries
Connie Marshner
Activist
Ed Meese
The Heritage Foundation
Tom Minnery,
Focus on the Family
Sam Moore,
President, Thomas Nelson Publishers
David Noebel,
President, Summit Ministries
Oliver North
Howard Phillips,
Chairman, the Conservative Caucus
Robert Poole,
President, Reason Foundation
Larry Pratt,
Executive director, Gun Owners of America
Edgar Prince,
Chairman, Prince Corporation
Ralph Reed,
Executive director, Christian Coalition
Pat Robertson,
President, Christian Coalition, Christian
Broadcasting Network, Family Channel
R. J. Rushdoony
President, Chalcedon
William Rusher,
Syndicated columnist
Phyllis Schlafly
President, Eagle Forum
Alan Sears
Alliance Defense Fund
Maj. Gen. John Singlaub USA (Ret.)
John Sununu,
talk show host
Richard Viguerie,
Chairman, American Target Advertising
Paul Weyrich,
President, Free Congress Foundation
John Whitehead,
Chairman, The Rutherford Institute
Rev. Donald Wildmon,
president, American Family Association
Rev. Jim Woodall,
Concerned Women for America [sic]

*Conservative Businessmen*

Howard Ahmanson,
Wealthy California businessman
Ed Atsinger,
President of Salem Communications
Robert Bates,
President, Guarantee Mutual Life Company, Omaha
John Belk,
Chairman, Belk Stores
Holly Coors
Jeffrey Coors
Rich DeVos,
Amway Corp.
Richard DeVos, Jr.
President, Amway Corp.
George Gilder,
trickle-down economist
Nelson Bunker Hunt,
Chairman, Hunt Energy Corp.

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CNP AT A RECENT MEETING: QUOTABLE QUOTES

At the May [1995] meeting, CNP members discussed impeachment
strategies regarding presidential appointments. It was pointed
out that any presidential appointee can be impeached, and that
the process is quite easy. Though not mentioned specifically, it
may be that they had President Clinton's nominee for Surgeon
General, Dr. Henry Foster, in mind during this discussion.

Two members of the House of Representatives who were swept
into office last November, Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) and Rep.
Helen Chenoweth (R-ID), spoke on "Oklahoma City, militias, and
terrorism." Stockman, a lifetime member of the National Rifle
Association, is a new CNP member. In the June 1995 issue of Guns
& Ammo magazine, Stockman wrote:

"Bill Clinton and the gun control lobby were not unhappy
with the fiery end of the siege at Waco. Waco was to be a
lesson to gun owners all over America: Don't own firearms
that the government doesn't like."

Dr. James Dobson led a workshop called "Abortion and the
Republican Party," and spoke about "the attitude of Haley
Barbour." This past spring, Dobson sent a letter to Barbour, the
head of the Republican National Committee (RNC), saying,

"If the RNC abandons its clear pro-life position, then you
leave us and millions like us with no recourse but to
consider a third party candidate for president in 1996."

According to an informed source, during a question and
answer session with Sen. Bob Smith, who appeared on behalf of
Sen. Phil Gramm, Dobson proceeded to lecture the group about
Gramm's waffling on "family values." Moderator Ed Meese cautioned
Dobson that this was a question and answer session, not a debate.

According to our source, Meese finally said, "Jim, I've told
you before that this is not a debate, it is a question and answer
period. Now please sit down so we can have the next question."

The CNP's last conference was held in February in Palm
Springs, California. Discussions included capital punishment,
school prayer, "defunding the left," and English as the official
language of the United States.

Richard Viguerie said that the battle to defund the left
"will be won primarily in the committees and subcommittees." In
other words, kill funding in committees, before items come up for
a vote in Congress.

Phyllis Schlafly claimed that last year Congress gave more
than $1 billion to feminist organizations. She also spoke about
the need to abolish the National Endowment for the Arts and the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Howard Phillips called for a constitutional amendment to
make English the official language. His proposal was inspired by
the passage of California's Proposition 187.

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