Posted by
Craig Freeborn on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 9:15:03 AM
Edwin J. Feulner,
President, The Heritage Foundation,
214 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington D. C. 20002-4999
info@heritage.org
phone: 202-546-4400
fax: 202-546-8328
Dear Ed,
“Read my lips: no new taxes.” So George H.W. Bush campaigned in 1988 – and again promised in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. He won 41 states with almost 80% of the electoral vote. But less than two years later, he agreed to several tax increases in an ill-advised compromise with the Democrats. Conservatives were outraged. They felt betrayed and lied to. Many concluded that Bush had abandoned his principles. As a result, William Jefferson Clinton was swept into the White House, and Bush became a one-term President.
In 1994, Republicans ran on the “Contract with America” and promised lower taxes and fiscal restraint. They swept the elections and became the majority in both houses. But in less than 12 years, they started out-spending the Democrats, in terms of the number of earmarks and amount of money spent. Conservatives were outraged. They felt betrayed and lied to. Many concluded that Republicans had abandoned their principles. As a result, Democrats were swept into congress, and the Republican contract was null and void.
Over the years, The Heritage Foundation has become one of the most respected conservative “think tanks” in America. Most active conservatives know of it and have great respect for it. Millions of other conservative Americans know Heritage, if not by name, by the “fruit of its labors”.
The Heritage Foundation’s own web page says that its mission “is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, [and] traditional American values…”.
Now I read that David John, representing The Heritage Foundation, is publicly advocating a tax hike in the form of an increase in – or even elimination of– the Social Security earnings cap. I, as a conservative, am outraged. I feel betrayed and lied to. Am I to conclude that Heritage has abandoned its principles?
Please Ed, say it ain’t so! If the Heritage Foundation doesn’t distance itself from Mr. John’s strange remarks, I fear it will loose its previously well-deserved, prominent position in the hearts and minds of Freeborn American conservatives across the country.