Buchanan’s Absence Felt Gop Requires ‘Contract’ To Avoid Personal Attacks At Convention

Republican candidates who want to address the state convention must sign a contract that obligates them to pay $5,000 if they launch a personal attack on another GOP candidate.

Unsuccessful presidential candidate Pat Buchanan wouldn’t do that, so he settled instead for an audience of more than 400 cheering supporters who traveled three blocks from the convention center for coffee, bagels and a fiery speech Friday morning.

“I want to compliment the state party chairman on getting the press coverage for me,” he said as he stepped up to the microphone in the atrium-like lobby of the Hyatt Hotel.

Chairman Ken Eikenberry’s decision to require all candidates to sign such a pledge, and his demand that Buchanan endorse Bob Dole, prompted an argument that enlivened the start of the Republicans’ biennial convention.

It angered even some Dole supporters, such as state Sen. Pam Roach of Auburn, who said the party should stand up for freedom of speech.

It prompted incredulity from other longtime politicians. State Sen. Jim West of Spokane called it a mistake.

“Eikenberry blew it. (Buchanan’s) not Lyndon LaRouche for cryin’ out loud,” said West, referring to the perennial presidential candidate famous for bizarre ideas.

It provided Buchanan with one more target - Eikenberry, although he never named the chairman - to add to his stock speech that denounces abortion, the United Nations and the North American Free Trade Agreement. But he did not criticize Dole.

“People ask, ‘Why do you keep fighting on as an active candidate?” he said. “What’s at stake is the heart and soul of the party.

“It’s about what our party’s going to be as well as who our nominee is.”

Buchanan said what his supporters wanted to hear: That he would fight on to San Diego, where Republicans will hold their national convention, to make sure there is no wavering in the party’s platform opposing abortion and that the vice presidential nominee is “pro-life.”

He said he wants to return God and the 10 Commandments to public schools, limit the terms of federal judges, keep U.S. troops out from under United Nations command and end foreign aid.

During a break in the convention a few hours later, Eikenberry defended his decision to require Buchanan to sign the same document as every other candidate who addressed the convention Friday, or who will speak today.

The state party’s “Pre-Primary Agreement” requires candidates to refrain from attacking a Republican opponent directly “or by innuendo,” and to promise to support an opponent if they lose. Eikenberry said he was trying to avoid fratricidal campaigns that leave the primary victor so damaged that he or she is an easy target for Democrats in November.

By signing the agreement, the candidate receives access to GOP files, lists and campaign materials, Eikenberry said. He or she also agrees to pay $5,000 in “liquidated damages” if found guilty of violating the agreement by the chairman or the party’s executive board.

Eikenberry said that penalty couldn’t be called a fine, and acknowledged that he couldn’t be sure how such a breach of contract would be enforced. He knew of no other state party that had imposed such a rule.

The contract apparently is vague enough that it didn’t keep one candidate for state insurance commissioner, Brian McCullough, from accusing opponent Anthony Lowe of trying to use the statewide post as a stepping stone to higher office.

Buchanan supporters talked of taking action against Eikenberry after the convention opened, but didn’t have a majority. They lost a crucial test of strength in the early afternoon on what seemed to be simply an arcane change in convention rules.

They were also circulating a resolution, which they might try to introduce today, that would call Eikenberry’s actions demeaning, insulting and highly offensive, and require him to apologize to Buchanan.

After the two-hour fight over rules, the convention broke up into caucuses for the nine congressional districts, where Dole and Buchanan supporters vied for the right to attend the national convention as delegates or alternates.

In Eastern Washington’s 5th District, Rep. George Nethercutt, a Dole supporter, and former county party vice chairwoman Lynn Schindler and Jim Robinson, both Buchanan supporters, were chosen as delegates. Nethercutt was chosen even though he was unable to make it to Bellevue in time for the vote because of his congressional schedule.

That prompted several delegates to complain that he should not be allowed to run if he wasn’t present.

Spokane attorney Rich Kuhling, who helped run Nethercutt’s successful 1994 congressional campaign, stood in to make the congressman’s pitch to be sent to the national convention.

Nethercutt has a perfect rating from groups as diverse as the National Federation of Independent Business and the Christian Coalition, Kuhling said.

What would Nethercutt do if Dole chose a running mate who was “prodeath?” demanded a Republican in the crowd.

“He’d support whoever Sen. Dole chooses,” replied Kuhling.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo