THE IITH COMMANDMENT
This tool allows campaign operatives to cheat voters out of a healthy discussion on the issues
BY GEORGE HARRIS

I received 62 e-mails one recent weekend from folks who had attended the Washoe County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. They were all wondering just what the heck is Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment. Congressman and would-be Governor Jim Gibbons pleaded the 11th Commandment when pressed by Republican opponent Bob Beers at the dinner.

Gubernatorial candidate Beers used the occasion to introduce himself to the Northern Nevada Republicans and discussed his background and qualifications. He also addressed problems that Nevada faces, such as: $10 billion in unfunded liabilities, and Nevada's No. 2 ranking in tax hikes per capita according to a study released by the Americans for Tax Reform.

Beers told the crowd he was perplexed by the fact that with all these unfunded liabilities why Congressman Gibbons would be in favor of collective bargaining for a state employee union. Beers made a pitch for the TASC initiative, which constrains government spending to a combined increase of the percentage increase in the consumer price increase plus population growth.

Beers then had the audacity to say he believed Nevada voters deserved opinions from those who seek to become their next governor, whether Democrat or Republican, as to whether those candidates support TASC or not. Four of Nevada's five candidates for governor had taken a stand. Beers was the only one in favor.

The only candidate not to express an opinion is Jim Gibbons, who was in attendance. Thus, Beers put the Congressman on the spot and asked what his opinion was on TASC. Gibbons (who by the way has taken over a quarter-million dollars in contributions from several Las Vegas casino corporations) took the stage, and announced: "I am a real Republican, so I honor Reagan's 11th commandment. Therefore, I will not speak evil of any of my fellow Republicans."

This prompted the numerous e-mails primarily from Gibbons supporters who aren't familiar with the Gipper's 11th.

So, here is the history of Reagan's 11th Commandment of "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican." Reportedly, the commandment was really thought up by President Eisenhower. It's my understanding that Reagan's first brush with the 11th commandment was in his 1966 campaign for Governor of California. The state chairman invoked the commandment to stop a repeat of the liberal Republicans who assaulted Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election that led to Goldwater's trouncing. Nelson Rockefeller labeled Goldwater as an extremist who was unfit to hold office. In Reagan's 1966 bid, his opponent George Christopher and the California liberal Republicans tried to do the same thing to Reagan, but pressure from conservatives forced liberal Republicans to stop the personal attacks on Reagan, and the rest is history.

Nationally, most Republicans had no idea what the 11th commandment was. But, in 1976 Ronald Reagan challenged President Gerald Ford in the primary, and for months the Reagan campaign pummeled President Ford. When Ford finally woke up from under the ether and started to retaliate, Ronald Reagan invoked the 11th Commandment which in turn crippled Ford's campaign. Reagan's assaults on Ford contributed significantly to Ford's defeat by Jimmy Carter.

The commandment is and always has been a campaign tool for smart operatives to stifle debate and cheat voters out of a healthy discussion of the issues.

In this case, Jim Gibbons' invocation of the 11th Commandment is nonsense. Beers only asked Gibbons to explain his position on TASC. There have been no personal attacks by Beers, no maligning of Gibbons' character. Beers is merely trying to get his opponent to discuss the issues.

If Mr. Gibbons is afraid of Beers or unable to understand the issues, he just needs to say that. Contrary to what he says, hiding behind Reagan's 11th Commandment means Jim Gibbons is not a good Republican because his refusal to debate is cheating voters. LW

George Harris is publisher of Liberty Watch: The Magazine. He is also a political activist and successful Southern Nevadan businessman. Reach him at gopgeorge@earthlink.net.