NewsMax.com Staff
Republican National Convention

Exclusive: Pat Boone Exposes Hollywood's Blacklist

Entertainer Pat Boone tells NewsMax's Wes Vernon about Tinseltown's ultimate hypocrisy, shares valuable advice for aspiring stars and has harsh words for CBS. Click here for more.

Exclusive: Pete Wilson Speaks With NewsMax

As Vice President Dick Cheney rallied the troops at Madison Square Garden, Pete Wilson, former California governor and senior adviser to Arnold Schwarzengger, took time out to speak exclusively to NewsMax's Stewart Stogel.

He said: "I thought [Cheney's speech] was terrific, it was vintage Dick Cheney. He said it like it is. What we need is a strong, steady course, the kind of consistent, decisive leadership the president has given.

"He, as vice president, has personified that kind of strong, consistent, decisive leadership."

Wilson told NewsMax: "This is a war on terror that does not need cosmetic jabs but a sustained effort to maintain credibility. That's what this side has and the other doesn't."

And what about the GOP's electoral chances in California?

"I think more and more Californians are going to appreciate that there is an overriding issue. Everything we value, all that we prize, all our opportunities, all that we cherish depends on the survival of a free society and freedom, all that the Taliban and al-Qaida hate.

"There is no reasoning with evil. You simply have to defeat it. It takes a sustained effort, such as this administration's, to fight it. Californians know it."

Is there a 'Schwarzennegger factor' in the 2004 election?

The Californian opined, "The reason the Democrats are taking California for granted is because of their positions on domestic issues. ...

"I think that Governor Schwarznegger and other moderate Republicans, who occasionally disagree on some points with the president, have said that there are simply no issues that are of the importance as national security.

"For that reason, Zell Miller has turned his back on his party because they no longer offer the hope of real leadership to win the war [on terrorism].

"I think more and more Americans, Californians and others, regardless of [party] registration, are going to vote for someone who deserves their confidence as a leader, one who has the determination and resolve to defeat this menace."

What do you think Bush will say tonight in his speech?

"I expect that the president will be very straightforward, unapologetic, assertive of the right of the American people as the however-reluctant superpower left in the world to defend freedom not only for ourselves, but for all those in the world who seek it," Wilson said.

"And he has done it with clear and decisive leadership, not the kind of totally indecisive, dependent on the will of others, that is the characteristic of the opposing party," the former governor added.

Thursday 8:30 a.m. EDT

Giulani: Things Are Going Even Better Than We Expected

En route to a brief appearance on the convention floor, America's Mayor found a moment to speak with NewsMax columnist Fr. Mike Reilly.

"I think the convention has been very, very positive and really terrific for New York, for the Republican Party and for President Bush," he said.

"I think this will give him a big boost. It's been a very positive convention. It's one in which I think the American people are learning many things that maybe had been obscured because of all that negative publicity against the president, about what a fine leader the president is, about how he's revived our economy. I'm very, very pleased. I think everything has gone even better than we expected."

Sen. Santorum: Catholics Have Right to Speak Against Kerry

NewsMax.com asked Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., about new radio ads sponsored by Catholics Against Kerry. The senator said, "One of the things I believe in is that all voices should have a right to speak."

"Obviously, Catholics for a Free Choice have been out and speaking on behalf of Senator Kerry, and I think it's important for folks who disagree with Senator Kerry, who represent the Catholic faith in America, have an equal right to go out and articulate why they don't support John Kerry."

Pat Buchanan: Catholics Have Reasons to Oppose John Kerry

Pat Buchanan echoed some of Sen. Santorum's sentiments and went a little further when speaking with NewsMax.

He took time out from promoting his new book, "Where the Right Went Wrong," to tell us, "I can certainly understand how traditional Catholics, who believe in the natural law and traditional Catholic morality, would have a very hard time supporting a man who votes for abortion right up though the ninth month of pregnancy and who will not stand up and defend traditional marriage."

Keyes Confident in Illinois

"A lot of people in Illinois really know my opponent's name but they don't know his record; once they know his record, they won't want to know his name," Illinois Senate candidate Alan Keyes said.

NewsMax's Fr. Reilly asked the former ambassador what the critical issue in his contest might be.

"I think the defining issues will be the defining issues of my life: the issues of moral priority, including abortion, gay marriage and the need to renew our allegiance to the fundamental principles of our way of life," Keyes said.

"I will apply those issues, of course, across the board to economics and foreign policy. We will talk about all the issues, but we will help people to see them in the context of the great moral crisis that this country faces."

When asked if the Republicans have been faithful to the party line on cultural issues, Keyes replied, "If you look at the platform that was adopted at this convention, [it] is deeply faithful on these issues and I can stand on that platform and defend it without any difficulties or problems whatsoever."

Bauer Says Judiciary Is Key

Gary Bauer, president of Americanvalues.org and head of the Campaign for Working Families, told NewsMax, "The war against the Isamo-facists is incredibly important, but I believe the value issues are really key to this campaign."

The unabashedly pro-life activist and former presidential candidate continued, "In my view we have got to move forward as a country and stop the destruction of a million innocent children every year, and now we've got this other issue of the very definition of marriage."

He encapsulated what activist judges are doing to America: "This country overwhelming rejects the idea that men should be able to marry men, yet unelected judges try to force that on us."

He said: "In a campaign you have a chance to educate the American people, and I think that we need to talk about the fact that unelected judges are deciding all the most important things in our lives. That's not what the Founding Fathers wanted."

Schlafly Was the Life of the Party

Eagle Forum leader Phyllis Schlafly took some time out from hosting her "Life of the Party" party to tell NewsMax, "This is the ... best party of the week, and we had about 600 enthusiastic pro-lifers and we honored [eight] members of Congress," including recent convert to Catholicism Sen. Sam Brownback.

Schlafly proudly proclaimed: "The pro-lifers have won the Republican Party. This is a pro-life party."

Life Issues Escape Dems, Says Coulter

Ann Coulter was in attendance at Eagle Forum's "Life of the Party" party as well, and she dazzled attendees with her wit and biting sense of humor.

"The Republican Party is the party of life. The Democratic Party is the party of violating the Ten Commandments one by one," she proclaimed to laughter and applause.

She claimed, "The Democratic Party is about abortion, gay marriage and banning the Boy Scouts."

Then she told partygoers what she really thinks.

Mocking the liberal position on abortion, she complained, "Listening to liberals talk about abortion is like listening to Clinton talking about his relationship with Monica."

"They will never show a picture of this so-called constitutional right [to abortion] being exercised. No other constitutional right is hidden like this. A right that hard to locate in the Constitution is a hoax."

On the lighter side, Ms. Coulter eagerly introduced our intrepid NewsMax correspondents to her mother because NewsMax is her mom's favorite magazine.

McAuliffe Says Arnold 'A Great Actor'

NewsMax again caught up with DNC boss Terry McAuliffe and asked him what he thought of Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech, which so far has been the talk of the convention.

"I thought it was interesting he talked more about himself than he talked about George Bush," McAuliffe said.

"He delivered it very well, he's a great actor."

Tony Snow Thinks Kerry 'Imploding'

"The Kerry campaign right now seems to be imploding over an issue of character, which reaffirms how important character is in politics," Fox News political analyst Tony Snow told NewsMax's Fr. Mike Reilly.

"For a long time people thought it was dispensable: 'Bill Clinton gets away with a lot of stuff; surely character doesn't matter.'"

"Ultimately people want to feel good about themselves," he continued. "They want to feel good about the people running the country and they want somebody to affirm right is right, wrong is wrong, good is good, evil is evil and it matters."

U.S. on Right Moral Track for Lazio

Former Congressman Rick Lazio is as excited as anyone at this year's convention about the way the country is going.

"Listen to the convention delegates from coast to coast. Everybody is very enthusiastic, very upbeat and very positive," Lazio told NewsMax.com moments before Sen. Zell Miller's speech on Wednesday.

"The speakers have had a message of inspiration, of a positive can-do American spirit, and I think tonight you're going to hear a little more of that," he added.

"The moral direction of the country, the need to support George Bush and the policies of this administration because of their moral underpinnings, the war against terror and providing the opportunity for home ownership, for jobs and giving people more power and control of their health care: That's what this administration is all about."

Valenti's Vote Goes to the Most Trustworthy

Retiring Motion Picture Association of America president Jack Valenti was in attendance at the GOP confab, and he told NewsMax that he felt the convention has been "very well organized and doing very well."

What are his feelings on this close election? we wondered. He said he believes the key issue for American voters will be "who you trust, who you believe."

Is he here to support George W. Bush? Valenti only answered that his right to vote is "my American birthright."

Wyoming Proud of Cheney

During Vice President Cheney's acceptance speech, Wyoming Gov. Jim Gerringer spoke glowingly of the Veep as "a solid anchor in a sea of uncertainty."

"He brings great honor to the state, and we're happy to share that with the rest of the U.S.," he told NewsMax.

I Voted for John Kerry Before I Voted Against Him

Art Levine of Indiana was proudly sporting his very own bumper sticker on the floor of the convention during Vice President Cheney's speech: I Voted for John Kerry Before I Voted Against John Kerry.

"It symbolizes the silliness of some of the votes that he's tried to explain to the American people," he explained.

Wednesday Noon EDT

Pro-lifers Hold GOP Pro-choicers' Feet to the Fire

About 30 anti-abortion protesters demonstrated against tuxedoed "pro-choice" Republicans arriving at an exclusive club to celebrate "Republicans for Choice" Tuesday evening during the GOP convention.

"This is a dinner that's hosted by people who want to yank the pro-life position from the party platform," according to Joe Starrs, director of the Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church.

"The guests of honor are Gerald and Betty Ford. Governor [George] Pataki [of New York] is a member of the committee of Republicans for Choice."

Starrs tells NewsMax.com he believes that although the pro-life plank is safe in the platform for this year, "there are powerful people such as Governor Pataki who want to undo it."

Not all the pro-life protesters fit the conservative Republican mold.

"I'm outside the two-party system," says Steve O'Brien of Staten Island. "The two-party system no longer works."

Sporting an "Out of Iraq" button, O'Brien sees a clear connection between war and abortion - the issue of life.

He can countenance neither President Bush nor Democrat John Kerry.

O'Brien says he will vote for Michael Peroutka, the presidential candidate of Howard Phillips' Constitution Party.

Peroutka would be a spoiler for the Republicans on the right if he had the name recognition that Ralph Nader has as potential spoiler for the Democrats on the left.

Ralph Guida was the one anti-abortion activist who came dressed up in a tux, just like the "pro-choice" people feting the Fords at the ritzy Sky Club, 59 stories high above Grand Central Terminal.

In the past he has protested with Randall Terry of Operation Rescue. "They just told me to come in a tux, so I did," he explained.

The group hooted at some of the guests arriving for the dinner. One sign-waving demonstrator chanted "Pataki" and the rest added "kills babies." Then "Arnold" followed by "kills babies." And on down the roll call of pro-abortion Republicans.

Though the other side was outnumbered in the sidewalk picketing, a group calling itself Republican Youth Majority counter-demonstrated in favor of ultimately eliminating the pro-life plank.

Communications Director Jen Hein told NewsMax she represented pro-choice, pro-environment, fiscally conservative Republicans.

The demonstrations and counter-demonstrations during the GOP's convention week in the Big Apple again showed that for all the signs of unity inside Madison Square Garden, the war for the "soul of the party" on this issue rages on in the streets.

Wednesday 9 a.m. EDT

Mayor Ed Koch: Bush is Number One on Israel

Former New York Mayor and prominent Democrat Ed Koch told NewsMax's Fr. Mike Reilly, "I'm supporting President Bush for re-election because there is only one issue to me that trumps all others.

"I don't agree with the Republican Party or President Bush on a single domestic issue that I'm aware of, but I do agree with President Bush that the only issue that really counts and should unite everybody is that of fighting international terrorism."

Koch added, "I don't believe that John Kerry can be trusted on the issue."

As for the security of Israel, Koch is uncertain about Kerry.

"I'm sure he's not bad, but he's not good," he said.

"When he comes before the Committee of Foreign Affairs on a major address on his foreign policy and tells him that he would appoint Jimmy Carter, who dislikes Israel intensly and has over the years, and James Baker as his envoy representing him, you know where John Kerry is going. Either he is ignorant of what is taking place or those two people reflect his philosophy. Either way I don't want him."

As for Bush and Israel, Koch said, "I believe that President Bush, with respect to the support of Israel, ranks number one amongst presidents. Number two would be Reagan and three would be Clinton."

Terry McAuliffe: Jews and Catholics Will Support Kerry

When NewsMax asked Terry McAuliffe about Mayor Koch's ringing endorsement of President Bush's record on Israel, the chairman of the Democratic Party replied, "The Jewish voters are going to stay with the Democratic Party.

"We have supported Israel since 1947. The Democratic Party has been strong on all those issues.

"John Kerry has a 100 percent voting record with APAC and so you know what I think: The Jewish voters who traditionally support us, 75 percent will come out and support us again. ...

"... Now I know that George Bush has Prime Minister Sharon out there serving as his campaign chairman, which is fine, but the people realize what we have done since 1947 for Israel."

When asked about Catholic voters, he continued: "I think we'll do very well. I'm a strong Catholic myself."

"Pro-life?" NewsMax asked.

McAuliffe replied, "I am pro-choice but I can tell you when Catholic voters go vote, they're going to look at a lot of different issues: quality education, health care, making sure their parents are living in a dignified retirement, people have quality jobs with benefits.

"You know, people have to look at the totality of what each party is offering, and I think when you talk about values, when you talk about kitchen table values the Democratic Party stands for, we're going to do very well with the Catholic voters."

Sen. Lindsey Graham: Kerry's Senate Record Is an Issue

When asked about Kerry's record in the Senate, Graham told NewsMax, "Well, I think you know that his Senate record is very much in play as far as what kind of commander in chief he would be and what kind of domestic agenda he would have.

"I think you're going to see more about President Bush and less about Senator Kerry. Zell Miller is going to tell you a lot about what kind of senator John Kerry has been."

Congressman Vito Fosella: President Bush Will Keep Us Safe

Congressman Fosella is one of America's few Republican congressmen representing an urban district. In fact, Congressman Fosella's district in Staten Island suffered terrible losses on Sept. 11.

The congressman told NewsMax that national security will be the primary issue for his constituents this November.

"I think in President Bush we have a man, a leader of principle, who understands that that is the number one issue and that we need him in office to keep us safe and secure.

"I think the number one issue is national security, and I think it will become more and more apparent as we approach Election Day," Fosella told NewsMax.

When asked about the prospects of carrying New York, Fosella answered: "I'm of the mind, the optimistic mind, that if the people understand what George Bush is all about – the man, the principled leader that he is, the fact that he is for protecting the American people and cutting taxes, especially in high-taxed areas like New York where people would benefit more than the rest of the country – if they hear that message and read through the redirect, they would support him."

Bill Donahue: Kerry Stiffed the Catholic Church

NewsMax's Fr. Reilly attended the Catholic League event at the New Yorker Hotel and was able to speak with Catholic League Director Bill Donahue.

"First of all, we are very happy that we have an event tonight where we have some great Catholics," Donahue said. "We actually have some religious outreach people with the Republican Party, unlike the Democratic Party, which brings in losers like Mara Vanderslice. ..."

When asked about new advertisements by Catholics Against Kerry, Donahue replied, "Yes I just read that on NewsMax.com today, and I'm delighted that Catholics are organizing to get the word out [that] if you want to say that you are a practicing and believing Catholic and then you turn around and then you stiff the Catholic Church at every moment, then people need to know about that."

Sen. Rick Santorum Slams Kerry's Catholicism

The featured speaker at the Catholic League event slammed John Kerry as a Catholic who refuses to allow his faith to influence his public life.

"I'm here to talk about Catholics in public life at a time when this issue is relevant.

"We have a Catholic in public life, John Kerry, who is out there talking about his Catholic faith as a part of who he is, but I find it rather interesting that we have a candidate who will come to the American public and say that their faith has nothing to do with the decisions that they make in respect to public policy," Santorum told the Catholic League.

Al O'Franken to NewsMax: Try to Be Journalists

Fr. Reilly has an amicable chat with Al Franken on the floor of the Convention Tuesday night.

When asked if he had anything to say about NewsMax, Franken quipped: "Yeah, try to be journalists. Not just reporting things without verifying them."

"Are you saying NewsMax doesn't verify?" Fr. Reilly asked.

"Yes," Franken replied.

When Fr. Reilly asked him for an example, he replied, "Oh, for example you guys did a whole thing about me body-slamming someone in New Hamspire and that was just not true."

[NewsMax readers will remember that we actually did an article about the fact that Franken DENIED having body-slammed anyone – but he would never give us credit for that, naturally.]

"What do you think about the convention so far?" Fr. Reilly asked him.

"I actually don't like it very much," Franken replied. "I thought that last night was exploitive of 9/11."

Gov. Pataki: Bush Will Enjoy a Great Victory in November

Gov. Pataki was not talking to the press on Tuesday night, but he did speak with a NewsMax reporter through the security line to share his thoughts on the convention so far.

"I think this is one of the most inspirational political events I have ever seen in my life.

"It started off tremendously, and it just keeps getting better. Arnold and Mrs. Bush laid out the case for our values as Republicans and our values as a country better than I've ever heard them.

"I have no doubt the president is going to be propelled to a great victory this November," he said.

Tuesday 5 p.m. EDT

Sen. Brownback: Liberals Radicalizing Middle America

A U.S. Senator says the Left in this country is trying to confine middle America to the radical fringe of politics.

"What is so radical about faith, family and freedom?" Senator Sam Brownback asked.

Speaking to a group closely allied with the evangelical movement, the Kansas Senator said the conservative truth is, "Culture is more important than government," and the liberal truth is, "How can we change the culture?"

Referring to the campaign make same-sex marriage aminstream, the Republican from Kansas said if middle America loses this fight, "I fear for the Republic, really I do."

Brownback chided John Kerry for voting against legislation in the Senate which opposed same sex marriage, but then after Missouri voted 71% in favor of one man-one woman marriage, Kerry said he would have voted that way were he from Missouri.

Sen. Brownback spoke to a jam-packed crowd in the Waldorf Astoria ballroom at an event organized by Ralph Reed, often cited as a master political operative.

Reed has often siad that he will work tirelessly to get the estimnated 4 million evangelicals who stayed home in 2000 to the polls this November.

Tuesday 3 p.m. EDT

Dem D.C. Mayor Looking Out for His City at GOP Convention

The Hon. Anthony Williams, black Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C., showed up at a reception for BAMPAC (Black America's Political Action Committee).

Williams said he is at the Republican convention to represent the "best interests of his city."

Mayor Williams told NewsMax that it is conceivable that more blacks will trend GOP in future years.

"I think it's forseeable, as you get a stronger and more viable business class and middle class, that you have more support for the Republicans.

"Actually, I think it's good for the black community - we should not be taken for granted by any party," he told NewsMax's Wes Vernon.

Norquist - No Taxes Is Good Taxes

Americans for Tax Reform threw a big party to honor public figures and candidates who had taken the pledge not to raise taxes.

Although the ATR is bipartisan, its president, Grover Norquist, said, "This issue is the big divide between the parties, more than the abortion issue. There are many more pro-choice Republicans than there are tax increasing Republicans."

"The Republican Party has become the party that would not raise your taxes. There are a handful of exeptions as far as the tax issue is concderned, but we are going about the business of aiding in their defeat."

What about John McCain, asked NewsMax?

"John McCain went 'funny,' but McCain's challenge is to poke George Bush in the eye. If Bush was for raising taxes, McCain would be good against him."

Tuesday 11:50 a.m. EDT

Tancredo Gets Railroaded on Immigration Reform

A floor fight over the immigration plank in the GOP platform was averted at the convention on Monday, apparently because a leading advocate on cracking doewn on illegal aliens was unable to get his hands on lists of the delegates.

Rep. Tom Tancredo (R - Colo.) told NewsMax Tuesday that no one on the platform committee saw the platform document until shortly before a vote was to be taken.

"I doubt if 90% of the committee members had a chance to read it before they voted on it," the congressman told NewsMax.

Moreover, he said, "No one could get the list of delegates or even the list of platform committee members. I wanted to take this issue to the floor. People would come up to me and say 'Why don't we organize an effort to change the immigration partr of the platform?'"

That document supported President Bush's guest worker plan, which critics say is amnesty for illegals by another name.

The platform was rushed through the convention early Monday, way ahead of prime time. Tancredo says it was railroaded through by the White House. "You could almost hear the train whistle blowing," he told NewsMax.

Tancredo's allies on the committe tried to amend the platform to deny illegals drivers licenses, access to Social Security or amnesty of any kind "no matter how it is obfuscated." All were defeated in short order.

The congressman emphasized that he strongly supports President Bush's Reelection but said, "I want good policy and good politics, and his immigration program is neither."

Tuesday 11 a.m. EDT

Pass [un]Happy

Day 1 of the Republican National Convention was a day of contrasts and contradictions for NewsMax's Stewart Stogel.

For an intrepid reporter trying to make sense of the controlled chaos, the first order was trying to make sense of the numerous color coded passes the press had been presented with.

Green, yellow, red, orange, blue, polka dots, stripes, they all had a meaning, that is if you could figure them out.

"You got an orange, that's good enough for me," explained one Secret Service officer guarding the RNC press center located in the old central Post Office across the street from Madison Square Garden. "You got a yellow, that's good too, I am not picky," he added.

After that, heaven help you if you were carrying an umbrella (it rained in NYC on Monday).

"You can't take that (umbrella) inside", shouted another Secret Service agent.

The officer then explained that one could "check in" the offending article into a nearby giant trash can where you could "reclaim" it after the convention session was over.

What developed was a giant pile of hundreds of umbrellas that was yours for the taking.

It killed business for the nearby street venders, who were selling $3 umbrellas for $10 but getting few takers.

If that was not enough, beware the reporter who dared to carry a black colored attache into the Garden.

The sheer volume of reporters (RNC says more than 15,000 are in NYC) has tuned the bag screening into a mess that makes the airlines look good.

Inside the convention hall it was even more surreal...

While Republican notables were addressing the faithful on the Garden floor, the media had their own mini-convention in the surrounding corridors, oblivious to the speeches being deliverd inside.

A walk down "radio row," where all the talk shows and their hosts are stationed, revealed press interviewing press interviewing yet more press.

Wateragate veteran G. Gordon Liddy, who hosts his own radio show, spent as much time being interviewed as interviewing.

NBC's Brian Williams was not reluctant to "kibbitz" with other media folks even while major addresses were in progress inside the Garden arena.

Air Ameica's Al Franken spent more time taking photos and signing autographs than conducting interviews...

Many reporters thought tracking down "noted" film maker Michael Moore (who is working as columnist for USA Today at the RNC) was more important than watching the address of Senator John McCain.

Ironically, Moore was seated within earshot of McCain during a speech where the Arizona senator repeatedly jabbed the controversial film maker.

After the speech, Moore bolted from his Garden seat with more Secret Service agents protecting him than former president George HW Bush, who occupied the convention's seat of honor along with former first lady Barabra Bush.

By the time the first day had ended (about 12:30am) most reporters had one last assignment - retrieving their umbrellas ... not a simple feat, considering the "repository" which began early Monday morning had grown to almost 6 feet tall by day's end.

And that was just day 1.

Tuesday 10 a.m. EDT

Richard Cohen: Kerry Should Apologize for Vietnam Protest

The media's Maginot line on the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth and the questions they've raised about John Kerry's character has finally been breached, with one famously liberal columnist calling on Kerry Tuesday morning to "apologize" for trashing his fellow Vietnam veterans in 1971.

"If it takes an apology, if it takes saying he was once an angry young man who saw blood spilled in a dubious cause - then that's what he should say," writes Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen.

"Otherwise Vietnam and its immediate aftermath will stick to him as has his complicated and too-nuanced position on the Iraq war."

"This is a moment for Kerry to speak plainly, to embrace all Vietnam veterans and say that any suggestion that they were war criminals does not represent how he feels now and how he felt then," Cohen urges the top Democrat. "And if he gave the opposite impression, he's sorry."

The Washington Post columnist said if Kerry fails to delivers a Vietnam apology soon, he risks becoming trapped in the kind of "rhetorical molasses" that has hamstrung him on the Iraq war.

Tuesday 8:40 a.m. EDT

Rangel Says Abortion Is a State Issue

What was Charlie Rangel doing at the Republican Convention? We knew sparks would fly when he bumped into Fr. Mike Reilly, a columnist for NewsMax.

When Rangel saw Reilly he began reciting parts of the Mass in Latin. "...Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa," Rangel said.

Asked if he was Catholic, Rangel responded, "You got that right."

So where does Rangel stand on abortion? "I really think that's a state issue," the Congressman said.

Does that mean Rangel is in favor of overturning Roe v Wade? "Well that's up to the courts to decide that issue," Rangel answered.

Oh so it's not a state issue? "Well what I mean is that the states ought to have the legislative rights and the courts should determine whether it's constitutional or not," he said.

Perhaps Rangel should become the Kerry campaign spokesman.

Congressman King: It's a Great Week for the Future of our Country

NewsMax was able to catch up with New York Congressman Peter King.

"It's a great week for the future of our country. We have to stand behind President Bush. Really the future of our civilization depends on it. We have to defeat the forces of international terrorism he's the one who can carry us through."

Governor Mike Rounds of South Dakota: Thune Looks Like a Winner

Governor Rounds told NewsMax that his delegation is "having a marvelous time in New York. We are being very well treated."

He was also very upbeat about John Thune's chances to unseat Senator Tom Daschle this November. "If the election were held today I truly believe that John Thune would be the next United States Senator from South Dakota.

"He's in a heck of a battle, it's going to be a long time until the election, but today I'm very, very optimistic that John Thune will be outr next United States Senator"

NYPD Receives Broad Praise From Delegates and Media

Governor Rounds is not the only one praising the NYPD. In fact, everyone's talking about the NYPD. First of all, they're everywhere. They're working long shifts, and they still manage to smile and treat people with courtesy and respect.

Listen to what some of the attendees are saying about New York's Finest:

John Klink of Santa Barbara, California told NewsMax that, "One of the reasons we feel absolutely secure is because at every corner there are about five New York police officers protecting us and making sure that nothing goes awry and we're grateful for them. Good face to New York."

Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard was impressed with the NYPD's ability to control a crowd. "It's clear that the NYPD knows what they're doing. You know I had some doubts that they could control this huge hoard of protesters with no trouble at all. They're really good at it," he told NewsMax.

Fox News colleague Brit Hume was quick to agree. "The police officers here have been great to us. A lot of them even seem to watch Fox News which we of course appreciate, but they've been great. Polite. Helpful. Courteous. Nice. Really great."

We also hear that a lot of them even read NewsMax.

Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT:

Catholics Complain of Double Standard

Republican Catholics gathered at the Church of Our Savior on Park Avenue to kick off the convention with a Mass to ask God for the humility to lead the nation for the next four years.

"I think it's a beautiful way to start the week, to ask for humility, which was reflected in the homily today, and strength and a sense of peace as we go through the next four days," former Senate candidate Rick Lazio told NewsMax.

Fr. George Rutler complained: "We have a double standard. We're dealing with hypocrisy. The Riverside Church today had President Clinton speaking from the pulpit at their major service. They were handing out registration for voters – forms and things. No one talks about church and state under such circumstances. Double standard – total hypocrisy."

Roy Innis; CORE Honors Faith Whittlesey

Meanwhile, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was busy Sunday night honoring Ambassador Faith Whittlesey with its Public Service Award.

The ambassador took the opportunity to praise CORE founder Roy Innis.

"Instead of confrontation and division, in the context of a coercive utopian big government, Roy preached a different message – interracial harmony and limited government. He basically rejected the victimology that underlay the position of many of the civil rights organizations, and until that time he had the courage to speak the truth to power, and he broke away and jumped off the liberal reservation and began advocating individual initiative, free enterprise, the importance of property rights, self-reliance, and he expressed the colossal error of the lie of big government as the solution to societal problems."

Likewise, decorated NYPD cop Bob Volpe told NewsMax that "Roy has always been on the right side of everything all this time, and I'm here to support a friend who's supporting a bigger friend, George W. Bush."

"Black Republicans are everywhere," CORE's Niger Innis told the troops. "We have an opportunity to match something that is practical politically and morally correct, and for blacks folks to liberate themselves from the pessimism of a certain political party" is the goal of CORE.

Kevin Martin, political affairs director of the African American Republican Leadership Council, told NewsMax: "I believe that George W. Bush has been the most critical leader America can use in a wartime effort. I believe that he is definitely one who says what he means and means what he says."

CORE leader Roy Innis proclaimed that "It was the Republican Party that freed us from slavery. It was the Republican Party that passed the 14th and 16th amendments. In modern times in the 20th century it was the Republican Party that stood behind the civil rights movement in the late '50s, and the guys who opposed the bill were Democrats."

Don King Speaks

Also in attendance at the CORE function was Don King, who told NewsMax: "Well, I'm very happy to be here today at the CORE organizational dinner, and I think some very salient remarks have been made tonight that we certainly can no longer afford to be a one-party country. This country was founded with two parties. Right