The Conservative Caucus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Conservative Caucus, or TCC, is an American public policy organization and lobbying group emphasizing grassroots citizen activism and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1974 by Howard Phillips, who continues to lead it today. Most of the organization's $3.8 million budget comes from the efforts of New Right fundraising gurus Richard Viguerie and Bruce Eberle.[1]
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[edit] Issues of Focus
TCC espouses an uncompromisingly conservative line on a wide range of issues. The following are a few it has emphasized.
[edit] Foreign / Military
[edit] Immigration
TCC opposes illegal immigration and legislation characterized by TCC as an amnesty for illegal immigrants, such as S. 2611. The organization supports measures to secure the Mexican border, including a complete fence.
[edit] North American Union
TCC opposes the allegedly planned "North American Union" (NAU), a merging of the United States with Mexico and Canada. TCC also opposes the NAFTA Superhighway which it sees as facilitating smuggling and bypassing American port workers by using cheaper Mexican ports. TCC held a news conference on October 25, 2006 announcing formation of a coalition to oppose the NAU.
[edit] "Cold War"
Throughout the Cold War, TCC took a strong anti-communist stance, favoring active U.S. involvement around the world to undermine or overthrow pro-Soviet governments and bolster anti-Soviet allies. TCC often voiced concerns that the U.S. and its allies had fallen behind the Eastern bloc in the arms race to a position of military inferiority, not merely quantitatively but qualitatively as well.
[edit] China
TCC sees the People's Republic of China as a major military threat to U.S. security and interests. It suspects China of seeking to gain strategic control of the Panama Canal through a front company, Hutchison Whampoa. It also opposes Permanent Normal Trade relations with China and China's membership in the World Trade Organization.
[edit] Panama Canal
TCC opposed the Panama Canal Treaties which transferred control of the Panama Canal from the U.S. to Panama. To this day it lobbies to restore as much American presence and control in the former Canal Zone as possible. TCC also fears that the Canal is vulnerable to terrorism.
[edit] United Nations
TCC supports a U.S. withdrawal from the UN, perceiving the organization as having ambitions to be a world government hostile to US interests and sovereignty, and which routinely votes against American interests.
[edit] Domestic
[edit] Constitutionalism
TCC supports strict constructionism and original intent when it comes to constitutional interpretation. In its view, the majority of federal agencies and activities are unconstitutional.
[edit] Health Care
A major focus of TCC activism in the Clinton Administration was opposition to greater government involvement in health care.
[edit] Taxes/IRS
TCC favors abolishing the income tax and replacing it with a low revenue tarriff. This would eliminate the need for the Internal Revenue Service.
[edit] Social issues
TCC is strongly pro-life and opposes gay marriage. It favors school prayer and championed former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore as a hero for his stance favoring the display of the Ten Commandments.
