Time for a Debate

"I don't need to tell you that this will be one of the most important conservative undertakings of modern times," Wehner wrote at the time. The memo also described big future benefit cuts that would accompany private accounts -- something Bush never talked about publicly.

Some of the e-mails are extensively researched attacks on critics. In a February Washington Post story, for instance, Chris Cillizza and Dan Balz described Wehner's e-mail response to Al Gore's statement that the U.S. had committed "terrible abuses" against Arabs after September 11.

Yesterday, Wehner apparently sent out another one of the latter kind.

On Sunday, Richard A. Viguerie, one of the architects of the conservative movement, published an opinion piece in The Washington Post decrying Bush's betrayal of the conservative base and calling for conservatives to stop giving money to the Republican National Committee.

Viguerie followed up his article with a Live Online discussion , in which he wrote: "It is not entirely true that Bush has betrayed everyone. The 1% of his voter support that came from big business corporate America - he's been truthful to them. They have gotten the legislation, the appointments; I can't think of any issue that they have strongly supported where Bush has opposed them."

A press release from Viguerie describes the reaction from the White House:

"Apparently the White House's response to my article in the May 21 Washington Post is to send out an e-mail from Peter H. Wehner, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives, consisting of six quotes by me criticizing Ronald Reagan during his presidency.

"That's a lot easier than trying to respond to my arguments. That's a lot easier than trying to explain away the many examples I give of how Bush has betrayed the conservative movement. And that is standard operating procedure for this White House: Put the spotlight on the president's critic, rather than respond to the critic's arguments.

"Peter, I plead guilty to your implied criticism of me. I am, indeed, a consistent conservative. I put loyalty to conservative principles above loyalty to the Republican Party or a politician. . . .

"One final word, Peter. I knew Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush is no Ronald Reagan."

Anybody got that Wehner e-mail? Or any Wehner e-mail? Send them my way: froomkin@washingtonpost.com .

Backing Away From Bush

John D. McKinnon writes in the Wall Street Journal: "It isn't easy leading your party to victory when a lot of people aren't eager to follow. With Mr. Bush's job-approval ratings skidding as low as 30% in national polls, more Republican candidates face risks in associating closely with him. That is forcing the White House and Republican advisers to improvise a strategy for success.