After social conservatives rallied to Pat Robertson in Iowa in 1988, and soon took over the formal structure of the Republican Party in many states, it rapidly became difficult to win a GOP nomination for anything higher than dog catcher without aSen. Richard Lugar’s Virginia residence has become an issue in his re-election effort, but he followed state law by continuing to claim the Indiana home he sold as his legal residence for voting and tax purposes. Separate opinions by Indiana attorneys general have backed the legality and appropriateness of that practice.
Critics’ claims that Lugar is out of touch with the state are based on political views, not his familiarity with Indiana and its concerns. Lugar was elected at a time when the GOP was much more moderate, and he cast hundreds of votes that were firmly in the party line then but are considered liberal today. That has far more to do with changing times than Lugar’s record, which remains conservative.
For more about Lugar and the residency issue, see The Journal Gazette’s Perspective section in Sunday's print edition, or visit www.journalgazette.net after 3 a.m. Sunday.
