by Jim Kouri

During his brief time on this earth, President Ronald Reagan uttered dozens of memorable quotes. Arguably one of the most important Reagan quotations is, "Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican."

Obviously, that commandment has not been heeded in recent years by many Republicans, especially those claiming to be conservatives.

A perfect example of this transgression against Reagan's commandment is the congressional race in North Carolina's 3rd District between Republican incumbent Walter Jones and challenger Joe McLaughlin, also a Republican.

Disagreements and one-ups-manship are expected in any political race, but several North Carolina conservatives are upset with the conduct of McLaughlin. One member of the NCGOP told this writer that "not a day goes by without Joe [McLaughlin] smearing Congressman Jones."

Talking on the condition of anonymity, he said, "If you're claiming to be a conservative, then be a conservative."

A visit to McLaughlin's website reveals an entire page devoted to denigrating his opponent. There are two conspicuous photos: one with Jones and Rep. Dennis Kucinich, arguably the most left-wing congressman in Washington; the other photograph has Jones posing with anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan. One has to be reminded that McLaughlin is attacking a fellow Republican not a Democrat or a Socialist.

"McLaughlin is part of a new generation of Republicans who believe they must only care about securing their own personal power," said political strategist Mike Baker.

McLaughlin accuses Rep. Walter Jones of shifting to the Political Left and that Jones is not the same man North Carolinians sent to Washington with the Contract with America in 1995. But it's Joe McLaughlin who changed his political views and started calling himself a conservative.

On abortion, McLaughlin admits that he had a "moderate to liberal" view — until his mother told him one day that she might not have decided to have him (the youngest of five by eight years) if she could have gotten an abortion.

"I moved a few meters to the right then," he told a newspaper reporter.

He also told the Goldsboro News-Argus that he "believes that marriage is between a man and a woman," but that even homosexual couples should be allowed legal rights — just not the institution of marriage. And finally, he shared with the group that while he is a Christian — a Roman Catholic like his opponent Jones — he won't be wearing his faith on his sleeve.

However, sources in Washington, DC tell The Conservative Voice that McLaughlin met with gay political consultant Chris Barron of the New Jersey-based CapSouth Consulting in the nation's capital. Barron is a leading advocate of gay rights and a former honcho with the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay-rights group.

During their DC get-together, Barron escorted Joe McLaughlin to meetings with leaders in the gay-rights movement.

Prior to founding CapSouth  Consulting, Chris served as the Log Cabin Republicans' Political Director. At Log Cabin, he directed the organization's  lobbying and media relations. According to sources in Washington, McLaughlin met with these Barron contacts.

"What's a conservative doing meeting with gay-rights activists? And why the secrecy?" asks a NCGOP insider.