Forbes Gets Backing of Sen. Lewis

State Sen. John R. Lewis (R-Orange) endorsed presidential candidate Steve Forbes on Wednesday, a day after the magazine heir won the Republican primary in Arizona.

Lewis said Forbes “embodies the positive enthusiasm of [former President] Ronald Reagan and I think that kind of dynamic enthusiasm is what’s needed to sell the Republican message to voters.”

The senator said he felt that Forbes, a staunch advocate of scrapping the current internal revenue system and replacing it with a so-called flat tax, carries the message that “resonates best with Orange County residents.”

On the flat tax, Lewis said, “I personally would like to see the tax flatter, but I don’t completely endorse the Forbes proposal. I would like to see a retention of the mortgage interest and charitable deductions, but other than that, I think it could be done with limits and negotiated with Congress.”

Lewis, who represents eastern Orange County, said he felt that Republican challenger Patrick J. Buchanan was “too negative,” and as for Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, “I haven’t seen Bob Dole’s ability to really share any kind of vision.”