Like most young conservatives, I find myself very concerned about the way the country is going. It really kicked in hard for me in the middle of 2006, when it became very clear Iraq was going south. Obviously I didn’t expect the blowout in 2008 back then, nor quite the economic circumstances we find ourselves in (though my father was predicting the worst recession since the Great Depression in 2005, due to the housing market and artificially low interest rates), but the concerns were building.
Since November, many liberals and Democrats have declared the Republican Party dead — and one could find reasons to agree with them, starting with the clear minority support for President Obama and Democrats and ending with Representative Joe Wilson’s public relations disaster yell of, “You lie!”. I, however, have great hope for Republicans. As Ed Feulner, The Heritage Foundation’s president, said when I was an intern at Heritage, “…there are no permanent victories in Washington.” Below is what I see as at least part of the path back to power for the Republican Party.
1) We need a leader– not necessarily a hard right-wing conservative (which is my preference- I refused to vote for Senator McCain in the general election because of his liberal policy viewpoints and his support for the TARP), but a qualified, successful leader who is at least conservative in the traditional fashion of small government, low-spending, low-tax, strong national defense conservatives (two examples are Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman) who is against abortion. Few Republicans agree completely with either man, but they have both been very successful governors, and of course Huntsman is eminently qualified on the foreign policy side of things.
This part will happen eventually- I just hope sooner rather than later.
2) We need to stay away from gay marriage. If asked, we should be honest about our opinions, but most of the moderates and independents that we must attract disagree with us on this issue, and many young people (including myself) who are against it believe it’s the 50th or 100th important issue facing the country. Why should we put on the forefront a losing issue that’s not going to solve the greatest problems facing the nation, especially when it’s nearly impossible to say, “I’m against gay marriage, but still think a gay person is no less of a valuable person than I am.” It’s how most conservatives feel, but it’s incredibly difficult to get that across effectively to a public that is increasingly in favor of, or neutral towards, gay marriage and gay-friendly policies, particularly with younger voters.
3) We need to change our rhetoric. In particular, we need to do so in three areas: illegal immigration, race relations, and the role of government.
Regarding immigration, we need to get the Hispanic vote, and we won’t do it by talking like former Congressman Tom Tancredo (whom I supported for president during the last primary before he dropped out). Many or most illegal immigrants are here to work, not take our welfare, health care, etc. We need to stop talking about a wall on the border — it’s alienating, and not as effective as economic prevention such as diminishing or eliminating the illegal immigration welfare program in America and punishing sanctuary cities and businesses. We need to streamline the legal immigration process while still making certain that immigrants speak English and will be productive members of society. We also need to stop the drug cartels, gangs, and other criminals that want to cross the border by policing with more troops that are allowed to shoot. We need to show Hispanics, who tend to be socially conservative, how our view on immigration is better for them — after all, illegal immigrants badly affect the legal immigrant Hispanic population’s public image, as well as take their jobs and endanger their families.
Regarding race relations, we need to show how affirmative action is bad for everyone, particularly minorities — talking about how bad it is for whites is an old, tired argument that just won’t win minority votes. We need to use statistics like Stuart Taylor did in the February 28th edition of National Journal, which stated (among other things) that “more than half of entering black law students never pass the bar and never become lawyers” because affirmative action puts unqualified candidates into classrooms. We need to show how this helps maintain negative race relations, as whites will feel they are being ignored for a less-qualified candidate (for example, the New Haven, CT firefighter case), and blacks will feel whites are trying to keep them down (as, unfortunately, we all know happens still). We also need to make sure we push for voucher systems like the one in D.C. to show minorities we ARE the better party for them, on issues from schools to families to employment.
Lastly, we need to stop saying “small government.” Though the current economic crisis was caused largely by government intervention — Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, low interest rates, government housing programs, high government spending, mark-to-market accounting regulations, Democratic refusals to reign in Freddie and Fannie, etc.— the general population feels like Republicans caused it. Whatever we conservatives may think actually happened, we have to think about how the populace views us. We need to change the rhetoric to “effective government” and show how we can use government more effectively than liberals and Democrats. The time for privatization of Social Security, for instance, is definitely not now, despite how great a concept it is. (20 years from now, who knows? Maybe people will be ready for it, assuming the program isn’t completely bankrupt…)
4) We need to bring back some of the intellectuals who believe the Republican Party is void of such thinking. Republicans have always been charged as being anti-elite, but we have scared away some of the very kinds of people who formed the core party ideals that created the last 40 years of Republican successes. With due respect to the strengths of former President Bush, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Governor Palin, they are not going to bring the intellectuals back. We need to bring back to the forefront the William Buckleys, Ed Feulners, etc. of the world, as well as encourage young people like Heritage researchers Rachel Sheffield and Thomas Qualtere to take up the intellectual conservative standard.
5) Opportunities arise periodically, and we must take advantage of them. For example, right now is a great opportunity for conservatives to help with race relations, the education system, and showing the weaknesses of unions. The D.C. School Voucher debate has conservatives defending empirical data showing education for poor minorities improving against the powerful teacher unions and Democrats in Congress. This is a great opportunity (and the CATO Institute and The Heritage Foundation are taking full advantage) for us to show how we have better ideas for fixing our terrible education system through vouchers, getting rid of tenure and teachers unions, and specifically for improving the education of poor minorities, who will thereby put themselves on the path to greater employment, family, and other opportunities.
Another great opportunity we have is energy policy. Paul Krugman believes only government can do what is necessary to save the planet- however, he is wrong, and conservatives have some great opportunities to prove it. Whatever one may think of global warming, it’s never a good idea to have black smoke and other effects from oil drilling going into the air and into the water and ground- however, as Charles Krauthammer wrote last year, better to have it done here, with our standards and technology, than overseas. Heritage’s Ben Lieberman also had a good Web Memo last Thursday that included this statement: “State-of-the-art technologies have a proven track record for reducing the environmental impact of energy exploration and production. In fact, the risk of offshore oil spills has been reduced to such an extent that natural leakage of oil from the sea floor is responsible for far more contamination than is drilling activity.” Too, David Frum points out that nuclear power- a favorite whipping boy of the left- works great in France. Lastly, Cape Cod has been battling over a proposed wind farm for years, one that the late Ted Kennedy was against. According to a college report I saw a few years ago, the wind farms would diminish 80% or so of Cape Cod’s electrical usage, the highest per capita in New England. The issue Kennedy had? The farms would be about 1/8 of an inch high on the horizon on a sunny day. Given the current gas prices, as well as the fact that we are beholden to terrorist-supporting and United States-hating nations for our energy (Venezuela, for example), conservatives should push hard for the kind of job-creating, energy-producing, environmentally-friendly policy combinations that only the free market can support.
6. We must continue to battle for pro-life policies while working to create an environment that encourages less pre-marital sex and fewer pregnancies (such as more comprehensive sex education programs that include abstinence education in addition to what is already taught in public schools). We are already on the cusp of a major win on the abortion debate- we just have to push a little harder. A number of liberals and moderates have claimed abortion is a side issue right now- however, saving over 1,000,000 lives per year is never a side issue, and on abortion the secular, scientific data is increasingly matching the theological arguments made by the Catholic Church and other religious institutions against abortion. Most abortion opponents won’t even say it’s not a life anymore, where conservatives have never compromised the fact that a fetus IS a human life.
Conservatism is not dead, and nor is the Republican Party — like liberals did after 2004, we need to find effective leaders, an effective local, state and national strategy and take advantage of the opportunities the natural sway of politics, economics, and societal circumstances will offer us.
(This piece was originally posted on NewMajority.com on May 5, 2009. It was revised and updated for this post.)
September 29th, 2009 at 8:46 am
agree with most of this. where do you stand on legalizing marijuana? i dont believe trying to outshoot drug cartels at the border is the answer.
September 29th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Oh no! I have competition! A fellow Race-NM writer? Next thing I know, you’ll be on the Independent Gay Forum, too!
September 29th, 2009 at 9:31 am
Palinizing Alex (Knepper)
http://texas4palin.blogspot.com/2009/09/palinizing-alex.html
September 29th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Stunning Reversal! Young GOP Social Moderate, harsh Palin critic, now one of her biggest Fans
http://www.fontcraft.com/liberty/?p=11388
September 29th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Unfortunately, even if that is true, it could never be used by the Republicans in a affirmative action debate. It would be spun (by Shaprton, Jackson, etc) as Republicans saying African Americans are unintelligent to many, and as a very racist statement. (even though it is not really racist)
Let’s just say it would be a total disaster for who ever brought it up. Possibly a candidacy killer.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I am a hard right conservative. I would add to your list… quit beating the drum of religion. God and Jesus and the Bible are good in church, but a total turn off for a lot of people, including me. Doing something, like opposing abortion, can be supported simply on moral and rationale means, bringing hell and God into it just makes you sound ancient and nutty.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:00 am
#6, yes, agreed. I’m religious but Republicans really need to tone down the religious rhetoric.
Abortion can still be opposed without religion…if anything, it’s more tragic with an atheistic world view point. (I oppose abortion, but it’s very, very, low on my priority list as it’s unfortunately quite unlikely to ever be banned)
As for gay marriage, well, there is really no argument against it without a couple of Bible verses.
That’s the one thing I hope Republicans turn around on – gay marriage and gay adoption. Absolutely no reason for it not to be legal nationwide.
I doubt I could vote for a Republican who was against gay marriage – I’m okay with those who are ambivalent. (McCain’s stance for example, which says it should be up to the states)
September 29th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Joe Biden once support government run, Universal Nursing Home care;
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lNkSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4vsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1135,4119291&dq=biden+nuclear
September 29th, 2009 at 11:22 am
#7 “As for gay marriage, well, there is really no argument against it without a couple of Bible verses.”
Depends, I guess, on whether you are talking about “against” or “not for.” I’m “not for,” and the reasons are strictly secular. I don’t want to make this a same-sex marriage thread, but if you want to debate, you can email me at richard.murray.001@gmail.com.
As for needing “to tone down the religious rhetoric,” are you hearing something I’m not (quite possible, actually)? What has been said recently by national GOP candidates that appears overly religious? I agree with the idea that God should not be a central campaign issue (and some people would try to make Him one), but I’m not seeing it done.
September 29th, 2009 at 11:25 am
#9, well, Huckabee, for example. He is practically oozing God from every pore, and he is one of the top candidates for the nomination.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
“Regarding immigration, we need to get the Hispanic vote,” You’ll bungle this! The paragraph was filled with racial slurs, and contrdictions!
September 29th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
One thing that I think should be mentioned but isn’t; Republicans need to have more to their budgetary policies than “tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts”. We use that line so often that no one believes it much any more. Also, there are times when no other budgetary options other than to raise taxes. Not to mention that taxes are necessary to the functioning of government. Republicans should talk about keeping budgets balanced, and cutting taxes when possible, which isn’t every time they are up for reelection.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
#10 “#9, well, Huckabee, for example. He is practically oozing God from every pore, and he is one of the top candidates for the nomination.”
Not to be obtuse, Kevin, but what examples do you have (excluding the Values Voters Summit, as that’s kind of the point of that group, and politicians speak to their audience)? Again, I’m not making a statement that it isn’t happening, just that I haven’t seen it (and I admit I’m not really looking). Occasional references to God aren’t an atempt to circumvent the 1st Amendment, but if every third sentence is “God says we do ‘X’,” there’s a problem. I suspect, for many people, the merest mention of God elicits a visceral reaction and accusations of “ramming religion down my throat,” and I wonder if the claim is merely an over-reaction, or whether there’s substance behind the claim.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
The reason the GOP is going down in flames is that they have aligned themselves with NUT JOBS. And not just your average, silly, ignorable nut jobs, but MAJOR WACKADOOS.
I am a registered independent. I would not align myself with EITHER party, as both are too extreme these days to ever be truly effective in governing and repairing this nation.
But you all must admit the Republicans have become something ugly that we have never seen the likes of before. And if someone does not get this party under control and take back the GOP from wackadoos like Limbaugh, Palin and so forth, the party is doomed.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Kevin,
Leagalizing gay marriage opens the door to any type of marriage people desire.
It is the foot in the door, and the ACLU will be going to court supporting anyone’s right to any combination of “marriage” you can think of.
What makes gays any more special than anyone else the argument will go.
I can support leagal contracts such as domestic partnerships or civil unions giving all the protection of a marriage, but marriage was designed to produce CHILDREN, and it seems it still takes a man and a woman to do that.
And by the way, didn’t our Founding Fathers base our form of government and liberties on Biblical principles? (Endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights)
Go back and check out their writings. They are full of religious statements.( David Barton has a sight called Wall Builders that will give you plenty of evidence)
People should be free to believe what they want, but our heritage is a religious one, and people of faith have the right to oppose the secularization of our culture.
September 29th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Hey Bill,
Are you living in La La land?
The left is full Of WACKA DOOS and they are now running the country!!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
#7 So you could care less if Obama funds abortions and ends a few more lives but it’s essential that two men can get government recognition of their sleeping together.
Would you accept allowing ‘termination’ of infants/elderly in return for the government recognizing ‘marriages’ between men?
I’m just trying to gauge how little you care about human life in comparison to same-sex marriage.
September 29th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
#15 “I can support leagal contracts such as domestic partnerships or civil unions giving all the protection of a marriage, but marriage was designed to produce CHILDREN, and it seems it still takes a man and a woman to do that.”
That’s not exactly true, TennJoe. The purpose of recognizing marriage is to encourage what is considered the optimal environment for raising children in, one in which they are exposed to both male and female role models. As men and women are fundamentally different (and more so than just their plumbing), you can’t simply substitute two men or women and have the same broad spectrum of role model.
Also, you’re correct that the Founding Fathers used religion frequently, but they never wanted the First Church of the US established, either. It’s not always easy to determine where that line should be, but it’s not at banning religion altogether, and it isn’t as the Christian States of America.
Incidentally, are you from East Tennessee? I lived there for several years (Go Vols!).
September 29th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
What we need to do is:
1) Realize the country is mostly Conservative, and not Liberal or Liberal-Lite. 40% is Conservative, 40% is Moderate. and 20% is Liberal. Instead of moving to the center (MCCAIN), offer a strong conservative message that will make the middle want to move to the Right
2) Separate the IDEOLOGY from the ISSUES.
3) When we win define “conservatism” based on IDEOLOGY (less government, free enterprise, less taxes, strong defense, judges that interpret, etc) we have 65% of the vote, and it’s a slam dunk victory
4) When the Left (and some of the hardcore conservatives) defines “conservatism” based on ISSUES (abortion, gay rights, global warming, environmental causes, etc) we have only about 50% of the vote, and it’s a toss up……which is why Dems always focus on certain issues, as opposed to the governing ideology
5) Feed the passion felt in the Tea Parties and Town Halls. The GOP will NEVER win a passionless election. And this is one reason why Palin, or Newt, can be so effective. No disrespect to Romney or Huckster, but they don’t exactly fire anyone up.
6) Stop trying to win over the Beltway Media. That’s a losing proposition. Always has been – always will be, and that includes the elitists such as Brooks, Fund, and Noonan. The Country responds far greater to common sense conservatism (ie, Reagan) than they do to “intellectuals.”
7) Never, ever, EVER answer a question from a Beltway Yacker that is built on a false premise. They only feed into a false impression when they do so. Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid to correct the media, but be cheerful.
That’s for starters
7)
September 29th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Where I see the candidates:
- Romney: “The Safe Choice” – Then again, McCain was also the safe choice
- Huckabee: “The One-Dimension Choice” – Always subject to change, but most of the Huckster’s popularity lies only with the Evangelicals
- Newt: “The Bold Choice” – There is no candidate out there with more bold ideas than Gingrich
- Palin: “The Emotional Choice” – Not meant in a demeaning way, but a large majority of Republicans LOVE Palin, and this cannot be said about any other candidate
- Pawlenty: “The Newcomer’s Choice” – This guy may very well come from the weeds to be a serious contender
- Petraeus: “The Defense Choice” – I see no way he runs for President.
- Barbour: “The Insider’s Choice” – He may be the favorite within the RNC, but I do not see this Mississippi Governor doing much outside of the deep South
- Jeb Bush: The YOU’VE-GOT-TO-BE-KIDDING-ME Choice” – Does anyone seriously believe that this nation, much less this Party, will go for a 3rd Bush? That’s unfair to Jeb, but those are the facts of life.
- Bobby Jindal: “The Immature Choice” – Again, this is not meant to be demeaning. But let the poor guy get a few years under his belt before throwing him to the wolves.
- Jim Thune: “The Congressional Choice” – It’s possible, but I do not see this happening
- Judd Gregg: “The Dark Horse Choice” – (See, he’s not even on your list!) This guy is strong. If he decides to run, he could be a factor, and seriously undermine Romney’s position as the economic expert of the nominees.
All the rest of the candidates that are pictured are non-factors.
Speaking of which, don’t you think it is way pass time to take Mark Sanford’s picture off the list of candidates?
September 29th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Our government panders to the 20 to 30 plus (?) illegal immigrants allowing them free subsidies from taxpayers in the US. California–a Sanctuary State has one of the worst records that currently languish under the immense burden of near bankruptcy, instead of –ATTRACTING–ICE to illegal business operations. Certain legislators in Sacramento, led by Gilbert Cedillo-D has authored a lame brain resolution condemning any interference in immigration enforcement. Congressman Brian Bilbray-R Calif. reminds Sen. Cedillo that this resolution breaks the laws of the Constitution. “He should look up the separation of powers section and this resolution is nothing more than political posturing.” Cedillo urges President Obama to declare an immediate moratorium on immigration policies and practices until a comprehensive reform of immigration is enacted. The resolution states ” The State of California values all of its residents, whether they be citizens, legal residents, or undocumented immigrants, and strives to enable all residents to work and live free from discrimination, exploitation, and repressive federal immigration enforcement.” This man certainly has no love for the legal American worker and should be immediately discarded from office as his words are a form of treachery to the jobless people hurting. Why wouldn’t certain legislators want health care for foreign labor, because they have an over abundance of illegal immigrant families to financially support? Our own government is so absorbed in protecting every other countries border? They remain unconcerned to our poor replica border fence that should have been a two-tier periphery, with border patrol surveillance lanes in between, as originally planned by Rep. Duncan Hunter. Every time a good enforcement plan is written, it’s methodically cut to pieces by pro-illegal worker politicians and open border fanatics. Though we spend billions on our armed forces in foreign lands, the rich countries in Europe just forward token troops and little money: while our nation is literary falling apart at the seams–or its rivets?
Any moment now I expect to hear of yet another collapsing ailing city bridge, deteriorating waterworks, the underground pipes and eroding highway. Our cities are already exhibiting inward decay, but years of neglect by the very people who’s supposed to protect us do nothing? I have reiterated watch “The Crumbling of America” on the History (International) channel in the next few weeks and learn? This is where your tax dollars should be going? We must not allow the Administration as in previous times keep sending our precious tax dollars to other countries. These politicians are deaf, dumb and intentionally blind to the rigors our industrial nation is going through. Not just Democrats, but the Republicans have had their sticky fingers in the bad apple–SPECIAL INTEREST–barrel, where money is plentiful. It’s like they are intentionally trying to turn our magnificent country into a third world nation, while making other cheap labor countries, on an even par with our sovereign society as US wages tumble? Then Again the Council of Foreign Relations have been amplifying its agenda of free movement of cheap labor through North America for years?
Most of these other lands have been at each others throats for centuries, so why do we expect any metamorphism into something any different? Only change can come from within, not by our nation expending billions of dollars, American lives? We must build our own borders fences, tall and strong and meant to keep out drug dealers, criminal aliens, terrorists and the never ending tracks of illegal aliens. Our politician’s noses are involved in too much foreign policy, while our aging infrastructure implodes. Trillions of dollars are spirited out the country, while we gain little in return. Washington–MUST–start giving back to the jobless American worker by placing a 5 year moratorium on all immigration, even legal? The next politicians should deliver us from any new sinister path to citizenship or better referred to as BLANKET AMNESTY? Follow the “Rule of Law” and not twist it into something else for their own convenience, as it will come back to haunt them at the voting booth. Unless ACORN steps-in with another fed contract and handles sign-ups for the ballot box? In that case will still see absentee ballots for the deceased people, pets and anybody who has learned that you need no government picture ID to sign on to vote.
The 1986 immigration reform bill dismally failed last time and all we inherited was 5 million illegal immigrants that still keep on coming with their impoverished hands out. Anti-Illegal immigrant forces are growing in numbers to stop another travesty. They acknowledge it could end up costing billions, perhaps even trillions of dollars. Nationwide we have seen the advent of closing hospitals and emergency rooms that have been submerged everyday by swarms by penniless foreigners and their families. Yes! We need health care reform. Americans are dying, going bankrupt , falling under the spell of debt collectors. The special interest lobbyists are causing mass hysteria by lying to the people. Many insurance companies are under this bombardment in television, radio and mass media. Their Status quo wants no change to their profits or high flying CEO’s making millions of dollars. on patients backs? I want health care reform, for the sake of my step daughter who died of Cancer, because the insurers said it was a pre-existing condition and they couldn’t continue to insure her?
It has become an enigma–THAT THE EMPLOYERS WHO HIRE THEM-LEAVE THE MAJORITY OF SICK PEOPLE ON THE STEPS OF EMERGENCY ROOMS. SO THAT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ENDS THERE? THEY DRIVE AWAY WITH A CLEAR CONSCIOUS? THEN IS LEFT FOR THE TAXPAYERS CHECK BOOK TO PAY THE BILL? THOSE EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE HUNTED DOWN AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY CENT. We have already been warned by the census bureau of overpopulation in the not too distant future. WE now have a very unique deterrent called E-Verify, that is a part of the SAVE ACT and our lawmakers should stop procrastinating and make it permanent for every worker? Washington knows their walking on quicksand, if the try to under fund or spirit away E-Verify this time around? The corrupting influences from the special interest lobby, have failed to induce many lawmakers to table E-Verify. In our future it could have many other uses other than extracting unauthorized labor from the workplace. Once fully installed it could check state drivers license applicants, insurance, school and higher education registrations and hospital admittances.
Americans have been unknowingly paying taxes to underwrite subsidies for the illegal population for decades. This is the biggest draw to American jobs, because the employers who hire them are sentient that taxpayers will foot the bills for education, health food stamps, housing and other government benefit consignments that even as citizens are denied. Keep the phone calls coming at 202-224-3121 LOOK FOR ANSWERS AT NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIAL WATCH & OVERPOPULATION AT CAPSWEB? These websites can identity politicians who actually work for the American people and others whose immigration grading level is unsatisfactory to stay in office? Have you heard about any large ICE raids lately? ICE got the order to cease and desist from the motley Democratic leadership. They are also using their influence to either weaken the federal training program 287 G that gives local police federal right to hold for questioning suspicious individual’s immigration status and to rescind the no-match-letter capability in determining a person’s right to work?
September 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
We shouldn’t pander to Hispanics; if they don’t have the same interests as the Republican Party, they don’t have the same intersts, Period. John McCain lost the Presidency because he didn’t offer anything to conservatives.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
[...] as well for that as President Kennedy is for America’s space efforts. I completely agree. As I’ve said many times over the last couple of months, energy policy is a critically important part of [...]