A Republican asks,
How could this happen?
By Pete Riehm
Mobile Free Press
America experienced another form of shock and awe on Election Day -- about half the country stands in awe and the other half staggers in shock.
President-elect Obama should be congratulated and all Americans should only want success for America regardless of who is President –- the country still belongs to all of us.
Many Republicans are literally in shock and I have heard from more than a few that are in disbelief, discouraged, disheartened, disgusted and flat depressed. Of course, most of these folks are average Americans who spend most of their time working, raising families, and just plain living their lives; and only get involved in politics near elections to support the candidates and party that uphold their values, or so they thought.
Republican politicians and pundits are not surprised, but the grassroots are stunned. How could this happen? Republicans stand for the original core conservative values laid out by the founding Fathers. We support individual freedom and rights and they favor collectivism; we support personal responsibility and they support dependency. We support smaller restrained government and who could possibly want an over-reaching over-bearing irresistibly huge government running every aspect of life?
How could this happen?
The short answer is Republican leadership, particularly at the national level, failed miserably. There was no single leader who corralled everyone in the party, imbued us with a vision, and led the masses to the highlands. Rather, the Republicans were like a large convoluted herd where stragglers simply tagged along in the general direction as we lumbered down to the slaughter.
The Republican Party and its leadership failed because they have become creatures of the environment they live in -– big government. They are citizens of Washington, DC and only try to connect with the heartland when they need votes. They have pushed those core conservative values we cherish at the grassroots aside.
They have become enamored with big government; they believe they can use big government to govern conservatively. What folly to think you can cultivate a large ravenous beast and never suspect it will ultimately turn on you. Even Siegfried and Roy discovered that Tigers are still wild animals.
A large battle looms for the soul of the Republican Party and has probably begun behind closed doors.
Unfortunately, many in leadership are drawing the wrong lessons. Very few espouse a genuine back to basics approach. Some believe Republicans should chase independents done the center road and too many believe Republicans should follow the Democrats to the left.
All wrong. Voters want a real choice and something to believe in. Offering Republicans big government solutions only better than the Democrats and oh by the way kind of conservative never works. Why vote Democrat-Lite when you can have the real thing?
Sadly, the current Republican leadership will not get this right; their focus is on gaming the political system. They no longer appreciate that an agenda preserving our unique American Freedom as laid out in the constitution still stirs the masses. First, pretty much all of them must go and second, it will be up to the grassroots to not only resurrect the Party, but provide the Gospel to guide a renewed crusade.
Every county in the country needs to reaffirm our conservative convictions; they are indeed timeless. We must draft and debate a pledge that we support and believe in government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” We believe in the supremacy of individual rights that include a right to life for all. We believe in personal responsibility so that liberty can truly flourish for all without government intervention. We believe free enterprise and capitalism is the only viable vehicle for the masses to pursue happiness.
In every county across this land we should seek and elect candidates that are firm in these convictions. The people must band together and demand our leaders at the state and nationals levels get onboard and lead a genuine conservative movement or get out of the way. Sign and swear a pledge!
Intellectuals, pundits and many in power will pooh-pooh any notion that becoming more conservative is a path to success. Therefore, it is up to every one of us to stand and be heard. We must demand our leaders listen and then lead. Otherwise, it may be another long 40 years of Democrat rule.
(Riehm is a retired U.S. Navy commander and chairman of Mobile GOP.)
