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Our future isn’t
about appealing
to a particular
base,
triangulation,
or some other
political
tactic. It’s
about placing
principle above
all else.
Republicans
became a
majority by
articulating and
adhering to a
set of
principles.
Campaigning and
governing from
principle
furnishes order
in the often
chaotic
political world.
It develops a
stable political
base that
supports you
through thick
and, more
importantly,
through thin. It
fosters respect
from those who
don’t
necessarily
agree but
respect
leadership,
strength, and
confidence.
Finally, it
provides focus
and discipline
after one wins
and then
confronts the
task of
governing.
Ronald Reagan
(like Abraham
Lincoln before
him) taught us
that lesson.
Before Reagan’s
Presidency,
Republicans too
often took a “me
too but less”
approach
vis-à-vis our
opponents. The
American
electorate
appropriately
consigned us to
a permanent
minority
status.
Reagan spent
considerable
time and study
formulating his
principles. Then
the Great
Communicator
constantly and
calmly
articulated his
“beliefs.” As
one commentator
observed:
“Reagan gave the
impression of
speaking to the
whole country at
once, of saying
‘This is what I
believe and I
hope that a
majority of you
agree with
it.’”
Reagan endured
more than his
fair share of
political
challenges and
setbacks. He
also understood
that politics is
the art of the
possible –
compromising on
the terms of the
legislation but
not on the terms
of the debate.
But ultimately
he restored
America’s
vibrancy, won
the Cold War,
and charted a
course for
Republican
majority status
on a national
and state level.
Before coming to
Congress, I
served in the
Florida House of
Representatives
through the
1990’s and rose
from a minority
backbencher to
Speaker of the
House.
Republicans
attained a
majority in this
large, growing,
diverse, and
vibrant state by
campaigning on
and governing
with these five
principles,
which represent
the best in
American
self-governance:
1. Less
Government
— Reducing
government
regulations and
size of
government.
Eliminating
entitlements or
unnecessary
programs.
2. Lower Taxes
— Promoting
individual
responsibility
in spending and
reducing taxes
or fees.
3. Personal
Responsibility
— Encouraging
responsible
behavior by
individuals and
families and
motivating them
to provide for
their own
health, safety,
education, moral
fortitude, or
general welfare.
4. Individual
Freedom
— Increasing
opportunities
for individuals
or families to
decide, without
hindrance or
coercion from
government, how
to conduct their
own lives and
make personal
choices.
5. Stronger
Families
— Enhancing the
traditional
American family
and its power to
rear children
without
excessive
interference
from the
government.
After coming to
Washington in
2003, I added a
sixth principle
based on the
federal
government’s
fundamental duty
to protect its
citizens:
6. Domestic
Tranquility and
National Defense
— Enhancing
American
security without
unduly burdening
civil liberty.
These principles
distinguish us
from our
opponents.
Republicans are
doers – men and
women of action.
We celebrate
American
exceptionalism –
this country’s
experiment in
how individual
liberty allows
ordinary people
to do
extraordinary
things. We are
also instinctive
protectors –
guarding
America’s 300
million citizens
from predators
and taking the
fight to those
who would harm
us.
Democrats are
talkers and
theorizers –
people entranced
by theories
bearing little
connection with
how the world
really works.
They’re enamored
with
transnational
governance and
approval by
those overseas
and thus
distrust or
discount the
American people,
American
institutions,
and the American
experience.
They gravitate
towards a large
and intrusive
government
replete with
interference in
free markets,
excessive taxes,
rule by experts
and an unelected
judiciary, and a
stifling “nanny
state” scolding
us on our
behavior. They
seduce voters
into a cycle of
addiction –
tempting with
taxpayer
largess, buying
votes with
promises of
greater
paybacks, and
creating
freedom-robbing
dependencies.
As an American,
I would hope
that September
11 aroused
protector
instincts in all
political
leaders. But
Democrats are
increasingly
defined by their
radical appeaser
wing. When
confronted by
predators, they
instinctively
consult the
New York Times
editorial page,
blame America
first, fret
about how the
Europeans will
view us, and
empathize with
those
threatening us –
a distressingly
similar approach
they took to
America’s crime
wave of the
1960’s and 70’s.
Until Democrat
leadership
stands up to
this vocal and
influential
element, we
cannot trust
them to protect
us. Who do you
want at the end
of your call to
911?
America and our
party were born
in the crucible
of principles.
Republicans
changed history
when we stood by
our beliefs.
When we deviate
from our
principles by
pursuing raw
power, following
poll numbers,
focusing on the
trivial, or
fretting about
what the
Washington Post
says, we
disillusion our
core supporters
and impress
others with our
disingenuousness
and weakness.
We can reaffirm
the conviction
of our beliefs
or wander into
irrelevancy.
It’s time to
campaign and
govern with
substance and
meaning.
RF
Tom Feeney
represents the
24th
Congressional
District in the
U.S. House of
Representatives.
He serves as
Chairman of the
House
Conservative
Fund, the
politicalarm of
the Republican
Study Committee. |
