Republican Leadership Go Back To Basics
Republicans Succeed With Conservative Values
True conservatives want a return to basics. The argument is that President Bush abandoned conservative principles by expanding government and driving up spending. A faction within the Republican Party drew just the opposite conclusion, warning that Republicans have tried to appeal to a base that is too narrow and that the party must update the focus of conservatism, especially at a time when voters are thinking more about issues like jobs and health care than about abortion and gay rights.
This faction points to the party’s losses this month, which spanned the entire Northeast and West Coast, the Great Lakes states, several Western states and traditionally Republican states like Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana, and said the party urgently needed to broaden its appeal. The Republican Party and leaders need to go back to the basics. Most American’s lean to the right, not the left.
Lee Edwards, with the Heritage Foundation, said that in meetings with conservative leaders since the election there was an emerging consensus that the Republicans had been hurt because they had drifted away from conservative principles and that religious conservatives, economic conservatives and strong-military conservatives had seemed to realize the need to unite to regain power. Mr. Edwards is dead on. Republicans succeed with conservative values.
Ohio's John Boehner held on to the minority leader post, but his new deputy will be Eric Cantor, a tough-talking Virginian who led this fall's fight to stall a financial rescue plan crafted by the White House, Democrats and Boehner loyalists. The party's third-ranking House slot, conference chairman, went to Indiana's Mike Pence; a former radio talk-show host who is a favorite among hard-line conservatives.
"We need to get back to the principles that the Republican Party has stood for," said Pence, "notably strong defense, limited government and strong moral values." "We will be more aggressive. We'll remind people you don't raise taxes in a recession," said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif. Added Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., "we need clear delineations between our party and President Obama."
The differences in tone were clear after the caucus votes, as Boehner joined members of his leadership team for a joint news conference. Boehner was conciliatory, saying, "Our job as a party is to find solutions," and pledged to work with Obama where the two sides could find common ground.
One key reason why Boehner was challenged, and still presides over a skeptical constituency, is that he's seen as too accommodating to Democrats. He worked with them in fashioning this fall's $700 billion rescue package. It’s time for leadership like Rep. Boehner to wake up and get back to the basics of conservative values.
Pence offered a harder edge. "This is a time of renewal and regrouping," he said. "There's a clear understanding that Republicans need to renew our commitment to the timeless principles of our party." Rep. Pence is right. Republicans and all Republican leadership need to get back to basic conservative values and principles.
America don’t let the socialist behavior of President Elect Barack Hussein Obama and the socialist democrats destroy America. Join SpeakNowAmerica.org today! We are ready to defend our rights and tell the truth the socialist press won’t tell you. Join us America to protect your rights, your country, and your money. Comment here and email us at YourVoice@speaknowamerica.org. Help us and be part of bringing our Great country back.
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True conservatives want a return to basics. The argument is that President Bush abandoned conservative principles by expanding government and driving up spending. A faction within the Republican Party drew just the opposite conclusion, warning that Republicans have tried to appeal to a base that is too narrow and that the party must update the focus of conservatism, especially at a time when voters are thinking more about issues like jobs and health care than about abortion and gay rights.
This faction points to the party’s losses this month, which spanned the entire Northeast and West Coast, the Great Lakes states, several Western states and traditionally Republican states like Virginia, North Carolina and Indiana, and said the party urgently needed to broaden its appeal. The Republican Party and leaders need to go back to the basics. Most American’s lean to the right, not the left.
Lee Edwards, with the Heritage Foundation, said that in meetings with conservative leaders since the election there was an emerging consensus that the Republicans had been hurt because they had drifted away from conservative principles and that religious conservatives, economic conservatives and strong-military conservatives had seemed to realize the need to unite to regain power. Mr. Edwards is dead on. Republicans succeed with conservative values.
Ohio's John Boehner held on to the minority leader post, but his new deputy will be Eric Cantor, a tough-talking Virginian who led this fall's fight to stall a financial rescue plan crafted by the White House, Democrats and Boehner loyalists. The party's third-ranking House slot, conference chairman, went to Indiana's Mike Pence; a former radio talk-show host who is a favorite among hard-line conservatives.
"We need to get back to the principles that the Republican Party has stood for," said Pence, "notably strong defense, limited government and strong moral values." "We will be more aggressive. We'll remind people you don't raise taxes in a recession," said Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif. Added Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., "we need clear delineations between our party and President Obama."
The differences in tone were clear after the caucus votes, as Boehner joined members of his leadership team for a joint news conference. Boehner was conciliatory, saying, "Our job as a party is to find solutions," and pledged to work with Obama where the two sides could find common ground.
One key reason why Boehner was challenged, and still presides over a skeptical constituency, is that he's seen as too accommodating to Democrats. He worked with them in fashioning this fall's $700 billion rescue package. It’s time for leadership like Rep. Boehner to wake up and get back to the basics of conservative values.
Pence offered a harder edge. "This is a time of renewal and regrouping," he said. "There's a clear understanding that Republicans need to renew our commitment to the timeless principles of our party." Rep. Pence is right. Republicans and all Republican leadership need to get back to basic conservative values and principles.
America don’t let the socialist behavior of President Elect Barack Hussein Obama and the socialist democrats destroy America. Join SpeakNowAmerica.org today! We are ready to defend our rights and tell the truth the socialist press won’t tell you. Join us America to protect your rights, your country, and your money. Comment here and email us at YourVoice@speaknowamerica.org. Help us and be part of bringing our Great country back.
Speak Now America! we want to hear from you.
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