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MEMO TO REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: CHANGE YOUR LEADERSHIP NOW
By Rich Wagner and Chip Hanlon
[Publisher's Note: After the defeats suffered by the Republican Party in the General Election, we have reached out to some California leaders to ask them to reflect on this question, "What must the GOP do to once again be the majority party?" We are pleased to bring you this column from Rich Wagner and Chip Hanlon, the President and a Board Member, respectively, of the Lincoln Club of Orange County - Flash]
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In July of this year, we wrote an article in Red County magazine entitled, We Refuse To Support A Permanent Minority. It detailed our displeasure with Republican Congressional leadership that lead to the relinquishing of Republican control of Congress in 2006, and the difficult environment this year. The article was picked up by Robert Novak as an ultimatum to the GOP that, if after November 5th Republican Congressional leadership was not changed, the Lincoln Club of Orange County would review its financial backing of all Congressional Republicans, and urged other groups to do likewise.
Yesterday, November 5th, House Minority Leader John Boehner delivered a letter to all House Republicans stating his case for being re-elected as House Minority Leader. We respectfully submit that it is simply not credible to ask the American people to return Republicans to the majority in Congress when all we offer them is essentially the same group of leaders they rejected in 2006 and again on November 4th.
Pretend you could roll back the clock to November of 2000 -- one day before that year’s Bush vs. Gore Presidential election. You’re asked to predict the winner, knowing that over the next eight years, the winner would enact the following:
In looking at the list above, you would have guessed that not only did Al Gore win, but that he had a solid Democratic majority in Congress as well. So we ask: Where did all of the big spending and hordes of earmarks get us, as a party, on November 4th?
Republican principles haven’t failed. Republican leadership has. And whether or not it is arguable, it is this perception amongst the electorate that trumps.
In turning their backs on the limited government ideals of Ronald Reagan and Newt Gingrich, today’s Republican leaders in Washington -- in both the White House and in the Congress -- have put the very essence of our economic well-being -- capitalism -- in the crosshairs.
Thus, we have a complex task ahead as a party, and it consists of three major steps.
- First, we must acknowledge that Republicans failed because of our failure to adhere to our core principle of limited government.
- Second, we must take decisive action to repair our own party starting with regime change at the top. The entire current House leadership must go.
- Third, to change perceptions and convince Republicans the party is serious, the new leadership must clearly articulate an agenda based on clear, core principles that include placing government on a diet by reining in spending, eliminating wasteful and excessive earmarks, reducing wasteful programs, and promoting a pro-growth agenda of lowering corporate taxes, making permanent the Bush tax cuts, and reducing capital gains taxes. We need a well-defined roadmap -- a “Contract with America ” for 2009 and beyond, if you will -- and a new, articulate leader to carry such a message.
Fortunately, a group of reform-minded Republicans exists in Congress and they seem to be gaining strength. Among them is Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, a young, articulate member who colleagues consistently point out as the smartest guy in the room. Not only has Ryan offered detailed plans for reining in key government programs, he truly believes in and can articulate why reining in spending, eliminating the wasteful pork-fest and promoting free market legislation is the center-right alternative most Americans embrace. Ryan would offer an exciting alternative to the Democrats’ new “paladin.” But most importantly, he is one who can sell it!
This is a critical time for Republicans to take action, and we have reason to be quite optimistic for the future. The policies of this new President and his allies in Congress are likely to be so jarring to the electorate, that when they see them in action, we may have an opportunity to take back Congress much sooner than we might expect. The key is this: people need to see Republican leaders articulate a clear plan for this country, a plan rooted in principles of self-reliance, freedom, and efficient government. People need a reason to vote “for” Republicans, not just vote “against” Democrats.
The tree of liberty needs to be refreshed with the (rhetorical) blood of today’s Republican leadership so that a new revolution can take hold. For the good of the party, John Boehner and his allies must step aside. All of you must show that you have the courage to place principles and country first, for believe us when we say, “we refuse to support a permanent minority.”
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Rich Wagner is the President of the Lincoln Club of Orange County. Chip Hanlon is a Lincoln Club board member, President of Delta Global Advisors, and Founder of GreenFaucet.com. You can e-mail them, via the FlashReport, here.
