Why We Lost
In 1976 we had a historical election. Incumbent and unelected Republican Gerald Ford was running against Democrat Jimmy Carter. We all know how that election turned out. Jimmy Carter took office and was arguably the worst President in modern history. For those of you who lived during the Carter years, you will recall sky-high inflation, gas shortages, and the introduction of Radical Islam as a dangerous an increasingly powerful movement in the Middle East. There are many parallels between this election and the one held in 1976.
In many ways I feel that this election may have been over before it even began. In the Ford – Carter race, the country had just come out of the Watergate scandal and the former president’s hand picked successor, a moderate leader in Congress, faced a hostile political climate. Acting in what he thought was in the best interests of the country, he pardoned Nixon for the Watergate cover-up. In doing so, he helping the country move on from the scandal and successfully committed political suicide. The Democratic Party could have put up Ted Kennedy, still drunk and soaking wet from his late night drive into Chappaquiddick and the Republicans still would have lost. Like 1976, we are coming out of a hard period of our history. Unfortunately this period we are currently in is perceived as much worse than I believe it is. That has led the public to turn on a President that has characteristically done what he regards as right regardless of popular opinion. With a difficult and unpopular war to fuel this fire, many wanted the country to take a different direction.
John McCain faced a tough, up-hill battle to the presidency. All Barack Obama had to do was make a loose tie between him and President Bush. As they are members of the same party that holds a minority in both the House and Senate and unfavorable approval for the Iraq war and pending recession, that was not a difficult connection to make. People tend to forget that the two faced each other eight years ago in a tough Primary for the 2000 election. Those who are members of the party see a very clear difference between the two men and the type of administration John McCain would have if given the opportunity to be President.
Although blunders have been made from the beginning, I firmly believe that we came out strong and overcame many obstacles along the way. We began this season with a wide field of Republican contenders. Many were good man with attractive resumes. But every one lacked what Conservatives really wanted. We can only hope that, like 1976, history will provide us with a new candidate who will bring us back from the fire. Take hope in knowing that many new leaders are emerging. Palin, Pawlenty and Jindal all have the potential for greatness in the future. Continue to watch and support them as they grow in their home states. They will be the future of this country.
Do not use this as an opportunity to take a card from the left and refuse to cooperate with this new President. We are different because we make informed, logical decisions that are not based on pure passion and emotion. We will not have success unless we continue to lead by putting out our ideas and pushing them into the national spotlight through the venues we have created. Continue to support the various Conservative organizations that have fought so hard against the media and the radicals in our schools. Donate to Heritage Foundation, Young America’s Foundation and all the other groups that work to provide free speech in our schools and keep our American values intact. Keep your Congressman accountable as well. Remember that they are your representative even if you do not come from the same party.
I conclude by extending an invitation to all of you. We have entered a new political climate that is hostile to many of our beliefs. It will be harder to keep our views mainstream but not impossible. In February, the American Conservative Union will hold the 36th Annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington DC. I attended last year’s event, and it was worth every penny. I mistakenly claimed that CPAC 2008 was the most important as it was held the day after Super Tuesday and on the eve of this Historical Election season. This coming CPAC is even more important to attend. Join me in helping take back the White House and the Congress. What makes America great is that anyone can change it. But it can not be done without your help.
