THE   CONSERVATIVE   DILEMMA

SHOULD CONSERVATIVES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE GOP?

By Fritz Mehrtens

Someone wrote recently that “Conservatism is too important to be left to the Republican Party.”  How true!   Starting with the 1994 congressional majority and ending on January 20^th with the end of the worst presidency since Jimmy Carter, Republicans ran roughshod over every Conservative principle and demolished the Conservative and Republican brands in the minds of the American people.

Whereas Conservatives advocate small government, Republicans enlarged the federal government at the expense of local autonomy; whereas Conservatives support fiscal responsibility, Republicans spent like drunken sailors, with special attention to increasing the number of earmarks each year;  whereas Conservatives promote ethical public conduct, Republicans repeatedly brought scandal to Washington; whereas Conservatives want government to leave them alone, Republicans sought to dictate religious dogma (creationism, abstinence as sole contraceptive, opposition to assisted suicide) as public policy; whereas Conservatives support national sovereignty, our president asked the UN for permission to act in our own national interest, whereas Conservatives believe in using Conservative principles to solve national problems, Republicans did nothing about the economy, immigration reform, energy, healthcare, and tax reform.

The Bush Administration was neither Conservative in its policies nor adept in executing its expansionist agenda.  We had four years of failure in Iraq, an inconsistent foreign policy that left our closest allies hanging, inept management of terrorist captives, a weakening of our military that leaves us helpless in the face of Russian and Iranian expansionism, continued leaks of sensitive information from the CIA and State Department, and not a single veto of pork-laden appropriations.

More recently, the Republican Party nominated the least qualified of its major presidential candidates (Giuliani, Romney or Huckabee would have been better choices), picked a political novice as running mate, and polarized the election with attempts to ‘energize the base’ that belied the candidate’s pledge to ‘reach across the aisle.’  The margin of Obama’s victory might have been even greater were it not for his less than stellar background.

Today’s Republican Party has but one goal: to win elections.  While that may be enough for the professional political class, it is not sufficient for Conservatives, whose goal is to govern conservatively.  What’s the point of winning elections if we govern like Democrats?

Hence the Conservative dilemma:  attempt to reform the Republican Party along traditional Conservative lines, or strike out in a new political direction by forming a truly conservative political party.  While the later course might be attractive, a reform movement within the Republican Party may be the only way to reinstate conservatism quickly. Starting a new party from scratch would require more time than the nation can afford.  We’re looking more like Europe with each passing day.

What might a resurgent Conservative Republican Party be like?  Two overriding concepts must be put in place: [1] a return to Constitutional government, and [2] a revitalization of the American culture that emphasizes our national motto, “E Pluribus Unum.”  There is moral high ground to be taken in both areas.

In restoring constitutional government, conservative Republicans can point to the Constitution to limit the federal government and use the states as laboratories for change.  To revitalize the American culture, the Party can advocate an English language amendment to the Constitution and sponsor public education projects that show American history in an unbiased light that emphasizes the development of the unique American character.

Some structural changes are required, as well.  A larger, more conservative party must include multiple leaders- we can see the disastrous effect of uniting behind Bush and later McCain- each led the party over the cliff to political oblivion.  We should end the fixation with a single leader and draw on a variety of perspectives.  And, let’s also end the leadership litmus tests that drive away so many talented people.  Someone pointed out that Ronald Reagan would have supported gay marriage were he alive today, based on his positions supporting gay rights during his presidency.  Should the party have thrown him over the side, as we did Giuliani and Romney recently, for his ‘divergent’ view?  Finally, Conservatives deserve better than the quadrennial cheerleading that passes for a Republican convention and the papering over of divergent views in the name of party unity.  We must facilitate the contest of ideas that allows the best solution to emerge.

If we intend to attract conservative Americans who don’t identify themselves as Conservatives, we must get rid of Karl Rove politics that promote disunity in order to ‘energize the base’ and that resulted in two very narrow presidential victories and the significant loss in 2008.  Rather, Republicans must reach out to Middle Americans who believe in individualism, hard work, nationalism, less government, and free enterprise and bring them into the Republican fold.  Clearly, playing to the religious base is insufficient.  To repeat myself: it isn’t just about winning elections, it’s about governing!

Conservative Republicans need to emphasize solutions to the nation’s problems and exhibit a tenacious regard for the national good.  Clear adherence to these two principles will, over time, result not only in electoral success, but the ability to govern. To promote conservative solutions near term, Republicans must learn to govern from outside the Beltway by working with state governments and conservative think tanks to solve national problems and by challenging the liberal agenda, much of which is unconstitutional, in the courts.  Perhaps we should create a ULCA- the polar opposite of the ACLU, to litigate for conservative causes.  We know our principles are right and that our solutions can result in a better and stronger America.  It is up to us to place our ideas before the American people unadulterated by personal and political agendas and without baggage from the recent past.  We owe it to succeeding generations to make our case for individualism, liberty, and limited government.

"It should be the highest ambition of every American to extend his views beyond himself, and to bear in mind that his conduct will not only affect himself, his country, and his immediate posterity; but that its influence may be co-extensive with the world, and stamp political happiness or misery on ages yet unborn.”

 —George Washington, letter to the Legislature of Pennsylvania, September 5, 1789

20 NOV 08