This morning, one of the two true conservatives running for the Republican presidential nomination, Michelle Bachmann, officially suspended her campaign. Almost immediately, the liberal media drum beat heralding the demise of conservatism has begun. The American liberal media are attempting to define who they believe should be the Republican Party candidate for the 2012 election in hopes that President Barack Obama, a relatively weak presidential contender, can easily win reelection.
The mainstream media is attempting to force on Republicans and conservatives alike to candidates that do not represent conservatives or traditional Republican values: Mr. Ron Paul or the other choice, Mr. Mitt Romney. Neither candidate is a truly viable choice for conservatives because neither holds conservative views. Both men represent the extreme fringes of the Republican Party. Should the Republican Party heed to the pressures placed upon it by the American media and choose either one of these men, they will nominate a candidate that will not be able to win against an incredibly political weak incumbent president.
The Republican Party does not need to allow the Democratic Party or its mega media machine define what it is or who its candidate needs to be. Before the Republican Party chooses its nominee for the 2012 election it must decide on what being a Republican really means. Since the 2010 mid-term elections, pundits from the Republican Party have indicated that the party “has a big tent,” meaning that there is enough room for anyone – in reality, meaning that as long as you are not claiming to be a Democrat, there’s room for you. What an ill-conceived strategy that is. While I do believe there is room within the Republican Party and there is strength in diversity, there must also be some common ground – some common political beliefs that define the core of what Republicanism means.
The Republican Party doesn’t need to look far back in its history to find out what made it a strong and popular party in the 1920s, 1950s, or the 1980s. There are a strong core set of values that Americans will always support; the problem is the Republican Party leadership that seems to think those core values are antiquated or will not win the support of the moderates and independents. Truth is, if the Republican Party would focus on those strong core values, they would find that there are many Americans that would prefer a candidate that was a strong conservative that adhered to a core set of REPUBLICAN values.
The core values that have made the Republican Party strong are still valued today. The one that many Americans share is the desire for strong national defense. In a time where our government is considering cut backs in every area except social programs, conservatives favor a more balanced approach that includes welfare reform and leaves out sacrificing the need of a strong military. It is not that conservatives desire war at every turn, but desire to have the ability to defend the nation and its interests world wide. In other words, the maintaining of a strong and modern military is essential to the defense of freedom.
Another core value that conservatism holds on to that the Republican Party has abandoned is an uncompromising view of the role of government within the national economy. Again, it must be noted that not all that call themselves Republican can call themselves a conservative. The concept that the government has a right to take from the producers in society to redistribute to those that do not produce or contribute is something that should have remained foreign to the Republican Party. Low tax rates for both the individual and corporation are necessary to stimulating the national economy. When those individuals that are considered “wealthy” are singled out to pay higher taxes than their middle class or welfare class counterparts taxation becomes nothing more than a punishment for success. This was what made Mr. Herman Cain’s message so appealing – a flat tax based on a simple percentage for all. It is not that conservatives object to paying taxes, it is just that conservatives object to paying higher taxes based on economic success.
Another area that has always been at the center of the conservative movement and that once was a Republican virtue is the focus on family. Right now, the American society – mass media, entertainment, and education – has turned increasingly hostile to what was once seen as the “American family.” As a historian, I am often reminded of the 1920′s progressive slogan that if real change is going to happen in American society, it must begin in the way the nation raises its children. Since then, we have seen young parents to avoid listening to the older generation for parenting advice, to turn towards the social sciences, social workers, etc. for advice in rearing children. Dr. Benjamin Spock even focused on the need to avoid disciplining children and allow them to explore their own limitations and identity. Just look at the condition of the average American city – increased poverty from single parent homes, high teenage pregnancy rates, higher illiteracy rates, high school graduates lacking skills needed for simple work, and finally, lack of work ethics. It is time for the nation to reevaluate the path its on – and its time for the Republican Party to listen to its more conservative elements on this topic.
When it comes to the individual practice of religion, again, we see the Republican Party’s message somewhat disingenuous and convoluted. This is not surprising because the party has allowed mainstream media and the Democratic Party define what we believe – which, according to them is – all Christian, anti Mormon, anti Catholic, anti Muslim, and extremely limited in our view of faith. As a general rule, again, conservatives do not care what denomination or faith anyone follows; conservatives are more interested that you do have a faith and that you strive to have a better relationship with the deity of that faith. If you are a Christian, how well do you abide by your denomination’s doctrines? Are you a Buddhist, how well do you follow the teachings of Buddha in your daily life? Atheists – yes, conservatives accept them too with the understanding if you do not believe in any form of deity then do not attack the beliefs of those that do.
The issue of civil rights has long been a Republican virtue. A quick study of real history and the interviewing of Civil Rights leaders from the 1950s, such as Dr. Alveda King tell everyone that will listen to her that it has been the Republican Party that has been the spearhead of almost all civil rights legislation. Modern Democrats forget that Eugene “Bull” Connor, Governor Orval Faubus, and others who fought against desegregation were DEMOCRATIC PARTY members. The Democratic Party has had a long history of entrenched racism and policies aimed at the destruction of minority groups. Look at the outcome of the “War on Poverty” as expanded by Johnson – many sociologists claim that these programs that started during his administration actually increased the rate of destruction of the African American family replacing the need for a strong male role model with a fear of losing “entitlements” should the family make over a certain income or outright ineligibility if both parents are present in the home.
These five “core values” – strong national defense, defense of family, religion, tax reform, and civil rights are just the start. There are others, such as the interpretation of the Constitution, and individual liberty which could easily be (and may yet become) full entries to themselves and should form the basis for defining the Republican Party. Unfortunately, instead of the Republican Party defining itself, I am afraid that it will continue to be defined by an unfriendly media and the Democratic Party.
