By Mayor Mike Halfacre
Republicans need to stop fighting over whether to move the party to the “center” or to the “right”, and instead move the party forward.
Many Republicans in New Jersey and nationally have lost sight of the Republican brand, and have instead tried to become “Democrat-lite” by being all things to all people. We need to leave democratic-style interest group politics behind, and re-establish ourselves as the party of the individual. Smaller government, lower taxes, incentives for business growth, national security and individual freedoms are ideas that appeal to everybody, regardless of what interest group they occupy.
Instead of trying to attract the group, we need to attract the individual, from the grass roots up.
To do this, Republicans need to set the agenda and stay on message. This will require discipline and leadership, and New Jersey politicians often lack both. Now is the time for Republicans to step up and seize the initiative. Done properly, we can set the stage for a 1994-like return to power.
The Party needs to draft a specific set of principals that embody the Republican ideal. This platform needs to be easily articulated, consistently and repeatedly put forth in every medium.
It needs to emphasize that in a time of economic uncertainty, we need to make government more affordable, not increase the size of government exponentially. Democratic staples like universal healthcare and universal pre-school grow government. New Jersey’s only job sector that has positive growth is government employment. Our State debt is out of control, and the State budget continues to grow. Yet, our economy continues to suffer. The message needs to be sent that the McGreevey/Codey/Corzine plan to continually increase the size of government does not work. (Yes, the Whitman plan didn’t help, either)
Stay on the message that lowering taxes will put more money into people’s pockets, increase optimism, and grow the economy, and business incentives will create jobs, increase tax receipts, and help to balance the budget and pay down debt, which in turn, will allow lower taxes, more spending money, and increased optimism.
The Party needs candidates for 2009 that will spread the word and take on the big government Democrats. Candidates that will capitalize on the fact that the failed policies of New Jersey’s Democrats are the reason we are in this mess. Corzine is vulnerable, but Republicans need to start now, to take cohesive action, to take the Governor’s office and recoup losses in the legislature.
The Party needs candidates in anticipation of the 2010 mid-term elections to take on New Jersey’s Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, two of the most liberal members of Congress, who will most certainly lead the way in Washington with New Jersey-style economic policies. We need to educate people on the true nature of these Congressmen, to show people that they do not truly represent their Districts.
If there is one thing we can learn from Barack Obama, it is that it is never too early to start campaigning. Republicans need to start planning now for 2009, 2010 and even 2012. Get the message straight and stay on the message.
We can turn this state red again, but it will take some work.
Who’s with me?
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5 comments:
Mike Halfacre - Congress 2010.
"Because half an acre is better than none."
What do you say Mayor?
I'd gladly stuff envelopes for you.
I'm in Mayor, although we'll have to make sure to define what exactly makes one "Democrat-Light".
I think that labeling is what leads people to fight over which direction to take the party in. Obviously though I think we need to have a major focus on the economic issues and stop harping so much on the wedge issues. Even if economy isn't the number one issue in the future, the important issues will always be jobs, healthcare, taxes, spending, and economy related if not national security. The rest, for the most part (I might be missing an issue or two) is just background noise that we can't continue to harp on.
I like the slogan.
Art I enjoy reading your blog. I have not posted before but I could not pass this one up.
What I hear when I read the first couple of paragraphs of the Mayors statement is "let's drop those social issues like right to life and family values to move the party forward". After that it sounds good to me.
The Republicans succeeded when they came together under the agenda of Ronald Reagan which included all the things Mr. Halfacre lists plus the above.
If the party abadons social issue many Republican voters will stay home or vote for a third party. They only vote for Republicans because of those hot button issues.
I do not advocate that approach. I just state it as a fact.
Another fact is that studies have shown that overall Republicans gain a lot more voters then they loose when they support conservative social positions.
The way to move the party forward is to go back to being the party of Ronald Reagan.
Welcome Michael,
I hear what you are saying. I'm not sure Mayor Halfacre is saying "let's drop the social issues."
My focus at this time is on the state level. Abortion is going to be decided (probably has been given the recent electoral results) on the national level. Until such time as Roe v Wade is overturned, it makes little sense for us to make the right to an abortion an issue in state politics. When we have, we've gotten creamed, for no reason since we don't have the power to make real changes anyway.
Gay marriage might be an issue. I'm out of the mainstream on that one. I don't think the government should sanction any marriage and that all people should have the same rights. I favor civil unions regardless of sexual orientation and that marriage should be sacremental, a religious, not a civil distinction.
Only the Libertarians are likely to agree with me on that one.
The R's are likely to oppose gay marriage, but I will still vote R if R's are really serious about small government and individual rights.
I think the Mayor's point if for us to unite on the values we can agree on and win, rather than fight over issues amongst ourselves and keep losing. I'm all for that.
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