Republican Party stands for nothing which is why it's in decline-Jamie Radtke

12/27/12, "Radtke: GOP: the party that stands for nothing," Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jamie Radtke

"I ran for the United States Senate this past year in a Republican primary. As I knocked on doors, attended events and spoke to thousands of people, my opening statement was the same each time: “I think both parties have made a real mess of things. We need new politicians who will stand on principle once again.” Invariably the response was the same: “I couldn’t agree with you more!”

You have to look no further than the recent tea party movement to see the extreme dissatisfaction individuals have with their Republican representation. The genesis of this grass-roots movement came under President George W. Bush. The 2008 election losses by Republicans were substantial, not because Democrats voted against Republicans, but because many independents and Republicans opposed Republicans. 

Similarly, the opposition to Republican leadership continued to reveal itself in the 2010 and 2012 Republican primary challenges. 

Why? Because the current Republican Party stands for nothing.
.
The challenge that the Republican Party faces is both moral and philosophical. Can a political party flourish by standing for nothing?

The Republican Party has a rich heritage of standing unwaveringly on principle and insisting on the observance of a moral code. The party was initially founded to thwart the insatiable appetite Democrats had for spreading slavery to new states in the 1800s. In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan stood against communism and rightly called for the end of an evil empire that imprisoned its own people. Reagan also championed lower taxes for working families and small businesses, arguing that money rightfully deserves to stay with those who earned it. And for 40 years, Republicans have been tireless defenders of innocent life. As a result, a majority of Americans now disfavor abortion. These moral issues have defined us as a party.

As a Republican Party, we have built upon these foundational principles and extrapolated congruent policies on fiscal matters, free enterprise and rule of law. We have long argued that we should live within our means. Continually spending more money than we have and amassing trillions in debt is wickedly selfish and sentences our children to a future of economic hardship.

Republicans have steadfastly defended the right of laborers to keep the money they earn for their time, talent and effort. No government or individual has a moral right to your property — even children can plainly see this.

Republicans have also consistently stood for the rule of law. We strongly believe in people being treated fairly. If the law is arbitrary and capricious, then justice is not possible. However, the government posture has been to treat people unfairly and inequitably, punishing immigrants who spend significant time, money and years to go through the legal process toward citizenship, and rewarding illegal immigrants by allowing them to remain here virtually unchecked.

The Republican Party has undergone a negative shift in principles, message and goals. We became a party that modeled deficit spending for Democrats and paved the way for entitlement expansions with Republicans’ Medicare Part D initiative. We transitioned from being a party of “read my lips, no new taxes” to tax increases under the elder Bush and concessions on tax hikes and debt ceilings under Boehner and Cantor. We have established a pattern of conceding on tax increases while forsaking spending restraints. Now Republicans want to abandon the rule of law, waffle on marriage, and soften on abortion. Where does that leave us? As the party that stands for nothing.

The Republican Party is now driven by political expediency. As a result, it has engaged in corporate cronyism to fund and expedite its effort of winning elections and achieving power, with little desire to accomplish anything of substance except for the perpetuation of incumbent power. You cannot be a party that stands for nothing and expect to survive. It doesn’t inspire followers and it won’t grow the party.

Republicans need to embrace their heritage. We should be the party that leads in shaping our culture. Americans are looking for politicians who live by their convictions, defend the innocent, advance economic liberty and guard civil liberty.

We have been the party of big ideas, bold action and unwavering principles. Being the party of nothing achieves nothing, as we have seen these past few years. We need to stand for what is right by returning to time-tested principles that brought economic prosperity and expanded our economic liberty.

As I tell my three children, “There is no excuse for not doing what you know is right, no matter what others may think of you. In the end, doing what is right will pay off.” If Republicans heeded this parental advice, not only would the party be better off, Americans would be better off." via Free Republic

"Jamie Radtke ran for the Virginia Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2012."...




.