We Refuse To Support a Permanent Minority
Posted by: Scott W. Graves | 07/07/2008 5:25 AM
The grumbling. The head shaking. The anger.
Congressional Republican leaders clearly have no idea what we, their fellow GOP members (and financial backers), say to one another when we get together, yet for years one refrain has been constant: our extreme discontent over how the former GOP majority blew it on spending.
Budget earmarks, which jumped by 285% between 1994 and 2005 as their cost soared by 60%, stand as the perfect symbol of the GOP-led profligacy that drives us crazy still. In and of themselves, earmarks are admittedly a small part in the budget process, amounting to roughly 2% of the federal budget in 2005. Yet they epitomize the fiscal recklessness that led to Republicans becoming a minority in 2006.
Unable to rein it in on the smaller earmark items, it's no wonder the Republican leadership continued to fail on the more critical structural spending issues such as entitlement reform and a reduction in federal spending (hello Prescription Medicare).
Still oblivious to the source of our discontent, a number of free-spending Republicans recently rushed to meet House GOP leader John Boehner, urging him not to back an earmark reform proposal from the Republican Study Committee. The idea they fought so mightily against? A ban on earmark requests from Republican members of Congress for one year.
The porkers' struggle is typified by Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia--sponsor or co-sponsor of $83MM in earmarks in last year's budget alone--who, amazingly, defended earmarks as "being entrepreneurial about bringing something home."
Alas, bold GOP leadership on earmark reform is still nearly absent in Washington. Michigan's Thad McCotter highlights this by arguing the futility of fighting for earmark reform, saying members of the House can't lead on the issue because, "...we are not the field marshals, we are the foot soldiers."
Thank goodness Newt Gingrich suffered no such humility in 1994.
And that's just the point, isn't it? Today's Congressional Republicans have lost all resemblance to the revolutionaries who then typified the principles our party could--and should--stand for.
Indeed, because today's Republicans are so addicted to pork and big-ticket spending, it is time to demand dramatic action.
Therefore, as a start, we strongly support and call upon the House GOP leadership to institute a minimum one year moratorium on earmarks by Republicans, and for the Senate GOP leaders to follow suit. Concurrently, we urge other Republican donor groups to reinforce this important beginning through their influence as well, with the ultimate intent to work towards substantial Republican spending reform.
Second, we are dialoguing with like-minded groups across the country about electing new Congressional Republican leadership in both houses of Congress. Regardless of November's outcome, it is time to make a clear statement to voters that we intend to establish a new team and goals, re-discovering our lost principles of a government limited in size, scope, and spending.
It is not credible to ask the American people to return Republicans to the majority when all we offer them is the same group of leaders and policies they so recently rejected.
It's not just "branding," but the right policies which will breathe new life into the Republican Party and re-energize voters.
And one more thing: come November 5th, should the current GOP leadership in either house survive to lead in a new Congress, the Lincoln Club of Orange County will review its financial backing of all Congressional Republicans, and we urge others to do likewise. A GOP caucus that would re-elect such leaders is not one we would likely continue to support.
Because, simply put: we refuse to support a permanent minority.
Rich Wagner is the President of the Lincoln Club of Orange County. Chip Hanlon is a Lincoln Club board member, President of Delta Global Advisors, and Founder of GreenFaucet.com.
UPDATE: Click here to read Robert Novak's column in the Washington Post with his own take on this issue and this article.
***
Join Our Efforts to Identify and Support a New Breed of Republican Leadership.
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States, petition the Republican congressional leadership to return to the philosophy best reflected by the spirit of 1994 and values of limited government, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, and less bureaucracy.
Congressional Republican leaders clearly have no idea what we, their fellow GOP members (and financial backers), say to one another when we get together, yet for years one refrain has been constant: our extreme discontent over how the former GOP majority blew it on spending.
Budget earmarks, which jumped by 285% between 1994 and 2005 as their cost soared by 60%, stand as the perfect symbol of the GOP-led profligacy that drives us crazy still. In and of themselves, earmarks are admittedly a small part in the budget process, amounting to roughly 2% of the federal budget in 2005. Yet they epitomize the fiscal recklessness that led to Republicans becoming a minority in 2006.
Unable to rein it in on the smaller earmark items, it's no wonder the Republican leadership continued to fail on the more critical structural spending issues such as entitlement reform and a reduction in federal spending (hello Prescription Medicare).
Still oblivious to the source of our discontent, a number of free-spending Republicans recently rushed to meet House GOP leader John Boehner, urging him not to back an earmark reform proposal from the Republican Study Committee. The idea they fought so mightily against? A ban on earmark requests from Republican members of Congress for one year.
The porkers' struggle is typified by Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia--sponsor or co-sponsor of $83MM in earmarks in last year's budget alone--who, amazingly, defended earmarks as "being entrepreneurial about bringing something home."
In response to us on that remark, former Speaker Newt Gingrich scathingly replied, "There's nothing entrepreneurial about the Appropriations Committee spending other people's money."
Alas, bold GOP leadership on earmark reform is still nearly absent in Washington. Michigan's Thad McCotter highlights this by arguing the futility of fighting for earmark reform, saying members of the House can't lead on the issue because, "...we are not the field marshals, we are the foot soldiers."
Thank goodness Newt Gingrich suffered no such humility in 1994.
And that's just the point, isn't it? Today's Congressional Republicans have lost all resemblance to the revolutionaries who then typified the principles our party could--and should--stand for.
Indeed, because today's Republicans are so addicted to pork and big-ticket spending, it is time to demand dramatic action.
Therefore, as a start, we strongly support and call upon the House GOP leadership to institute a minimum one year moratorium on earmarks by Republicans, and for the Senate GOP leaders to follow suit. Concurrently, we urge other Republican donor groups to reinforce this important beginning through their influence as well, with the ultimate intent to work towards substantial Republican spending reform.
Second, we are dialoguing with like-minded groups across the country about electing new Congressional Republican leadership in both houses of Congress. Regardless of November's outcome, it is time to make a clear statement to voters that we intend to establish a new team and goals, re-discovering our lost principles of a government limited in size, scope, and spending.
It is not credible to ask the American people to return Republicans to the majority when all we offer them is the same group of leaders and policies they so recently rejected.
It's not just "branding," but the right policies which will breathe new life into the Republican Party and re-energize voters.
And one more thing: come November 5th, should the current GOP leadership in either house survive to lead in a new Congress, the Lincoln Club of Orange County will review its financial backing of all Congressional Republicans, and we urge others to do likewise. A GOP caucus that would re-elect such leaders is not one we would likely continue to support.
Because, simply put: we refuse to support a permanent minority.
Rich Wagner is the President of the Lincoln Club of Orange County. Chip Hanlon is a Lincoln Club board member, President of Delta Global Advisors, and Founder of GreenFaucet.com.
UPDATE: Click here to read Robert Novak's column in the Washington Post with his own take on this issue and this article.***
Join Our Efforts to Identify and Support a New Breed of Republican Leadership.
We, the undersigned citizens of the United States, petition the Republican congressional leadership to return to the philosophy best reflected by the spirit of 1994 and values of limited government, lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, and less bureaucracy.
CATEGORY:
FEATURE, Magazine (Summer 2008)
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Hooray, someone actually gets it!
Be careful what you wish for, Lincoln Club of Orange County, you might just get it - in the form of a veto-proof Congress (assuming John McCain wins; if Obama wins, then Katie bar the door!). Instead, just try to cut the losses this time around, then get good conservative candidates to challenge the incumbents in the primaries in 2010. I am of the philosophy that some of something is better than all of nothing.
How much clearer can the message be than that expressed by the Lincoln Club? McCain must get in front of this parade and promise a constrained federal government. He has the reputation for this and it will sell.
This is some of the best news I've read in weeks! Perhaps we will rid ourselves of the fools who have led our nation to the brink of destruction.
Wow, a moment of clarity. I fear it is too late and the goofy Dems will run the joint for a few cycles. Too bad about the Supreme Court. Very sad to see this happen, but the Republicans just refused to see how corrupt they have become.
Good article. I hate to see this happening, but the Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. Boehner & Co. have been disgracefully ineffective.
This has been in the making for sometime. I wish the members of the club would fund a primary challenger of a bad offender (say Jerry Lewis) to make thier point.
I have too wonder; Are they Listening?. I have received (in the mail) at least a dozen Republican National Commity census, asking the same questions about the war on terror, the economy, Gas prices and should the Republican Party work at stopping the Liberal Democrats.....I fill it out and leave my comments at the end. Are they evening reading these comments. I think NOT....
When I read this letter too the Republicans, the first noise out of my mouth was "DA". I get phone calls asking me for money. Like those of you in Kalifornia, Michigan (AkA: The Left Mitten State)
is taxing its self into oblivion.
How can they in good conscience keep asking for money knowing what we REALLY think.....This is like watching people on a sinking ship, they just can't except the boat it's going down and they freez....the Republican Leadership (i use leadership loosly) is acting like, 'its ok, nothing too see here', John McCain will save us all, he's making us believe in Global Warming(sic).
come on......
Hell, I don't wish too see Barak 'X' come any closer the office of the President, for that matter neither do I wish too see McCain.....Im looking at keeping the Marxist in check with the House and Senate.....
I'm 100% behind this letter. These 'nuckle-head' running the Republican Party better clean their ear's out and start listening to the people.....
Great idea, however it is too little too late. When Republicans strayed from conservatic principles and Congress became the uni-party, voting Republican gave us expanded government, trade deficits, lack of enforcement on illegal immigration, spending like there was no tomorrow and it goes on and on. But for the likes of a few Republicans like John Campbell, we can no longer equate Republican respresentation with fiscal responsibility.
It is all about money so it would behoove us to stop supporting the party until we see the Republicans follow conservative principles and fiscal wisdom. And don't give me the lesser of two evils mantra. Maybe with a lot of time in the minority, the Republicans will develop a backbone and we can once again be proud to be the party of Lincoln.
Beautifully written article. Whenever a request for donations comes from any of the national Republican organizations, it should be returned with this letter in place of any donation. Perhaps that may get their attention at party headquarters.