A Wave Election Will Require <br>A Much Bolder Vision <br>From the Republican Field

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

If the Republican party adopts a clear, optimistic, growth-and-reform message to turn America around, it can win big in November. It could still be a wave election. But so far it hasn’t done it. The party is essentially asking voters to give it control of both houses of Congress. Yet it hasn’t told voters what it would do with such a mandate.

That’s why the GOP must present a true governing agenda. You can’t ask for two-house support without telling voters what you’re going to do with it. Right now, according to polling averages from RealClearPolitics, there are ten key midterm Senate races that are too close to call. These ten toss-ups will determine whether the GOP has a significant majority, or a majority at all.

But there will be no wave election unless the GOP has a clear message. In some cases there are specific bills to get behind. But in most cases the party needs to provide a real future vision.

This is not a new thought. In recent weeks, National Review, the Wall Street Journal, and Investor’s Business Daily have called for a GOP agenda. IBD wants a new Contract with America. The WSJ asks, “Republicans for what?” NR editors say, “Republicans, make your case.” I see my friend Ramesh Ponnuru, NR senior editor, has written an article about this. I asked over a month ago, “Where’s the GOP’s better deal?”

President Obama and the Democrats have already begun their usual class-warfare attacks on corporations, banks, and successful entrepreneurs. “Close their loopholes. Tax them more, so we have enough new money to enlarge government programs.” This leftist approach has failed. Voters know this. But the GOP must call Democrats out on this. It must fight them with a different vision. The country is ready for it. Voters are ready for an alternative governing agenda.

Now, within the Republican ranks, there are strong voices with good plans. The GOP leadership should tune in. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio is calling for common-sense health-care solutions, including health savings accounts. He wants an energy program that approves the Keystone XL pipeline and opens up federal lands and the Outer Continental Shelf. He urges tax reform, both individual and corporate, to spur economic growth. He’d stop the EPA from over-regulating greenhouse gases and destroying the coal industry. And he calls for education choice that allows parents to use federal dollars to send their kids to the schools they want.

Senators Lee of Utah and Rubio of Florida have put serious policy papers on the table. Representative Paul Ryan has a new anti-poverty agenda that would provide a real Republican makeover, and he’s keeping up the fight against corporate welfare and crony capitalism.

The venerable George Shultz published a plan to get America moving again. It talks about tax reform, regulatory rollbacks, a Federal Reserve monetary rule, and much stronger defense. Phil Gramm, the former senator from Texas, echoes a plan set forth by fiscal expert Avik Roy, in which the Obamacare exchanges are turned into free-market platforms without any federal mandates.

Numerous Republicans in both houses favor immigration reform, as long as it emphasizes border security, and then moves to work permits, increased visas, and conditional legalization.

These are all good ideas, and there are plenty more. But so far the Republican leadership is playing small ball. Yes, they talk about the Keystone pipeline. And they want accelerated rules for overseas trade, faster federal reviews of natural-gas exports, and repeal of Obamacare’s medical-device tax. Fine. But they need visionary priorities and a true national agenda.

It doesn’t have to be a 75-page policy-wonk booklet. But there needs to be something concrete. Senator Ron Johnson frets that the permanent political consulting class is using this as a “rejection election.” In other words: “We’re not Obama.” That’s a risky approach. It’s like using a prevent defense in football. It could backfire.

Just look at the congressional polling data. Democrats have higher approvals than Republicans. And so does President Obama, even with his rock-bottom national approval ratings.

My advice? Be bold, Republicans. Send the voters a vibrant message. Show them the GOP is a change agent. And finally, heed the words of the brilliant Seth Lipsky, who believes optimism is the missing element in today’s politics. “The GOP today has the policy chops,” he writes, “but nailing the optimism is key.”

Republicans were far too pessimistic in the 2012 election. That’s one reason why they lost. State the problems. Then advance the solutions. The country has been in a funk for too long. Our weakness at home is translating to weakness abroad. But this can be changed, and rapidly. If the GOP sends a clear, positive, and optimistic message, it can turn this election into a landslide.


The New York Sun

© 2024 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use