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Republicans Must Have Vision to Help All Americans
Townhall.com ^ | March 12, 2013 | Rick Santorum

Posted on 03/12/2013 11:35:11 AM PDT by Kaslin

Republicans don't care.

Or at least that's the perception of us. President Barack Obama's convincing re-election in November despite a climate of high unemployment, stagnant economic growth and waning American influence around the globe has caused a great deal of soul-searching for the Republican Party.

One of the conclusions some of us have come to is that our problem is not the message or the messengers but our own detachment from the needs of struggling working families and our lack of vision and policies that address them.

I was struck reading a recent article in which our presidential nominee, after his loss and after volunteering at a local homeless shelter, said, "(The people there) are used to being ignored, I guess -- mostly by people like me."

I think this is a word picture for Republican leaders in general. What do we need to do to reposition the party, connect with Americans and address what Peggy Noonan so astutely observed -- that it's not that "they" don't like us but that "they" don't think we like them?

This week, conservatives will gather at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington and begin the complex process of developing a bold conservative vision that will resonate with all Americans.

My own experience during the 2012 campaign has shaped my view on the way forward. Throughout the campaign, I kept in mind my family and the coal country we came from, the needs of the people I grew up with on VA grounds and the inner city of Philadelphia I represented for 12 years.

I tried to provide a vision for hardworking families I came across during my campaign. Middle America is hurting. But I didn't always keep this in mind in a personal way. I remember being chastised by my staff when, during the second South Carolina debate, none of us expressed sympathy toward the unemployed woman who asked us how we would address her health insurance needs. We talked policy, but did we really care about her?

I believe that the conservative approach that focuses on family, community, the private sector and a limited role of government provides the better framework to develop policies that will address the realities of millions of struggling families. But we have to be much more intentional in applying them.

Sure, extending unemployment benefits to two years may seem compassionate, but after two years, individuals are much less employable, and their futures are less bright. Instead of ideas that focus on strengthening families and communities, addressing the appalling conditions in our public schools or creating a business environment that attracts new enterprises and job creation, the president has focused on climate change, gay marriage and gun control.

The way forward is getting back to our basic principles -- but applied to the challenges we face today. We must not be the party of plutocrats, country clubbers and corporate interests. We must focus on ways to deliver our vision for hope and opportunity for working Americans. Here's what I mean:

We must represent and create opportunity for all Americans -- but especially struggling families yearning for a secure future, single moms who face tremendous challenges and immigrant families who must work doubly hard to get ahead in this world.

We must be the champions for working taxpayers and families and promote policies focused on real health care choices and building assets through savings incentives, homeownership and expanded job opportunities through manufacturing incentives.

We must continue to be proponents of fundamental human rights and human dignity by affirming the right to life for the unborn, disabled and aging, as well as protecting freedom of conscience and religion and freedom of speech and association.

We must be advocates for vulnerable at-risk children through programs that strengthen marriage, fatherhood, vibrant supportive communities, quality health care and educational options.

We must empower parents with real educational options for their children, options that promote excellence and opportunity.

We must be advocates for local problem-solving efforts and organizations and social entrepreneurs rather than federal prescriptions and mandates to every challenge.

We must reduce poverty and help struggling families through faith-based, civic and local and state partnerships. Our vision is not to put people on food stamps and Medicaid but to provide a path to a better future.

We haven't shown America that we have the tools to put the rungs back on the opportunity ladder -- the ladder up -- to achieve the American dream. That must change.

I'm not convinced we can rely on the establishment of the Republican Party or today's elected leaders in Congress to get us back. And it's not about moving to the left; it's about appealing to working Americans with a vision that represents opportunity and a better life and offering real solutions to their problems.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 113th; acu; agenda; americans; barackobama; cpac; gop; jobsandeconomy; santorum; vision
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1 posted on 03/12/2013 11:35:11 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

How about we just abide by the constitution instead? The government wasn’t intended by our founders to “help” anyone. Just defend our nation and our God-given rights.


2 posted on 03/12/2013 11:40:21 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Jim Robinson

Yep, the government’s role is not to “help” anyone.

Its role is to protect the lives and property of its citizens from harm, theft, and fraud.


3 posted on 03/12/2013 11:41:44 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Kaslin

We could slash about 90% or better of the government and we’d all be helped tremendously.


4 posted on 03/12/2013 11:41:52 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Kaslin

How about getting government out of the damned way, that will do more to help people than anything.


5 posted on 03/12/2013 11:43:24 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Jim Robinson

Excellent points also post#2


6 posted on 03/12/2013 11:44:51 AM PDT by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Jim Robinson

Santorum, Gringrich or Romney were all big government shills. We need a test that will illuminate this fatal propensity in politicians.


7 posted on 03/12/2013 11:45:10 AM PDT by iopscusa (El Vaquero. (SC Lowcountry Cowboy))
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To: Kaslin

...sigh...


8 posted on 03/12/2013 11:46:13 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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To: Kaslin; All

“This week, conservatives will gather at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington and begin the complex process of developing a bold conservative vision that will resonate with all Americans.”

Oh, please! CPAC & ACU are no longer conservatives! They have hijacked the tea party label (teaparty.net & TPNN) to further THEIR personal goals, one being AMNESTY and are banning those who speak against the likes of Muslim loving Grover Norquist. Cuban born Al Cardenas who heads the ACU LOVES the gang of 8 amnesty. The Tea Party wasn’t born to line the pockets of the biggest lobbyists on K street!

Clean out CPAC first, conservatives...they are the enemy within. Do people like Santorum KNOW this, or do they not care as long as they have somewhere to give a speech...might as well go to the Dem conventions!
http://freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2995908/posts?page=16#16


9 posted on 03/12/2013 11:48:48 AM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: Kaslin

I’m sick of hearing the Republican Party needs to “reach out” and “appeal” to people. If they would be the conservatives they’re supposed to be then liberty, freedom and prosperity for all would be abundantly clear. If people don’t natually flock to those attributes then we have another problem, intirely. I suspect the latter is true.


10 posted on 03/12/2013 11:49:55 AM PDT by ryan71 (The repubican party is dead to me. Dead. Don't bother trying to revive it.)
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To: Kaslin
Why in Hell do Republicans keep doing this crap??? Santorum wrote, "Republicans don't care". It does not matter what he writes after that one short statement. The liberals/progressives (I really hate that term) will magnify those words, leaving out any other statements written in oppostion to that sentiment, and the dumb masses will believe that that one statement IS what Republicans are all about.

Hannity made a similar blunder yesterday on his T.V. show when he commented that Republicans are mean and evil. The liberals do not NEED our help in demeaning Conservatives.

11 posted on 03/12/2013 11:50:48 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud dad of an Army Soldier who has survived 24 months of Combat deployment.)
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To: Kaslin

The title says it all and frames the issue.

The question should not be ‘How can the government help?’

The question SHOULD be ‘How can government protect your ability to help yourself?’

Every bit of pork, infrastructure, social, regulatory spending and organization, although proper under the devolved (or hyper evolved) Roberts Rules of Order that seems to make up the sum total of government business, is outside the founders intent. If the Republicans are to “help,” they should:

-Begin by holding themselves and their fellows to their oaths of office
-Hold every bit of legislation up to the lens of their oaths of office and the founders intent
-Begin a massive campaign to educate folk on just how exceptional America is and could be again if it was to return to the path of “The American Experiment”

KYPD


12 posted on 03/12/2013 11:54:55 AM PDT by petro45acp (No good endeavour survives an excess of adult supervision)
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To: Jim Robinson

Amen, Jim! Just butt out of our lives. We’ll do just fine without your “help.” The more “help” the government tries to provide, the worse everything gets. “Help” means the government decides who wins and who loses — completely antithetical to freedom.


13 posted on 03/12/2013 11:55:30 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: Kaslin

Blah, blah, blah......

http://news.yahoo.com/santorum-zimmerman-very-sick-mind-motive-malicious-one-162845818.html

Even if he was right, and he’s not, I will never trust that marshmallow.


14 posted on 03/12/2013 11:57:18 AM PDT by Gator113 ( ~just keep livin~)
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To: iopscusa

The GOP-e is looking to make the government even larger and to “help” even more people. We’ve now got two big-government liberal parties. Any tea-party types that manage to get elected are soon co-opted (or booted out) by the big-government RINOs. Latest example, we now have Rubio joining forces with McCain to ram amnesty through over the objections of we the people.

And when that happens it may actually be a blessing in disguise. The GOP will have completely self-destructed and we’ll be looking to build a new (and hopefully) real conservative party to oppose the traitorous liberal/progressive statists of both parties.


15 posted on 03/12/2013 11:57:39 AM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: AuntB
"begin the complex process of developing a bold conservative vision"

Please let me know when anyone at CPAC has such a vision. Hints: Big tents, amnesty, GOP Proud, etc, won't do.

Here's a clue to the problem: "that will resonate with ALL Americans.”

16 posted on 03/12/2013 12:01:08 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God!!)
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To: Kaslin

Lower taxes, reduce spending, and cut regulation. Rinse and repeat.

A booming economy with lots of opportunity is much more compassionate than handouts.


17 posted on 03/12/2013 12:07:39 PM PDT by Kandy Atz ("Were we directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want for bread.")
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To: Jim Robinson

“Please let me know when anyone at CPAC has such a vision. Hints: Big tents, amnesty, GOP Proud, etc, won’t do.

Here’s a clue to the problem: “that will resonate with ALL Americans.””

I’m so glad you see it, Jim. As long as CPAC and ACU are representative of conservatives and the tea party, we are LOST.

Does anyone believe that Al Cardenas (ACU & CPAC) & Grover Norquist don’t know these ‘new Americans’ will all vote democrat/socialist?


18 posted on 03/12/2013 12:16:54 PM PDT by AuntB (Illegal immigration is simply more "share the wealth" socialism and a CRIME not a race!)
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To: Kaslin
Vision...that vision thing...honestly, I don't see why this is so hard for you unless you've compromised your principles, integrity and credibility out of existence.

Get GuvCo back to running according to the highest principles that we were founded on and we, the people, will take care of our problems ourselves.

That's all the vision you need.

If republicans would be the party to stand up for those highest principles and apply them to themselves, or at least make an passably consistent attempt, and offer that sort of leadership, they would have all the members they need.

Those first principles were written into our DNA by the original programmer.

No matter how corrupt our internal program might be or have become for each of us, that code is still intact and we recognize those principles and respond when, where or from whomever we hear them.

Be that guy.

19 posted on 03/12/2013 12:23:31 PM PDT by GBA (Here in the Matrix, life is but a dream.)
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To: Kaslin
After five years of Obama and Company's destruction of our country, the GOP should be a shoo-in for next election, providing there is a next election.
20 posted on 03/12/2013 12:25:27 PM PDT by ANGGAPO (Layte Gulf Beach Club)
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