A Blueprint for a Republican Resurgence

Guest Editorial 

By Sean Mahoney, Republican National Committeeman

What does it mean to be a Republican today?

When I came of age during the Ronald Reagan era, it meant you stood strong for lower taxes on working families, limited government, and more personal accountability.

Today, after nearly a decade of misguided leadership from Republicans in Washington, many Americans believe it means tax cuts for the rich, expanding government programs, ever-greater government spending and pointing the finger across the aisle. Our own party abandoned its mantle of fiscal responsibility.

We have gone from the smaller government, personal responsibility party of the Reagan Revolution to the arrogant, out-of-touch, free spending party of the past decade. 

Republicans in New Hampshire, actually most voters in New Hampshire, still cherish the values that brought me to the party. For too long Republican candidates have spent too much time worrying about what people in Washington think and not enough time listening to what the people of New Hampshire have to say.

If Republicans in New Hampshire are ever to reclaim majority status we need to stop playing the DC game and start recommitting ourselves to the people of New Hampshire. We need to stand firm against the “go along to get along” mentality of too many Washington Republicans.

As we move forward we have an opportunity to show voters what it means to be a Republican in the 21st Century.

I want to see us become the party of open government, innovative solutions and personal freedom.

First and foremost that starts with transparency. Candidates and office holders need to be open, honest and accountable. In order to stop the culture of corruption that has gripped Washington, DC as of late, we need to open campaigns up for the voters to see. Campaigns in New Hampshire need to focus on concerns of real voters along the banks of the Merrimack, not the power brokers along the Potomac.

The same is especially true for office holders. In Washington we need to end secret earmarks and reform the appropriations process to be more open and fair.  Government money should be spent based on merit and need, not on seniority and committee assignments.

In general the legislative process needs to be more open. It is never a good idea to push bills through without public hearing, but Members of Congress are now regularly voting on bills without having a solid understanding of what is in them. This can’t continue if we want to keep faith with the American people.

Second, we must stand up to the Democrat policy agenda with a policy agenda of our own. We can not continue to be labeled the “Party of No”. In the 1990’s it was Republican Governors who developed new policy ideas and drove the debate on things like welfare reform, Medicaid reform and tax policy.

Saying no to a government-run healthcare is the right thing to do, but at the same time we need to propose our own ideas on how to improve access to affordable health insurance.

The same is true on every issue. We all know that Cap and Trade is a bad policy that will cost the average family thousands of dollars, but we need to have our own plan to increase the use of alternative energy and reduce our dependence on oil.

Third, we need to reclaim the mantle of the “Party of Main Street”. Families across New Hampshire are still hurting from this recession. We all know that small businesses are the heart of the American economy. Two out of three net new jobs created each year are in small businesses. These businesses depend on fair tax policies and a predictable regulatory environment. These need to become the cornerstone of the Republican agenda: keeping taxes low and regulations within reason.

Fourth, we have to reestablish our fiscal responsibility credentials. It is easy for us to point to the record deficits of the Obama administration and claim that they are bankrupting our children, but Republicans spent freely under President Bush as well. No matter who has been responsible for the record spending of the last decade, it must stop.

Republicans must redouble their efforts to hold the line on spending.

Finally, we need to develop policies that advocate both personal responsibility and personal freedom. Whether it is reaffirming the Castle Doctrine, so that people have the freedom to protect themselves and their families, or maintaining the ability for people to make their own healthcare choices, Republicans need to put people before government.

It is time for Republicans to stop wringing their hands and start rebuilding our party. It is time to cast off the big government policies and strong arm perceptions of the Bush years and reaffirm our commitment to smaller government, local control, innovation and personal freedom.

Comments

[Jim Splaine]

I don't want to sink your potential candidacy among Republicans with my words, Sean, but I like your Blueprint. In fact, with just a few word changes, like putting in "Democratic Party" instead of "Republican Party," it could sound like a Democratic Blueprint.

We're in favor of lower taxes on working families by getting rid of corporate welfare and getting fair taxation from the rich. In New Hampshire, we're in favor of getting those property taxes down.

We're in favor of open government, more involvement by citizens, and certainly transparency.

We're certainly in favor of giving people more control over their health care choices, rather than leave those choices in the hands of CEOs of HMOs or other insurance company bureaucrats who have as their incentive the bonus they get when they deny payment for health care to their subscribers. That's how insurance companies and their sales people and bosses make their money -- the profit margin is where our health dollars disappear.

About the only thing you mention that perhaps some Democrats might not cheerlead is the "Castle Doctrine," which I for one have had second thoughts about. I might support that measure if it's reintroduced.

[Chaz Proulx]

Sean

I miss "mainstreet Republicans"

restoring them in the age of Glenn Beck and Rush L is the biggest hurdle facing the Republican Party.

It ain't going to happen.

Glad I'm a life long Democrat

[Chaz Proulx]

Sean

Thoughtful piece

I miss "mainstreet Republicans"

restoring them in the age of Glenn Beck and Rush L is the biggest hurdle facing the Republican Party.

In short, it ain't going to happen.

Glad I'm a life long Democrat

Also---unsigned earmakes have been outlawed by this Congress I believe. Earmarks still exist, but we DO know where they originate.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Libertarian in NH]

'We're in favor of lower taxes on working families by getting rid of corporate welfare and getting fair taxation from the rich."

You don't lower taxes as your party has a lust for stealing other people's money to spend on failed social programs. Jim, how about getting rid of ALL welfare. I'm open for that.

Jim, your party in DC recently voted to crowd out competition, and as a result is about to put 700 people out of work. Sallie Mae announced that they are planning to layoff 700 workers as a result of the student loan bill that will make the government the only player. I am pretty sure most of them belong to "working families." What about insurance companies, do you support putting 1/3 of the US economy out of work?

Now if that isn't a socialist agenda I don't know what is.