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Rick Santorum, A Reagan Conservative believes in a balance of Social Conservatism, Economic Conservatism, and National Security Conservatism

A Reagan Conservative



A recent article in the Daily Caller about Rick Santorum made an argument of what it means to be a Reagan Conservative. Saturday night [01/07] on the ABC GOP Debate coverage, I heard a lot of fast talk, and complex terminology. I remarked to my wife that this sounded more like a reading of the tax code and civil laws than an actual debate. In two hours of blather, my own preferred candidate, Governor Perry, was allowed to speak perhaps two or three whole minutes before being abruptly and rudely cut-off by ABC's Diane Sawyer or George Stephanopoulos. No kidding. What is going on here?
The Liberal ABC Moderators acted like those bad guys in Westerns who shoot at the feet of the protagonists, trying to make them dance to their tune. The Liberal Media is trying to tell Conservatives who they are and what they should believe via staged questions and through strict control of from whom we hear. Rush Limbaugh said as much several times during his radio show last week before the debate. This confirms to me that this was not was not my imagination. I have new respect for the Iowa Caucus process. It cut our dependency on the Media and relegated them to reporting events, albeit with spin. Rush has also characterized Santorum and Gingrich as Big Government Conservatives, and urged folks to listen to reconsider what Governor Perry has to say. For you purists out there, none of our candidates are strict Constitutionalists. Neither was Ronald Reagan. None of them appear to have great facility with the constitutional debates found in the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. But then by contrast, the Democrats don't even know what the Constitution is. This becomes obvious as one wades through the apologists on both sides: Publius, Centinel, Cato, Brutus and the Federalist Farmer. None in the GOP field are taking hatchet and hammer to America's foundations like Barack Obama and the rest of the Marxist Democrat Establishment are doing.

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My view of the field is becoming more sanguine as the GOP Convention draws nearer. But let me be clear from the outset. Any of our GOP candidates ... any one of them ... is preferable to another four years of Barack Obama. I have said from the start that Romney is a "moderate;" I have concluded that Gingrich sounds Conservative but is, by his record, a compromising consensus builder; I recognize that Paul is a pure Libertarian but is not a Republican Conservative; I think that Huntsman always acts like an intelligent, arrogant and condescending preppie; and, I think that in the end, Bachmann lacked the stature and charisma of Sarah Palin to cut through the static with her message. That leaves Perry and Santorum. I have concluded that Rick Santorum is certainly more of a traditional, conservative, orthodox Catholic [pre-1930s Democrat?] than he is a balanced Reagan Conservative. Still, he could become a solid Reagan Conservative with a few modifications. Specifically, Santorum needs to work on a more complete National Security Strategy, and put more flesh on the bones of his Economic Growth and Tax program. Social Conservatives often feel the need to convince other Social Conservatives that they are the real deal by emphasizing those positions. I would rather see this part of his Conservative philosophy evolve less into "apologies," and more into "programs." In other words, Santorum should stop letting the Media define who he is, and start proposing what he would do as President.

The Liberals will try to make you look silly. Reject their propaganda. Stand by your convictions

A Reagan Conservative believes in a balance of Social Conservatism, Economic Conservatism, and National Security Conservatism [versus Paul's isolationism]. Ronald Reagan understood the meaning of party unity. He also understood how to keep things clear, concise and focused. Ronald Reagan Conservative also communicated a program in language that Americans could plainly understand and goals that were easily grasped. Many blindly reject Rick Perry: They accept media stereotypes from sound bites. They reject his Cowboy boots. They reject and mock that he actually enjoys hunting and shooting. They reject his stands for the Tenth Amendment. They reject his frank Texas farmer/rancher plain talking ways. They reject his amiable and gregarious approach. They reject his common sense conservatism. They reject his straight-up, unabashed positions for strong National Security. They reject his patriotic love for the USA as corny. They mistrust that he is a convert to the GOP. Many also seem to me to think that his Texas drawl is a sign of ignorance, and that using common language betrays a lack of intellect. The public also sees a slip of memory here, or a word stumble there, as a fatal flaw in the man. Ladies and gentlemen: I have just given you a perfect example of hard bigotry. But don't feel too badly. Liberals also hated LBJ, a fellow Liberal, even though LBJ was always one day smarter and two days ahead of their beloved Liberal-Egghead thinkers. Governor Perry is no slick debater and by extension no slick talker. Romney and the rest of the Candidates can spit out three sentences in the time it takes Perry to say one. But what have they said? Me? I like that Perry speaks slowly. Reagan observed that complex problems usually have simple solutions. He also made clear that simple does not necessarily mean easy. But politicians usually offer up complex solutions and then "kick the can down the road" rather than solving the problem once they get into office. Sadly, as we head into on to South Carolina and Florida, Conservatives are being pressed to "seal the deal." Mitt Romney is acting like he has it in the bag. I live in Florida, and that is what I hear from the Romney folks and the media. That well known candidate from 2008, John McCain, is urging all other candidates to pack it in. We have yet to hear the real meat of the GOP Candidates' proposals yet we are being called upon to submit. The GOP is not Islam. Do not submit. When did Conservative politics ever boil down to selecting a candidate for President because it was "their turn?" We should hear, think, and then choose. But that is not how it happens in the GOP. Look at how John McCain's advice has worked out in the past. We nominated Jerry Ford in 1976 because it was his turn, not because he was the best candidate. We nominated Bob Dole because it was his turn in 1992. We nominated John McCain because it was his turn in 2008. The Establishment convinced us that their man would win the independent and moderate votes. Tell me, how has it worked out for you? The Liberals and the GOP Establishment want the Primary contest to end for their own reasons. These reasons may well be in contrast to your own. So, what is to be done? Allow the process vet the candidates. Look for substance. Look for consistency. Understand what a Reagan Conservative is. Understand who you are and what you believe. Don't be ashamed or apologetic to be real deal Conservatives. Cast your vote accordingly. The Liberals will try to make you look silly. Reject their propaganda. Stand by your convictions. Do not submit.


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William R. Mann -- Bio and Archives

William R. Mann, is a retired Lt. Colonel, US Army. He is a now a political observer, analyst, activist and writer for Conservative causes. He was educated at West Point [Bachelor of Science, 1971 ]and the Naval Postgraduate School [Masters, National Security Affairs, 1982].


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