The McCotter Challenge: Being a True Republican

After this election, it is a time for self-reflection, on both this website and others. Contributing to this self-reflection is Republican Representative Thaddeus McCotter, who today wrote a great article on what it means to be a Republican, via Hot-Air.

“re-branding” — as if the Republican Party was a corporate product to be repackaged, not a transformational political movement to be led. Despite what the media will tell you, and what so-called “conservative leaders” will discuss ad nauseam during “secret” meetings, this situation is not a crisis. It is an opportunity. Today, we are as the Great Emancipator proclaimed during another time of national trial: unbound by the tired dogmas of the past; and free to think and act anew.

First, we must not mindlessly mimic the momentarily triumphant Left. Sleek, detached, media savvy non-entities posing as existentially anguished leaders are neither in our nature nor our future. We are not teeny-bopper, pop-star politicians or the ideological dinosaurs of wealth redistribution.

At heart, we Republicans are flesh and blood and backbone, the proud servants of people. If we re-orient our vision, renew our purpose, and reaffirm our principles, the times will demand us — not as we were, but as we must be!

McCotter goes on to ask and answer several questions. First, what are the Republican Party's principles? McCotter identifies several- here are the major ones- that our liberty is from God not the government, that our security is through strength not surrender, and that our prosperity is from the private sector not the public sector. Second, he asks what are the Republican Party's goals? In his mind, they are to advance liberty, preserve tradition, and achieve constructive solutions to policy issues.

This is not meant to project Republican ideas- this is meant to convince you to change the Republican party to one based on the ideals and beliefs of our founding fathers. This is not meant for you to support Republicans, but to push Republicans to believe in its principles and to push for the right goals.