The tone of the GOP presidential race, so far, has been diffused, angry, and in recent days, focused almost entirely on the former incumbent's legal perils.
Perhaps that's understandable. Turning a bright light on the failings – real and imagined – of the current incumbent and his party is a tried and true political strategy. Up to a point. A relentlessly downbeat campaign, particularly one as long as a presidential nominating contest, can also be exhausting for the candidate and voters alike.
So it's refreshing to read that optimism is making a comeback among the Republican presidential contenders:
Vice President Mike Pence cast himself in his campaign announcement as a sunnier, Reaganesque Republican, appealing to “the better angels of our nature” and maintaining he isn't “convinced our country is as divided as our politics”— despite a mob trying to kill him on Jan. 6, 2021.
Doug Burgum, the near-anonymous North Dakota governor, talked about small-town values and “fighting to unite the country” in his campaign launch.
“I'm a business guy, a strategic guy — I wouldn't have gotten into this race if I didn't think there was a path,” [Burgum said]. He added: “It's not just a lane, there's a huge lane to get out and tell our message.”
To be fair, the anger angle is the one working right now for frontrunner Donald Trump and second place contender Ron DeSantis. And working well. The candidates running sunnier campaigns are mired in single digits.
At least for now. With the first presidential debate scheduled in August and the Iowa caucuses still several months away, there is time for a more positive, policy-oriented, grievance-free message to break through and capture the minds (and votes) of Republicans who are ready to look forward to the future.
I've noted it before, but Ronald Reagan still stands as a powerful example of how a candidate can sharply criticize the incumbent Democrat, but offer a positive alternative:
In his nomination acceptance speech, Reagan laid out an indictment of the Carter administration, blasting it for runaway taxes, surging oil and gas prices and the forward march of the U.S.S.R. Against that backdrop, he proposed his plan for America, anchored by a conservative governing philosophy that still looms large over U.S. politics.
“I pledge to you a government that will not only work well but wisely,” Reagan said, “its ability to act tempered by prudence and its willingness to do good balanced by the knowledge that government is never more dangerous than when our desire to have it help us blinds us to its great power to harm us.”
A prudent, limited government that works wisely in the broad public interest. That's a flavor of optimism – and responsibility – that's been absent for far too long on America's presidential campaign trails. Which is astounding, considering how successful a message it's been.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
Unite???is that just another way of saying…give up, give in and give them what they want? Yes I’m angry…and I’m tired of us always seeming to get the short end of the stick….and much of it having to do with mamby pamby people like Pence…I want a fighter like Trump….we NEED a fighter like Trump….I want what Trump wants…my country back!
Update message, Unite on policies then OK
Dump RINOs & DC RNC types
The missing link is the right Republicans do not stand together no mater what. This has been the case since Reagan. We have 1/3 that say they are republican but are really Democrats. That includes the Bush’s all RINO’s Then we have the life longer. That are really turn coats. Followers of the popularity of who has followers. Only to change teams with the drop of a hate. Now the left stands together no matter what. They will drag this nation to the slums of Calcutta. with a smile why’ll sticking these boy thinking in your back side. We are no longer a nation we are a land of divide that has no hope of mending ever again
At least I lived during a time of joy and prosperity. My grand children will not be so lucky.
I now look forward to the end of my days.
I do not want to live in HELL this is where the left has dragged us
Unfortunately, things have changed since Reagan’s time. The American people are no longer looking for a limited government that will get out of their way. They are looking for a government that will make their lives easier and guarantee them housing, a “living wage” (even if they don’t work), free healthcare, free education for themselves and their children, plus free daycare and free eldercare for their kids and parents. They don’t believe they should be responsible for anything, and government must provide all as “a human right.”
Not everyone feels this way. Some believe in the Constitution, natural rights and self-sufficiency. But Biden and the rest of the Democrats have successfully labeled these people as terrorists who have no right to live in the US.
A candidate who runs on the same promises as Reagan will be looked upon like the factory owner who enforced 20 hour workdays with a whip. America is well on the path to self-destruction.
I don’t want to have unity with others. I want to pursue my own happiness in my own way and for others to do the same. That’s all the government is there to do: to defend our liberty. We only get to fighting when we forget this simple truth. The greatest right that the government is there to protect is the right to be let alone.
Mob trying to kill him???
I have no problem with do-nothing, career Republicans and RINOs jumping into a manure pile, dousing themselves with gasoline, and lighting themselves on fire. I care about as much for them as they do for me and my country.
To hell with all of ’em. I’m voting for Trump in 2024.
I agree the reason we put Trump in there the first time was that he’s not a politician remember that. He has shown the bad side of all the bad politicians. That’s why they are doing this. They they can’t get him to go along with them and also they lost so much on Hillary that really did it for them. They have never quit on this poor man. If he doesn’t care for this country why is going thru this. He’s a billionaire he didn’t need to do this. He shows how smart and tough he really is. He was the one that put the backbone in some of these Republicans they should never forget that !
He fought these Democrats everyday even when he was president did the Democrats help him. We could had the best economy ever. I said on Facebook that if there was ever a time for someone to do something to our country this will be the time. Everyone was at Trump’s impeachment why not hit us now who’s looking. How about that he’s COVID 19 USA.
Anger in the current situation ought to bring more people to the polls. Playing nice in the face of evil and hostility is what has gotten us into the situation in which we find ourselves. People don’t find voting so critical when everything is going well. Our government has turned against us, our DOJ is profoundly corrupt and persecuting the innocent, our appointed president is a thieving criminal and liar, and our elections are being stolen. Republicans are not so “steeped in negativity” as they are simply outraged with what the Democrats have gotten away with.
Definitely. A whole bunch of Republicans need to change–but not the righteously “angry” ones! This piece is so “standard Republican” that it approaches parody. Pence? Spineless, hapless, brainless Pence? Mr. Just-About-as-Decisive-as-Dodger-Management–faultlessly choosing the WRONG side in the end and whining about it later. Please!