Posted by
Optimus Magnus on Friday, February 06, 2009 12:51:34 AM
Back in 2002, a co-worker of mine and I got to talking politics and world affairs. It turned out that he and I shared many of the same opinions on a variety of world problems. The starkest difference, though, came down to the 2000 election. Tom had voted Bush, while I had supported Gore. Even though I didn't necessarily like President Bush or his policies at the time, I have to say I admired the fact that he had taken the initiative "to find those people and kick their a**" after 9-11; as such, he was earning my respect. The more I talked to Tom, the more he would point out to me people who shared his (and my emerging) philosophy.
Tom urged me to listen to Sean Hannity. Since I had a lengthy drive to work, this wasn't hard to do. The more I heard Sean talk about liberals and what their positions were, the more I realized that I had less in common with the Democrats and that I was beginning to agree more with the Republicans. It was also about that time that I started reading my P.J. O'Rourke books a bit more seriously. All the Trouble In the World was my introduction to what can be called 'Environmentalist Wackoism'. Speaking of which....
After listening to Tom Becka on KMBZ while driving to Lawrence and hearing the news, I began to hear the opening of my favorite Pretenders song. You know, it's the one with that wicked bass intoduction. Then a man introduced himself as Rush Limbaugh. With all due credit to my buddy Tom for planting the seed (as well as being a great boss who looked out for my career), it was that trip to Lawrence, Kansas that solidified my position as a Conservative. What was so wonderful about that moment was not the discovery that I agreed with a nationally syndicated talk show host whom the 'main-stream media' was doing their darnedest to make me hate; rather, it was the discovery that this giant, this icon, this big-time radio host with "talent on loan from God"---agreed with little, hourly wage-earner ME.
Hannity and Levin today each had a caller on their show with a herd-mentality bent: it was interesting in each case to hear about people who fundamentally agreed with the idea of not spending money you don't have and letting people run their own businesses as they see fit, but they voted Democrat because their parents, grandparents, and union bosses voted that way. I would lay good odds that if you gave each voter an inventory on liberal and conservative positions, most people would find that they actually lean to the right, but they don't know it. So, how do we fix this problem?
If we want to win this culture war, it is up to us to seek out those who don't realize where they are on the political scale. We need to find out how much they like to keep their own money by pointing out how much someone really pays in taxes on each purchase. We must push the FairTax by showing people the untapped pool of potential FairTax payers. We must educate them as to who it is that really provides them with a job and push them towards a business-friendly point of view. It is foolish of us to simply assume that people know the 'main-stream' media is biased. It is up to us to point out--each and every time--liberal bias wherever it should rear its insidious and ugly head. We must show how much we love our country. We have to point out the folly of nationalized anything by demonstrating the superiority of the private sector; have you ever met anyone who didn't want to 'cut out the middle man'? We have to stop seeking out votes based on demographics and start seeking them on the basis of their agreement with our philosophy. When we stop looking at the color of a voter's skin, we are seeking out the content of their character.
What should our party do? The Republicans must have solidarity in their opposition votes. We have to weed out the RINOs. Seriously, we need to boot Senators Collins, Snow, Hagel, and McCain OUT of the GOP. Sarah, if she wishes to oust the former Illinois Senator, must take a page from President Reagan and articulate the Conservative philosophy on the radio and on Fox News.
How will all this be accomplished?
It will be done one person at a time.
It is just the approach taken by my friend Tom.