2016 Election In Full Bloom
by Jesse J. Lewis, Sr.
Steven King, head of the Iowa gang, is already making trouble for the Republican presidential contenders for 2016. The Republican Party is well aware of the fact that they cannot win the election unless they get the majority of the support of college students, women, Blacks and Hispanics or steal it.
What they already know and understand is they will have to change their policies. They get before a crowd and say one thing, then get before another crowd and say something else. They also know they cannot change their policies because there is a party within a party – the Tea party inside of the Republican Party.
The Tea Party has undergone some fundamental changes over the years, primary among them the embracing of the religious right. What began as a protest against liberal spending policies (of, again, a Republican president and congress) has solidified into a movement championing a wide array of traditional American Christian values, among them opposition to abortion, support of Second Amendment gun rights, and yes, continued calls for reduced spending. But the views of many of those within the Tea Party have become increasingly extreme, and the positions of their politicians have followed suit. The Tea Party is also against same-sex marriage, Social Security, immigration reform, healthcare, and they control the message of the Republicans. The dilemma for Republican politicians is glaring: Please the Tea Party, at the risk of saying things that may prove self-destructive in the general election, or maintain middle-road electability and face the danger of never being nominated?
The two front runners, Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, (nor did Senators Marco Rubio and Rand Paul) did not go to Iowa because they realize that the message they are attempting to sell on a national scale does not fit in Iowa.
Surprisingly, Donald Trump made the best presentation at King’s Freedom Summit. Donald Trump arrived at a high-profile GOP gathering in Iowa to train his fire on his fellow Republicans, telling the audience that neither Mitt Romney nor Jeb Bush can win the presidential nomination. He said he was serious about running for President this time; he even brought handouts.
Trump indicated to the crowd that if he runs, he’ll offer an aggressive alternative to his fellow Republicans. With customary braggadocio – he said his company is “incredible,” that he owns “many, many” websites, and that the American people will be “very proud of me” if and when he files financial disclosure forms. He expressed anger, not just with President Obama, but Republicans in Congress.
“I’m very disappointed by our Republican politicians, because they let the president get away with absolute murder,” he said. He said he’d build a “beauty” of a border fence if elected president, and tweaked Republican doctrine that favors curbing entitlement reform.
“I’ll probably be the only Republican who doesn’t want to cut Social Security,” he said. “I’m not a cutter of Social Security. I want to make the country rich so we can afford Social Security, and Medicare, and Medicaid.”
Everybody who has any sense at all understand that Donald Trump is not running. Like him or not, you have to admit there are two things he is good at: involving himself in any issue that would give him publicity and making money.
Along with Trump, other speakers at the Forum said:
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, “My advice to all the candidates is this: Share your vision and goals for a renewed America that restores freedom. Offer these solutions and travel to all 99 counties.”
Republicans “are prepared to assess a strong field of candidates who are poised to take America back in the right direction.”
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told the crowd “it’s so obvious we need a new president” and as judiciary chair he would be fighting with Iowans and for Iowans. “Nothing less than the Constitution is at stake in the 2016 election.”
David Bossie, president of Citizens United, said the forum provides “a chance to hear from America’s great conservative leaders … who believe our best days are yet to come.”
Iowa U.S. Rep. Rod Blum talked about winning in the most Democratic district in Iowa because he listened to “we the people” who said they were tired of business as usual and not getting the same representation in Congress as special interests.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, called for a comprehensive plan to address terrorism and other threats to the U.S.; reform of the tax code by closing loopholes without raising taxes as Obama has proposed; cut wasteful spending and balance the federal budget. She also urged Iowans to look ahead to 2016 to re-elect Sen. Chuck Grassley to “keep Iowa red” and take back the White House.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said he won three elections in the last four years (including a recall challenge) because he has championed pro-life legislation, enacted policies to reward hard work, enacted “big and bold” tax cuts, bolstered gun rights, promoted school choice and required photo identification to vote. He also “said no” to Obamacare in promoting the Wisconsin way, not the Washington way.
Business executive Carly Fiorina, “Like Hillary Clinton, I too have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles around the globe. But unlike her, I have actually accomplished something. Mrs. Clinton, flying is an activity, not an accomplishment.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who said he is not running for president, called for conservatives to vet the candidates and find a conservative who can attract moderates and build coalitions that make it possible to win elections and to win policy battles after the election.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum challenged Republicans to do more to bolster families by removing government barriers and standing strong with American workers who feel the American dream slipping away by bringing manufacturing jobs back to America and eliminating corporate welfare.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP’s vice presidential candidate in 2008, who says she is “seriously interested” in running in 2016, provided comic relief with jabs at the president, Michael Moore and animal rights activists. She told Iowans to “screw the left and Hollywood who can’t see what we see in Chris Kyle,” the subject of the film “American Sniper.”
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said conservatives have to offer an alternative to the mediocrity and decline of the last six years by unleashing a pro-growth agenda with tax reform, fiscal sanity, energy policy and a revamp of the bureaucracy that is strangling business.
Gov. Chris Christie challenged the conventional wisdom that a New Jersey conservative will be unable to connect with Iowa conservatives. If he’s too loud and “too New Jersey” for Iowans, he asked, why does he keep getting invited to come to Iowa?
“I am here today because I do not believe that any of the patriots in this room want to be a part of the generation that turns over to our children a lesser, smaller America than the one that was given to us. It is time for us to stand up and fight together for the country we were given, the country we believe in, for the country the world needs and the country I want my children and your children to have.”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Huckabee, the 2008 winner of the Iowa caucuses, said the country can’t build a strong economy by punishing productivity and rewarding irresponsibility.“Washington, D.C., has become the roach motel — people go in, they never come out.”
Some people are running for Vice President on the Republican ticket. In all probability, whoever gets the nomination is almost mandated that they choose a Black or a woman as a running mate. Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina come to mind.
At the Freedom Summit, according to CNN:
“ Carly Fiorina, who most people had never heard of, got the best response. She came across as a highly intelligent woman and a strong leader as the ex-chief executive of the biggest tech (Hewlett -Packard) firm in the world,” said former Oklahoma GOP Chairman Gary Jones, who flew from his home state to the Iowa event. “She did herself the most good.”
One thing for sure, Sarah Palin will make no one’s short list.
My prediction will be Mitt Romney or Jeb Bush will be the nominee. At the present time, if they had to choose today, it would be Mitt Romney.
email:jjlewis@birminghamtimes.com
