Friends, Neighbors and Fellow Republicans,
OK, we lost...big. What happened and what's next?
Tom Kean is a good man and would have made a fine United States Senator. Unfortunately, Republicans in New Jersey have been running on the same strategy for years while continuing to expect different results. We spent the campaign tearing down our opponents while corruption and scandals, among Republicans nationally, took center stage. We beat up our voter base to turn out without offering any support for many core Republican issues. Then we lost and blamed the whole thing on President Bush.
How many emails and calls did you receive proclaiming the duty of Republicans to vote simply because we had to maintain the majority? It's unrealistic to expect that voters would 'tow the Party line' in the face of repeated scandals and excuses for fallen leadership. Imagine the thoughts going through the minds of voters with images of Republican leaders golfing in Scotland with lobbyists while brave soldiers returned home in flag-draped caskets. Corruption is perhaps one of the biggest reasons for our current electoral woes - but there's more.
You probably still wince when thinking about 2002 when the Supreme Court in New Jersey 'stole' a U.S. Senate seat from us...or did they? Perhaps we failed to motivate voters with passion and enthusiasm for our candidate, hoping that bashing the other guy would be sufficient to win. In 2005 we went further by pandering to special interests hoping that Democrats would be motivated to cross Party lines and elect a Republican.
This year, we had some traction with early polls - Menendez is not exactly the poster child for ethical standards in this age of corrupt politics - but with limited emotion and passion for our ideas - we didn't give voters a strong enough reason to turn out and vote for our candidate. We certainly didn't give Democrats concerned about corruption in Hudson County or Trenton reason enough to break with their Party. 'We're not them' is simply insufficient as a rallying cry to lead voters to the Republican column.
It's time to take a long look at how we've allowed our Party to slip away from the core principles that made us a great national Party in the first place.
We won the House of Representatives in 1994 by attacking the Democrat controlled, bloated, out-of- control government - not by pandering to special interests.
We won in 1994 by articulating the 'kitchen table' issues that resonate with Mom's and Dad's struggling to raise families and make ends meet.
We won in 1994 by presenting voters with a united, strong, focused Party delivering our message with one voice.
We were the positive Party - the Party of change, limited government, individual liberty and family values. We nationalized the election and gave people a reason to act on that vision locally by replacing their Democratic Representative.
In 2006, the Democrats easily executed a similar strategy by making the case that the Republicans are incompetent and corrupt. Equally important is that many GOP incumbents, in their 11th hour pre- election panic, moved so far away from core Republican principles that many statements from our candidates were simply unrecognizable or perhaps unacceptable to many Republican voters.
What do we do now?
First, change the GOP leadership in Washington. The spoils of high-priced lobbyist dinners, golf junkets and other perks of power are rightly rejected by middle class voters who are working two jobs to pay an increasing tax burden supporting a bloated government. Many of the leaders entrusted by the people simply failed to act and offer solutions when confronted with the shenanigans of their colleagues. Some were lucky enough to survive the wrath of their own district's voters. The fact remains, we need new leadership among Republicans in Washington.
Second, act like Republicans who believe in something. When Republicans act like Democrats - spending the people's money on increasing the bureaucracy and entitlements and intruding into peoples businesses and lives - we offer no reason to vote Republican when they've already got the 'real thing' in 'big government' Democrats. We have great ideas on keeping America safe, lowering the tax burden on families and businesses, ensuring prosperity in our communities and protecting individual life and liberty. We need to start leading with them.
Third, build our local organization. Specifically in New Jersey - as I'm sure is the case in other 'Blue States' we have moved away from neighborhood politics and 'bought in' to high-priced consultants, slick mailers and television advertising. Year after year, the Democrats pound the pavement with thousands of door-to-door volunteers spreading their message personally to voters. There are plenty of folks, raising families, working in factories and offices that would help if motivated by principled leaders showing a genuine concern for the future of our Party, our Principles and our Country.
Strong leadership, Republican principles and local organization will get us back on the road to success. Pick yourself up, dust off and join us as we rebuild our Party...2008 is right around the corner.
Visit our Website and Stay Informed!
See you on the trail...
Bill Spadea
Bill Spadea Campaign Committee
email: campaign@billspadea.com
phone: (609) 537-0080
web: http://www.billspadea.com |
