GaryMcCollum.com

Originally Published February 28, 2009 at 16:55 p.m.

My fellow conservatives,

Over the past four days, I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with many of you.  One such attendee was Vince Laparo of Cleveland, Ohio.  A first time attendee at CPAC, Vince told me that he had come to CPAC looking for answers.  He’s not alone.  Turn on the television and watch any interview with any Republican (discounting any interview on MSNBC, of course, where they proceed to gloating rather than asking a substantive question of any Republican who dare appear on the network).

The questions are simplistic in their nature:  Where does the party go from here?  Who will lead us through this time in which the current administration and congressional leadership will not invite us in out of the cold unless we check our principles and integrity at the door?

As simplistic as the questions may be, however, our response is never any better than a convoluted, yet unresponsive, “I don’t know.”  I’m here to tell you, we’re over-thinking the questions.  In fact, the answer to all of these questions is as simple as the questions themselves.

In short, Republicans should be led, as with any political party, by the will of the American people.  Ours cannot be the party of smaller federal government, only to put its faith, hope and adoration in the hands of one man or one woman.  To do otherwise immediately casts us in a hypocritical light.  Conservatives, Republicans and Americans as a whole who are seeking a savior should, and must, look elsewhere.

Rather, let us promote the principle that a good mayor is always more important than a good Governor.  And a good Governor is always more important than a good President.  In each case, in the off chance you actually need the government’s help, it always will be a hell of a lot easier to voice your concerns to the former over the latter.

For those Republicans among us who looked up and wondered where our party’s leadership went, I say to you that our leaders are still there, but our party simply stopped listening to them.  Now, as President Obama and the Democrats attempt to purchase a historical legacy rather than actually earning one, we are left to face the reality that the leaders of our party, whether intentional or not, gained our attention by placing many of our fundamental liberties in doubt.  Our response going forward will determine the sustainability of our Republic, built upon the notions of hard work, unquestionable generosity, and unqualified opportunity.  The only “change” America needed in Washington, DC was the consistent presence of a Republican party responsive to the beliefs, values and fundamental liberties of the American people.

Sincerely, I believe Americans would rather earn a job than take an entitlement.  However, if Americans continue to see their voices ignored, I fear we will take what is given to us by our government for free, in lieu of freedom from the government’s influence in our daily lives.

In closing, our answers to questions about our future as a party are simple.  Ask them if they believe the Constitution and Bill of Rights provide equal protection for all, leaving no need for divisive classifications of man.  Ask them if they believe that their happiness is not dependent upon the government.  Ask them if they believe that innocent deserve the benefit of unconditional love, while the guilty only deserve the benefit of prayers for unconditional grace.  If they answer these questions in the affirmative, I want you to answer their question, as follows: “You.  You are the future of our party, and let’s work together to make sure our voices are heard.”

I attended dinner with some liberal law school friends upon arriving in Washington, D.C. three nights ago.  At dinner, I revealed the story of my three-year-old daughter explaining her dislike of taxes after watching Disney’s “Robin Hood” and my conservative pride at that moment.  My liberal friend said, “Doesn’t it ever bother you that most of the core beliefs of your politics can be explained by a three-year-old.”  I paused, before responding, “Not at all.  Just because a concept is simple doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

Good luck to all of you in the coming year, and I look forward to seeing you all at CPAC 2010.

Gary D. McCollum, Esq.
Lexington, Kentucky