In reflecting on Reagan and Romney's role in the Republican Party, I drew inspiration from both men's words. Never being one of those activists who leaned heavily on "what would Reagan do" to cheaply win an argument full of intellectual void, I couldn't help but feel the very same conviction to rely on some of his words and formatting to argue for organized opposition to Romney's nomination. We can do better in this primary. It's time my fellow movement leaders take a public stand, lest they be responsible for very foreseeable ills that will pain our Party and the fight for real reform.
A Time for Choosing...
Those who would trade our principles for the bet of the compromising nominee have told us they can ensure victory without our nominee publicly endorsing reform policies. They call their policy “winning.” And they say if we’ll only avoid any direct harm to the nominee in waiting, he’ll come to our side, be convinced that the country truly is at a crossroads, along with our Party’s brand and learn to love us. All who oppose the nominee in waiting are given no refuge, no access, labeled as ideologues. They say we offer purist rhetoric to a complex election. Well, perhaps there is a purist answer—not an easy answer—but pure one: If you, here and now, have the courage to take a stand, say “Not Mitt Romney”… that we want a nominee who will fundamentally reform the financial burden our country is crippled with and have a core, we will win.
We cannot buy this race, the White House from the threat of President Obama’s policies by committing an immorality so great as saying to 14 MILLION unemployed people, 30 MILLION underemployed neighbors, and those 40 MILLION trying families on food stamps now being enslaved by these reckless regulatory and job-killing policies, “There is no true reform with entitlements and compromise, mandates with bad policy at whatever level are necessary because in an attempt, an attempt to win the White House, we’re willing to make a deal with Mitt Romney.” Barry Goldwater said, “I will offer a choice, not an echo.” We do not deserve Mitt Romney. Now let’s set the record straight. There’s no argument over the choice between ending Obama’s failed policies and not, but there’s only one guaranteed way you can find comfort—and you can have it in the very next second—surrender this righteous fight.
Admittedly, there’s a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson of history tells us that the greater risk lies in choosing a compromising nominee with no visible core, that American citizens aren’t buying pre-packaged focus-tested goods this go around. That reform isn’t just a principle; it’s also a winning campaign strategy. If we, no you, continue to stay silent, continue to watch this race play out, continue to sideline your influence among your neighbors, your friends, voters in the early states, eventually we will have the “inevitable nominee” and history will write of us, that we learned nothing from our victories. You see, the many believe Romney is the nominee already. They believe this because voices from our own side haven’t stood up tall enough or loud enough. We haven’t organized hard enough. Some would rather have the surety of Romney’s nomination than go against Obama’s Chicago machine with anyone else. And therein lies the road ahead, because this sentiment doesn’t speak for all of us.
You and I know and do not believe that the arrogant presumption of selecting the winner in our primary ensures victory on Election Day or worse, in the White House where policy is created. We are not trying to beat a single man alone, but a set of policies, of ideas that are killing our nation. If publicly opposing Romney’s nomination, at this time when there is still a full race, isn’t an option, when did this begin—a day after the 2010 midterm elections? Romney’s announcement? Upon the revelation that admittedly none of the other candidates are as prepared to campaign as he-the-chosen-one? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their muskets and refused to fire the shot heard ‘round the world? Should Washington have not sailed with a bloodied, some shoeless militia in the snow to reclaim the Revolution, fighting against a professional German army that greatly outnumbered his own? The martyrs of history were not fools, and we can win yet. Where, then, is our cause? Well it’s a pure and simple answer after all.
You and I have the courage to say, “Not Mitt Romney.” “There are better men and women equipped to lead this Party, this race, this country.” And this-this is our uniting banner.
You see, you and I have a rendezvous with this primary. This race, right now.
We’ll preserve for our Party, for our children, for the country—a better promise, or we’ll sentence them to the uncertainty of a nominee who flings with the wind.
I will try and keep in mind that you were with us this day. That your faith and ability came together with so many others to believe again changed our due outcome. We can beat Mitt Romney. We can beat him in this primary, here and now. Organize at NotMittRomney.com.