Newt's Big Idea
let's defeat Big Government Socialism
Newt Gingrich has a new book out and a new Big Idea for winning the future. The book is title Defeating Big Government Socialism: Saving America’s Future. It’s
in the tradition of Lady Thatcher, who had said, “First you win the argument. Then you win the vote.”
Older people are against “socialism,” says Newt, but young people have been carefully taught that socialism is “good… but they instinctively know that big government’s terrible.” Newt figures the way you win is by attacking a combination of the two evils.
So you suddenly bring together older people who are anti-socialism and younger people who are anti-big government and the result is that even under a forced choice, we could not get support for big government socialism above 18 percent.
Newt wants to make a big argument:
The big argument is whether or not you believe that a Washington-dominated bureaucratically implemented system that is against American history, against American traditional values, against the work ethic, against traditional patriotism, whether that’s a system you think will work, or in fact, if you want to replace it with something which will work.
Guess what. Newt says that 87 percent want an America that works. What a concept. He thinks we have an unusual opportunity to connect with people. Particularly if we campaign at the gas station and the grocery store. And, he says, don’t make this a partisan thing. Make it about America.
Republicans should not think about a Republican tsunami. People talk about a red wave and I say, “No, it’s going to be a red, white, and blue wave. It’s going to be Americans. It’s going to be people, some Democrats, overwhelming Republicans, overwhelming independents.”
That’s what Ronald Reagan did. “Reagan would always say, ‘To my fellow Republicans and to those independents and Democrats who share our values.’” And that’s what Newt did with his “Contract with America” back in 1994.
Whatabout climate change?
Look, I do think climates change. I think the largest factor in climate change is the sun. I do think that you have to be constantly adapting.
But, the important thing to keep front and center is that, whatever climate change is, “their solutions are stupid.” And, he adds “the Left hates the American oil and gas industry.”
Will it work? Will talking about “big government socialism” swing the swing voters? Who knows? But that’s why we have elections. To find out whose lies the American people prefer.
And when he is saying “it’s going to be Americans” he means the ordinary commoner Americans about whom I write and honor. So he can’t be far wrong.
Because, to adapt the immortal words of Mary McCarthy: Every word in politics is a lie, including “and” and “the.