Republican Leaders Stump Early for 2008 Election

It is Saturday, an entertainer croons "Rat-Pack" songs, and the sun sets over the pond, on the longest day of the year. Beside the pool, and beneath the grandfather oaks, freshman Congressman Gus Bilirakis has kicked off his re-election campaign in style with a fund-raiser at a classic Florida southern mansion. Gus serves on the Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs subcommittees. He has made fast friends on both sides of the aisle. The House minority leadership has recognized his work, and so Michigan Congressman Thad McCotter, third in line of the Republican House leadership, flew in to speak on behalf of Gus to the campaign true believers.

Gus spoke warmly and gratefully to his friends and family. Gus talked of his work to make sure veterans are given the healthcare that they so richly deserve. He introduced Thad to the crowd as Chairman of the Republican House Policy Committee. And Gus talked a little Capitol Hill inside baseball. You see, for many years, the Republican and Democratic legislative players have engaged in the Great American Past Time, to relieve the stress of politics, and to burn calories. Thad is a star of the Republican Baseball team. Unfortunately, he is currently nursing a back strain that almost kept him from coming to Florida to speak on Gus' behalf. As he delivered his remarks, he favored his shoulder, which made him look a little less imposing than his six-foot two inch stature normally conveys.

McCotter spoke first of immigration reform. If it does come out of the Senate, it will be severely modified in the House, and the Republican House leadership will make every effort to defeat a bad bill. He was most concerned with border security and guest worker availability. The sunseting of the Bush tax cuts, because of the Democrats control of the House, is sure to happen. This inevitability will open an opportunity for advocates of lower taxes. For this reason the talk swung quickly to the regaining of control in the House by the Republicans. Thad stated that the Republicans had failed to champion the traditional Republican values of small government and personal liberty. The Republicans had transformed themselves into the party of pork. Thad believes the voters were correct in showing the Republican leaders the exit door.

According to Thad, there is a debate among the leadership, with the lines of division being between those who believe that the Republicans should merely stand aside and let the Democrats be incompetent and socialist, thereby repelling the average American voter, and those who believe that the Republicans need a positive agenda, and a companion tactical plan from which to campaign. As for his part, Thad will make every opportunity to rebuild the "Reagan Democrat" coalition, where independents and middle of the road Democrats identify more with the Republican ideals of small government, personal liberty, strong defense, and low taxes, and less with a Democratic vision of a larger, more expansive national government.

Thad McCotter works closely with Adam Putnam, the veteran Congressman from Polk County Florida. Adam is second in command, behind John Bohner. Thad has joined Adam in endorsing Fred Thompson for President. A few questions for McCotter revolved around this dynamic. As to his contacts with Fred Thompson, he has made no formal contacts. Fred's campaign is in a very early formative stage, so that there is really no "go to" staffers as yet for the Congressmen to open lines of communication. From McCotter's perspective, the ability of the Congressional Leadership to work with the Republican National Committee for a comprehensive strategy to retake the House is contingent upon the selection of the Presidential nominee, as the presumptive nominee usually is given control of this office for the leadership of the National race. As for now, the presence of President Bush's man as head of the RNC, Senator Mel Martinez, and the negative baggage generated over the immigration reform issue, has made any strategic decisions very problematic at this point.

A question was posed regarding the "Supervoter" strategy practiced by Karl Rove. In past years, the get out the vote campaign has been targeted at Republican voters who have voted consistently, in primaries and general elections. Does the national leadership understand that the constant calls and letters to the "broken glass Republicans" is in fact, preaching to the choir, even to the point of being counterproductive, and such moneys and efforts would be better spent on reaching out to the general electorate? Thad nodded and replied that is a point well taken.

One attractive young Republican lady asked the question about the "Fairness Doctrine." Some Congressional leaders, mostly Democrats, but a few Republicans, have criticized the dominance of conservative opinion on talk radio. The restoration of the fairness doctrine is a pointed attack on conservative free speech. What are the chances that such legislation could be enacted? Mr. McCotter said the Democrats may try to pass this bill, but even if it passes both Houses of Congress, the President is sure to veto.

There are priorities in Washington that cannot be ignored. Thad will be playing baseball on Capitol Hill Monday against the Democrats, he would not miss the game, even if he aggravates his sprained back. The Democrats always lose.