The election is over-President Obama won, Mitt Romney lost. I accepted the decision of the majority of my fellow Americans, even though the better candidate lost, in my opinion. But, then the political carping began, particularly from some of the political “experts” in the Republican Party. Mitt Romney was too “moderate” for the Red Team, some said. Others said he was too “conservative” to wear a red jersey. We hear Mitt Romney should have done this, he shouldn’t have said that, if he wanted to win the election. In numerous media forums around the country, a “conversation” about the future of the Republican Party is debated ad nauseum.
But, what is really galling is the unfair criticism from some in the “Elephant Party” towards Mitt Romney. Ironically, the “Donkey Party” is treating Mitt Romney better, post-election, than the political party Romney represented. Most of the Democrats acknowledge Mitt Romney is a good family man (even if they strongly disagreed with his politics) and they respected the classy (sort of) concession speech he made on election night after it was clear that “it was not going to happen.”
But, a number of Republicans can’t give it a rest. Like a bad reality TV show (think, “Housewives of…whatever”), many of these “good” Republicans are verbalizing for us every soul-searching thought and feeling they have about the how the Republican Party needs to “reinvent” itself. To validate their hubris, they feel a need to continue to criticize the way Romney campaigned in the presidential election.
So, the hits keep coming. To borrow a quote from President Deiter F. Uchtdorf…”STOP IT!” Let Mitt Romney, and his family, be absent from the political conversation for a while. That may sound strange coming from me since I was the one who wrote An Open Letter To Mitt Romney, pre-election, publicly challenging him on where he stood on a number of issues important to Americans.
As an “Independent American,” I would have been one of the first to hold Mitt Romney accountable as president, if he had won the election. But, as an “Independent American,” I will also be one of the first to defend someone who is being unfairly criticized by hypocrites in their own political party. To be sure, Mitt Romney’ self-worth does not need me, or anyone else, defending him from unfair criticism. He has thicker skin than most when it comes to political criticism. In my opinion, Mitt Romney liked the “work” of being president (i.e.- the challenge of solving the problems that our country faces) more than actually being the “President,” whereas, President Obama likes being “President” more than liking the “work” that comes with being President. Just my opinion.
Here is what I would say to those in the Republican Party who are continually criticizing Mitt Romney and “asking” how the party can reinvent itself to attract voters who did not vote Republican- you are asking the wrong question! You should be asking not what is best for the Republican Party, but what is best for America and future generations of Americans. No wonder the Republican Party is a dysfunctional family these days if it can’t even ask the right question. Wasn’t it a Democrat (or a Republican?) who said “ask not what your party can do for you, but what your party can do for America?”
Okay, that is not exactly what JFK said, but close enough for the main point of this article. That is, both the Republican Party and the Democrat Party better be thinking more about what is best for America than what is best for their respective ( not, respected ) political parties. For the next 4 years, we shall see if the Democrats are as bad for America as many think they will be. For some Republicans the “sky is falling” from both a President being a Democrat and from a Republican Party that is imploding.
Fellow Americans, do we not recognize that the brilliance of our Constitution is that the Founders put in place a divinely-inspired framework that prevents America from tilting too far to the far left, or too far to the right? It is extraordinarily difficult for any political party, of whatever persuasion, to (1) win both the popular vote and electoral college vote for President (2) control both the House and the Senate (3) have the majority view of the Supreme Court, almost all of whom were appointed and confirmed during prior administrations and, equally important (4) have a majority of the States also be under the control of the same political party.
Political gridlock is extremely frustrating in the moment, but it is that way by design. We have to stop this political cynicism in America where members of each party think the other party will destroy America if that party has won the presidency. I have no doubt that some in America espouse views that would destroy America. But, I havemore faith in the Constitution and the fact that the majority of Americans love their country more than their political party.
The dangerous views of anti-Americans (think, “anti-Christs” in the BOM) eventually are exposed for what they are. The antiseptic of letting political party choices fail is just what we need to continue to have in America. In my opinion, we need to stop the “sky is falling” political conversation and get on with the business of meeting each other in the public square’ to articulate and defend specific fact-based policies that we each think are best for America, particularly for future generations of Americans. That is what a self-governing people does that seeks to remain a free people.
I pledge to do my part in clearly articulating, in the public square, what policies I think are best for America, and WHY, in matters regarding social issues, foreign affairs and national security, energy policy, education, immigration, fiscal and tax policy, and entitlement reform, among other things. And, that is exactly what I think Mitt Romney did in the recent election. He gave us a political choice, and we each had the freedom to make a choice, or not. Disagree, if you will, if he did not do as well as you think YOU could have done in the political arena. But, as an “Independent American,” I say, “Thank You Governor Romney.”
