The Need For Political Pressure From the Grass-Roots

By John Bonich

I don’t like flip-floppers. 

 
I hate the way they slip off your feet so easily and quite frankly, wearing open-toed shoes tends to leave me feeling naked and self-conscious.  Certainly not a pretty sight and definitely not a pretty thought.

 

Neither do I like politicians who say they stand for one thing then turn around and do the opposite.  Even if I disagree with their politics, if their actions stay consistent with their views I am far more willing to support a moderate in compromise than someone who proclaims they are fiscally conservative and then in actuality goes on to support unnecessary spending and tax increases.

I have defended Ken Cuccinelli against attacks for not being “moderate” enough when he stood his ground against the Prince William Chamber Of Commerce’s desire for more subsidies and I have defended him against attackers declaring him too socially conservative when he was simply just doing his job as Attorney General.  But I was quite dismayed when I read this recent Washington Post article.  Not necessarily the part about him recognizing the pragmatism of not being able to repeal McDonnell’s folly, (though I do believe a symbolic attempt a-la the House’s attempt to repeal Obamacare would make a strong statement and cement his place as a fiscal conservative), but this particular piece of information:

But in the same opinion, Cuccinelli provided a roadmap for resolving those constitutional issues by basing special taxes on not geography, which he said is not allowed, but on other criteria, such as population. Cuccinelli’s campaign has since taken credit for playing a role in saving the bill.

 

Basing them on population?  Really?  I had a hard time believing the staunch fiscal conservative AG would use such a flimsy loophole to help pass one of the highest tax increases in Virginia’s history.  Sure enough, on March 26^th, The Cuccinelli campaign released a press statement in which the Attorney General said he “was honored to work with members of the McDonnell Administration in making sure the legislation was able to move forward without the threat of any legal challenges.”

I believe the presumed Republican nominee for Governor owes his grass-roots supporter base a more elaborate explanation than “I remain committed to working to fix Virginia’s transportation problems, which will create jobs and ease the congestion across the Commonwealth.”  They have put in a lot of hard work to get him this nomination over the last couple years, and continue to work hard to put a fiscal conservative in the Governor’s mansion.  I was door knocking for the campaign last week and spoke to a gentleman who said he would be happy to volunteer for Cuccinelli, as he is pushing to lower taxes.  This was a huge issue for him, and he had no kind words for McDonnell or the transportation bill.  I can’t help but wonder if he would be willing to do so knowing that Ken Cuccinelli opposed the enormous tax hike in words but supported it and helped it become law in action.  That’s at least one man on the ground, perhaps even one voter, Cuccinelli could lose.

Republicans politicians have a tendency to move to the left when they get lambasted by the media and special interest groups for being “too conservative.”  It is the job of the Party and their grass-roots supporters to remind them it is we who will be putting in the leg work to get folks out to the poles, not a left-leaning media or special interest lobbies.

Many folks believe there is little difference between the Republicans and Democrats.  Our job as Young Republicans is to define the next generation of the Republican Party.   A big part of this is holding Republican candidates and politicians accountable for their actions, and making sure they do what they say and say what they do.

I hope more Republicans and fiscal conservatives put pressure on Ken about this.  Because based on his actions, the only pressure he’s feeling is that from the left and center-left to conform to their big-government, tax-and-spend dogma.