Those that are in the know say that deja vu is actually the brain malfunctioning when it processes something you experience. Instead of storing that experience, the brain kicks it back out so it seems like a memory of something you already did, saw, experienced, etc. Well what happened in the Republican US Senate race here in Iowa during the primaries on June 3rd was not deja vu, even though it might have seemed like it.
Christopher Reed was the youngest of the three US Senate candidates. He had no name recognition or strong organization. He raised the least amount of money and did not have big name endorsements, but yet, he is the candidate who surprised everyone and won. No, your brain did not just malfunction. This almost identical situation did happen before. It happened just five short months ago on a cold January night. The night of the Iowa Caucuses when another young candidate who was written off because he didn’t have the money, name recognition, organization, or endorsements stunned the nation with a victory.
So, Iowans have spoken twice on what they DON’T need in a candidate. They don’t need a rich boy who can buy the votes, they don’t need a popular name for electability, they don’t need a big staff, and they definitely don’t need the Iowa GOP cramming the wrong candidate down their throats. What Iowans DO want, however, is someone who is the future of the sagging Republican Party. Someone who is firmly grounded in the traditional conservative values of the party, but willing to reach out in different ways to attract new voters into the fold. That means talking about education, poverty, and environment to name a few while remaining true to the traditional family, the sanctity of human life, and less government.
So, take some notes Republican Party of Iowa. Christopher Reed is just one example of the candidates who won on June 3rd. When you take a look at the House and Senate district races across Iowa, the same outcomes are evident. Those candidates who were grounded in the values of conservatism were the winners. The candidates who got the nod from the Iowa Right to Life, Iowans for Tax Relief, and the Iowa Christian Alliance were the victors that night and not the moderate candidates who the party elite thought should be the next generation of Republicans. The plans are in motion to take this party back.
Filed under: Iowans Rock, Politics | Tagged: Caucus, Christopher Reed, conservative, deja vu, GOP, Iowa, Iowa Christian Alliance, Iowa Right to Life, Iowans For Tax Relief, Republican, US Senate, values
Great post. I did not think of it quite in those terms. What I did think of was that we sent a message to the Iowa GOP. We don’t want the candidates handpicked by you because of their moderate positions. We want candidates that hole a true conservatives convictions. The protection of life at all stages, the protection of traditional marriage and values, and the restoration of an education system that is not an indoctrination system. This is what we want, and that is the message that we sent Tuesday night.
Great post. It says it all.
It’s often easy to know what we don’t want but it takes a decent candidate to show us what we DESERVE.
I went to my County GOP meeting to hear Rathje speak and most of the Republicans there were falling all over him. Why? Because he had been running for two–some say three–years? Because of his expensive TAN?
I was totally turned off, especially when Rathje passed the proverbial l hat, and I was SO disappointed in my County GOP…..I felt I had nothing in common with its members; they seemed so desperate to defeat Harkin they weren’t taking a close look and they were grabbing at straws.
I also heard Rathje speak in another county. He was shown respect, passed around a clip board to gather support… and Chris Reed, who did come unannounced, was told to cut his speech short. It was very akward for Reed but he handled himself with dignity.
I think the clip board passed around said a lot- people really didn’t understand what they were signing. It just seemed like the thing to do…
In hindsight- it was very good to get to hear both candidates so that I could make the beginning of a decision as to which man to support- and it opened my eyes to how the established Republican pary operated.
I have been hearing a lot of reports like this. The Iowa GOP pushing their “darlings” and disregarding what the voters are saying. The voters have spoken. Let’s now focus on Nov.