Nathan Fletcher is a member of the Democratic Party. This doesn’t surprise me. I knew when he made the choice to throw the “independent” Hail Mary pass that, if he wanted a political future, he would have to (a) move to another state and try to woo Republican voters there or (b) join with the Democrats. Getting elected in a big state like California is nearly impossible as an independent, especially one who holds competing positions within a 12-month period.
This isn’t about Nathan though — this is about you. Many of you are registered Republicans who thought Nathan was electable. I get that. He’s good looking, a combat veteran, and has a politically connected wife. Some volunteers, donors, and consultants thought that was what was needed to win and govern in San Diego. Most Republican volunteers, donors, and consultants disagreed and the local party (and Republican voters) backed Carl DeMaio. I can’t speak for them or the local party but I can for myself. I supported DeMaio and got involved in the local party because I think ideas and principles matter. I like that our local party, for which Carl held the banner in the last election, is focused on limiting and reforming government.
The voters like the ideas we’re offering:
- The Proposition D sales tax hike was defeated
- Managed competition was passed
- Pension reform passed overwhelmingly
I suspect that you like those ideas too. This is good news for all of us. Together, we can continue to develop more ideas for government reform and elect candidates who can implement those ideas. I believe the local Republican Party is a coalition of like-minded people who, while we don’t always agree on every issue, can rally around the basic principles of reform.
If you’re a registered Republican who supported Fletcher, we want to see more of you. It is you who make this Republican Party special. Please come see us on the second Monday of each month. I promise you that nobody will say, “I told you so.”
If you’re an independent who thought Fletcher represented the center-right principles with which you identify, we want to hear from you. Naturally, we’d love for you to re-register and volunteer but if you don’t want to do that, we still want your input–neither political party can win elections without appealing to you. I extend the same invitation to visit us on the second Monday of each month. I promise you that we will listen to you.
If you’re like some of my moderate “Legacy Democrat” friends, we know that Fletcher might have appealed to you. We want to know why. We think you might share our principles and, while you may not be comfortable identifying with the Republican Party, you ultimately vote for many our candidates. That’s cool — we want to hear from you, too. You’re invited on the second Monday of each month but if you aren’t comfortable visiting us, reach out to a Republican elected official whom you like — she’ll appreciate that you did so.
Republicans believe in limited government which works. Republicans believe in the rule of law. Republicans believe in individual rights. Republicans believe that by limiting government and following the rule of law, individuals competing and cooperating with one another produce far superior results than a big, centralized government, trying to plan our individual lives.
Nathan Fletcher, the Marine veteran, is worthy of our respect. Nathan Fletcher, the politician, doesn’t subscribe to the principles with which you and I identify. That’s okay. Come back to the Republican Party and we’ll work on big ideas…together. Those ideas will always transcend any one person.