This is not a religious post but it seems apropos here.
“As a dog returns to his vomit, so fools repeat their folly.” – Proverbs 26:11
Almost on cue Darrell Issa told CBS Wednesday, “If the President calls and says will you serve your country, the answer always is … you will.”
While I’m not surprised at the opportunism of the retiring Congressman, I humorously note his reference to “the President.” I think it’s telling. Absent is the entity he should be referring to – “We the people.”
But it’s not Issa’s opportunism that discourages me most. It’s some of my friends on the San Diego County Republican Party Central Committee. Like a dog returning to it’s vomit they are bounding to Issa’s side.
Embarrassingly they’re unaware of his record. Unaware of it’s impact to our brand. Apparently unaware it’s rendered our rare control of all three branches of government meaningless. Our California party registration has dropped to third. Issa’s record is worse than Duncan Hunter’s. It includes a vote against H.R. 1, the most significant tax reform since Reagan. A vote against Tom McClintock’s Amendment to balance the budget and fully repeal Obamacare and a vote against reducing funding to the EPA … and the list goes on.
I don’t think my friends get it. The solution to restoring America’s greatness isn’t defeating a Democrat. It’s not about electing an “R”. It’s a return to our great ideas. The “laws of nature” care little for politicians and their good intentions. The reform we desire only responds to principle.
We should be united around a positive, our conservative values: limited constitutional government, free markets and individual liberty. Instead we’re uniting around a negative, Ammar Campa-Najjar. Big mistake.
We failed by not withdrawing our endorsement from Hunter. Had we done so it’s probable Hunter still would have won the primary but Bill Wells would have been enabled to fund raise and garner the extra 6,400 votes necessary for a Prop 14 second place finish. Hindsight is 20/20.
We now know Hunter will be in the General. Let’s help him get elected and then unite in a special election around a candidate with a track record for not just being popular but having the political courage to do the right thing, vote with our time tested ideals. Vote for someone who will exploit the conservative majority in the 50th and lead.
Seeking someone inspiring. Hunter and Issa are only the fruit of the problem. We’re the root.
***
Eric Andersen is member of the Central Committee of the San Diego County Republican Party and former Caucus Chair for the 71st District. He is also Co-Founder and Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of San Diego County as well as a former Rock Church Citizen of the Year.