Time to stand for something

    “I believe in Jesus Christ and I want to thank my Lord and Savior for loving me the way He does,” - Nate Boyer, Bedford County Republican Party Chairman.

    I was pleased when I heard Nate Boyer say this, last month, during his successful pursuit of the local Republican Party’s chairmanship. I don’t know Mr. Boyer. I had never met him before the April 12 Republican mass meeting. However, I do know and respect Jerry and Teresa Craig. They tell me that they have known Mr. Boyer for a long time and that he’s real.

    That’s good. I think it’s important that he live up to the high moral and ethical standards that should accompany a sincere profession of Christian faith. Based on Jerry and Teresa’s endorsement of him, I hope that more people like him take the reins of leadership in Republican Party units around the country. I also hope that more people like him get involved with the Republican Party. The Republican Party needs them. So does the “Democratic” Party, but I washed my hands of that crew 30 years ago. The “Democrats” seem to have a zero tolerance policy for orthodox Christianity and anyone who openly subscribes to orthodox Christian values, like Mr. Boyer did, won’t have a chance of getting elected to any “Democratic” Party positions. Most likely, he would get the right foot of fellowship if he showed up at any “Democratic” committee meeting.

    Here’s the reason why I think the Republican Party needs more people like Mr. Boyer both in leadership positions and among the rank and file. Think about what raw chicken skin smells like after sitting in the garbage for a couple of days in warm weather. That’s what American politics smell like, and that includes both the “Democratic” Party and the Republican Party. They’ve oozed with ethics scandals, sex scandals and behavior that occasionally rises to the level of being criminal. Voters are sick to death of it. This is why, while “Democrats’” approval ratings are in the toilet, Republicans’ ratings aren’t exactly rosy either.

    Candidates who can rise above the slime, candidates that don’t draw swarms of flies, will earn voters’ respect, and votes. This is one thing the Republicans need to do to win in November. They need to nominate people who apply high ethical and moral standards to their lives.

    Republicans also need to show people, who don’t behave honestly and with decency, the door. They must keep their house clean, even if it means withdrawing support from people who are already holding elected office. Doing this may put a legislative seat at risk, and they may occasionally forfeit one, but they will win in the long run if their political house doesn’t smell like an outhouse.

    Along with nominating ethically and morally clean candidates, Republicans need to nominate conservatives who will stand up for conservative values. Their candidates must take conservative stands on issues without waffling when they come under attack. These candidates need to do their homework, to ensure that they know all the facts involved, then embrace the attack.

    Republicans must nominate candidates who are willing and able to calmly and effectively articulate conservative ideas. The candidates must be able to explain their positions without angry rhetoric, name calling or personal attacks on their opponents. It’s best to leave those tactics to liberals and resist the temptation to descend to their level.

    America remains a free country and the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech still prevails despite the efforts of the politically correct crowd to stifle it. Conservatives who show that they practice what they preach, who are willing to take conservative stands and explain them, rather than running away from them when attacked, can still win in the court of public opinion. They can also win elections.