Michael Gaynor
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' problems: too "civil" to beat President Obama
By Michael Gaynor
Far Leftists reject and undermine fundamental America values. They ARE enemies, not honorable opponents. Pretending otherwise is unacceptable.
There's no question that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels would be much better in the White House than President Barack Obama.
But Daniels doesn't have "the right stuff" to get there and America needs better than Daniels.
National Review editor Rich Lowery seemed delighted with Daniels' keynote speech as the CPAC President's Banquet last week.
I wasn't.
Daniels' speech told me that he wasn't up to the task of exposing the man in the White House as a liar and stealth socialist instrument.
Lowery was enamored with Daniels' "civility" and economic approach.
I remember former President Reagan saying "I paid for that microphone!" at a debate in New Hampshire in 1980.
Daniels is no Reagan.
Lowery titled his article "Mitch Daniels Is No Panderer" (www.nationalreview.com/articles/259758/mitch-daniels-no-panderer-rich-lowry).
I don't want a panderer either, but I do want a candidate who won't pretend that Obama is a man whose personal integrity must not be questioned.
Lowery on Daniels:
"At CPAC, the Indiana guv didn't deliver a typical presidential-campaign speech.
"Indiana governor Mitch Daniels did not get the memo about CPAC, the annual gathering of conservatives in Washington. The etiquette is that presidential wannabes should hew to a narrow band of harsh and harsher denunciations of liberalism, or anything suspected of having a liberal taint."
"...Daniels...seems temperamentally incapable of unseriousness; he is the anti-panderer. He gave a speech at CPAC that was characteristically thoughtful, standing out in his willingness to tell hard truths about the nation's fiscal condition and to challenge his audience.
"Daniels spoke in favor of principled compromise — 'should the best way be blocked,' he argued, 'then someone will need to find the second-best way.' He called for reaching beyond the conservative base to voters 'who surf past C-SPAN to get to SportsCenter.' He said the Right 'should distinguish carefully skepticism about Big Government from contempt for all government.' He plugged civility."
Lowery's take on the Daniels strategy: "Daniels struck these admonitory notes not to lecture friends, but to prepare them to summon all the persuasiveness and coalition-building necessary to fight 'the Red Menace,' his phrase for 'the debts our nation has amassed for itself over decades of indulgence.'"
Daniels and Lowery are right about the need to fight the new "Red Menace," but Daniels' apparent obliviousness to the old "Red Menace" trying to "fundamentally transform" America and unwillingness to expose President Obama as a liar on civility grounds make him far from the ideal challenger to Obama.
In his speech Daniels pointedly recalled the President Ronald Reagan referred to Democrats as opponents, not enemies.
That's true.
But that was in the 1980's and things have changed, for the worse.
"The Senator from ACORN" became President and White House resident.
Far Leftists reject and undermine fundamental America values. They ARE enemies, not honorable opponents. Pretending otherwise is unacceptable.
Lowery concluded: "At CPAC, [Daniels] again proved himself centered, clear-eyed, and honest. He's the kind of guy who makes you think, 'He should run for president — and probably won't.'"
Daniels made me hope he won't.
In his acceptance speech at the 1984 Republican National Convention, President Ronald Reagan said: "Four years ago we raised a banner of bold colors — no pale pastels."
Those who think that challenging Obama on his ACORN ties and lies is futile are fooling themselves.
The Republican challenger to Obama in 2012 should be bold, not pale, or else that challenger will fail.
© Michael Gaynor
February 16, 2011
Far Leftists reject and undermine fundamental America values. They ARE enemies, not honorable opponents. Pretending otherwise is unacceptable.
There's no question that Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels would be much better in the White House than President Barack Obama.
But Daniels doesn't have "the right stuff" to get there and America needs better than Daniels.
National Review editor Rich Lowery seemed delighted with Daniels' keynote speech as the CPAC President's Banquet last week.
I wasn't.
Daniels' speech told me that he wasn't up to the task of exposing the man in the White House as a liar and stealth socialist instrument.
Lowery was enamored with Daniels' "civility" and economic approach.
I remember former President Reagan saying "I paid for that microphone!" at a debate in New Hampshire in 1980.
Daniels is no Reagan.
Lowery titled his article "Mitch Daniels Is No Panderer" (www.nationalreview.com/articles/259758/mitch-daniels-no-panderer-rich-lowry).
I don't want a panderer either, but I do want a candidate who won't pretend that Obama is a man whose personal integrity must not be questioned.
Lowery on Daniels:
"At CPAC, the Indiana guv didn't deliver a typical presidential-campaign speech.
"Indiana governor Mitch Daniels did not get the memo about CPAC, the annual gathering of conservatives in Washington. The etiquette is that presidential wannabes should hew to a narrow band of harsh and harsher denunciations of liberalism, or anything suspected of having a liberal taint."
"...Daniels...seems temperamentally incapable of unseriousness; he is the anti-panderer. He gave a speech at CPAC that was characteristically thoughtful, standing out in his willingness to tell hard truths about the nation's fiscal condition and to challenge his audience.
"Daniels spoke in favor of principled compromise — 'should the best way be blocked,' he argued, 'then someone will need to find the second-best way.' He called for reaching beyond the conservative base to voters 'who surf past C-SPAN to get to SportsCenter.' He said the Right 'should distinguish carefully skepticism about Big Government from contempt for all government.' He plugged civility."
Lowery's take on the Daniels strategy: "Daniels struck these admonitory notes not to lecture friends, but to prepare them to summon all the persuasiveness and coalition-building necessary to fight 'the Red Menace,' his phrase for 'the debts our nation has amassed for itself over decades of indulgence.'"
Daniels and Lowery are right about the need to fight the new "Red Menace," but Daniels' apparent obliviousness to the old "Red Menace" trying to "fundamentally transform" America and unwillingness to expose President Obama as a liar on civility grounds make him far from the ideal challenger to Obama.
In his speech Daniels pointedly recalled the President Ronald Reagan referred to Democrats as opponents, not enemies.
That's true.
But that was in the 1980's and things have changed, for the worse.
"The Senator from ACORN" became President and White House resident.
Far Leftists reject and undermine fundamental America values. They ARE enemies, not honorable opponents. Pretending otherwise is unacceptable.
Lowery concluded: "At CPAC, [Daniels] again proved himself centered, clear-eyed, and honest. He's the kind of guy who makes you think, 'He should run for president — and probably won't.'"
Daniels made me hope he won't.
In his acceptance speech at the 1984 Republican National Convention, President Ronald Reagan said: "Four years ago we raised a banner of bold colors — no pale pastels."
Those who think that challenging Obama on his ACORN ties and lies is futile are fooling themselves.
The Republican challenger to Obama in 2012 should be bold, not pale, or else that challenger will fail.
© Michael Gaynor
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