AN INNOVATIVE PATH TO THE FUTURE

As we gear up for the 111th Congress, our beliefs seem under fire. Countless election ’08 post-mortems appearing in newspapers across the country have cast doubt on the GOP’s ability to carry on as a viable political party. Some have even gone so far as to proclaim that conservative principles have become irrelevant – if not dead – as a response to our nation’s formidable challenges. To many in the pundit class, our party is finished.

These tales of doom are flatly absurd. In the face of a grueling economic slowdown, the Democrats intend to raise taxes on capital investment and the incomes of those they deem “rich,” two-thirds of whom are small businesses that are engines of job creation. How could there possibly be a time where GOP tenets like low taxes are more necessary?

Like you, I know how invaluable common sense conservative principles are to maintaining a healthy and vibrant democracy. Our nation is at its finest when individuals have the incentives and ability to work, invent, invest and responsibly carve out their own destinies. That’s why Republican goals are tied to free markets, limiting government, keeping taxes low, spending wisely and governing more transparently and effectively. Building an agenda of reform based on self-empowerment and entrepreneurialism is absolutely essential to expanding our tent and making inroads with an increasingly diverse electorate.

Why I Am Running

Be the Honest Opposition and the Check and Balance on Obama and Pelosi’s Power

The Obama Administration will ascend to power at an enormously critical juncture for our nation. With so much left unsettled on the vital economic and national security fronts, scarcely has there been a more important time to fight for what we believe in. From day one we will serve as the check and balance on majority rule envisioned under the Constitution. But our opposition will not be reflexive and automatic; it will be honest and responsible. Should the majority reach out to us on behalf of the national interest, they will find us ready and willing to cooperate.

The first order of business in the 111th will undoubtedly be repairing the ailing economy. In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Depression, not to mention two wars, it is imperative that we work to minimize any further damage. If the Democrats come to us with proposals to cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses, or propose other plans that responsibly stimulate the economy, we will support them. If the Democrats instead reinvent the same old high-tax, heavy spending solutions that died out in the last century, we will strongly oppose them and thoughtfully bring our case before the American people.

Provide a Bold and Radically Different Plan for America

Over the next several years we must convey to the American people that we truly do represent something different. We must develop a broad strategic message. One of the lessons from campaign ’08 is that zeroing in on one single issue can fall short of our goals if it is not wrapped into a broader, overarching vision for America. Single issues can be outstanding tools to reinforce our hopeful message of personal freedom, strong families and free markets, but they are not a vision.

The vision we will take to the American people must start with a specific plan to overhaul the way Washington works. It will feature prescriptions of reform to move the federal government into a world of accountability where only deliverable promises are made. We must identify and also be able to communicate our common sense policies to the most pressing issues families struggle with every day, including health care, jobs, education, wages, commuting, the environment and crime.

Our alternative vision for America will tap into our country’s innovative spirit and lay out a case for making her safer, more secure and prosperous. It will both start and end with empowering individuals and families to make their own decisions in taking on the challenges they face. It must offer a way for the American people to see how their lives will improve and their future will be brighter.

Shortly after the polls closed two weeks ago a survey was taken in which nearly 70% of respondents indicated that the Democrat Party better understood the interest of “people like them.”

Conversely, nearly 70% of the time, polls indicate that voters, regardless of party, agree with Republicans on the issues. Going forward, we must root ourselves in our core beliefs, but we can no longer just speak in ideological terms. Our candidates and our party must bring about a clean break from the past and offer a contemporary vision of life in America that is heavy on reform. Make no mistake, the road leading up to the 2010 midterm elections and beyond won’t be easy. Success will never be final. Reform is continuous.

I look forward to getting down to work together – right away! Thanks for all you do, and congratulations on your recent victory. I appreciate your consideration, and hope I can count on your support.

Sincerely,

Eric Cantor