“Hope and change! Change we can believe in! Change we can trust! Change we need!” We all remember President Obama invoking those phrases on the campaign trail. Now along comes Richard Davis, Democrat Party Chairman, saying “It’s time for a change in Utah County.”
This plea comes at a time when Utah is being recognized nationally as “Best Managed State in America”(Pew Foundation), “Best Expected Economic Recovery” (ALEC), “America’s Best State to Live In” (Forbes Magazine), “Most Dynamic Economy” (Kauffman), “Best Quality of Life” (Business Facilities Magazine), “Some of the Best Places to Live” (Money Magazine), “Best Financial Situation in the Country” (Forbes Magazine), “Among the Top 10 States for Job Creation” (IHS Global Insight) among others. These prestigious recognitions don’t happen by accident. They come as a result of implementing Republican principles of government that maximize freedom, liberty, and free markets. After all, it’s the private sector that creates economic growth.
Nationally, Democrat change has translated into Obamacare, bail-outs, more government, more spending, and less freedom and liberty. At every turn, Democrats promised moderation during the election, and then delivered the most liberal, socialistic government in the history of America.
Rather than justify their party’s liberal platform, Utah County Democrats want voters to ignore the party label. They have adopted a “local” platform that almost mirrors that of the Republicans with the exception that they support universal healthcare (think Obamacare). They say they are “fiscally and socially conservative” and “in favor of gun rights.” It even sounds Republican. So either Democrats are closet Republicans who perhaps don’t want to put in the necessary work during the Republican caucus, convention and primary process or they really are Democrats who are disguising the fact in hope you’ll ignore it.
In truth, no matter how much Democrats say they are just like Republicans, in politics the leaf (local Democrats) is a part of the tree (national Democrats).
Take ethics for example and Mr. Davis’ implication that his party is somehow more ethical, an intended slight towards Republicans. Mr. Davis failed to point out that the Republicans have addressed ethics legislation over the past few years, creating a framework that increases transparency and disclosure. Those changes are substantial and are working. I also question Mr. Davis’s claim that Utah County residents support the ethics initiative even when it failed to gain enough signatures to be placed on the ballot. Maybe that’s because many Utah County voters know what’s in the 21-page document—that it is fraught with a host of constitutional issues and would preclude many good, honest community and business leaders from running for office. Utah County Republicans read the bill before passing it, unlike Pelosi Democrats.
A part of ethical behavior is disclosure and transparency. Yet Mr. Davis advised all Democrat candidates to not identify themselves as Democrats on their websites, signs, billboards or literature; confusing voters at best and deceiving them at worst. A Daily Herald editorial September 23, 2010 said it best why Utah County Democrats don’t want to be Democrats, “Utah County voters are not excited about the liberal policies of prominent democrats, Obama, Pelosi and Reid”.
Local Democrats would rather tell you about their religious affiliation and LDS church leadership positions so you know they are “good people” than be known as Democrats. While they very likely are good people, we have all heard the saying “never mix religion with politics”. Recently, many were outraged when Mike Huckabee attacked Mitt Romney for his religion. Using religion to demean or promote any candidate should have no place in American politics. The critical concern for elected office should be the ability to provide good government, not a contest to prove the level of faithfulness in religious practice.
Party affiliation does matter in partisan races. No matter how much a candidate may disclaim the national party ideology, local and state parties are foot soldiers for the national party. When controversy arises, party affiliation counts. Even in Utah this happens. In 2004, the constitutional amendment defining marriage between a man and a woman was approved in the State Senate by one vote; everyone voted along party lines. One more Democrat would have killed the bill to protect our traditional families.
Mr. Davis would have Utah County voters believe that there is little difference between candidates from his party and the Republican Party. I say, Utah County voters are smarter than that. When Americans bought Democrats “change we can believe in” two years ago, it was a big government mistake that has long-term financial impacts. Now at the national and local level Americans will get to choose between big government and less government, more spending or less spending, more freedom or less freedom.
In November, vote Republican. Your freedom, your values, and your pocketbook depend on it.
