Connection to People & Principles

Can you believe that one year after Barak Obama defied conventional political wisdom and claimed victory and the White House that we would see liberals running for cover? Having beaten the Clinton machine and a Republican war hero and senior senator with a well-known independent appeal, we are now seeing every incumbent run from big government and the liberal agenda from the Obama White House and championed by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

What is going on? Is this a partisan swing of historical proportion? Glenn Beck stated earlier today that a Scott Brown win in Massachusetts would begin the “death of the Democrat soul.” Many other political pundits have tried to explain how a state that has not voted for a state-wide Republican since the year I was born (1966) was on the verge of sending one to Washington. How could the environment swing so quickly from one year ago when Obama won by 26 points?

The answer is simple and the same one I use to explain why Utah has been voted again the best managed state in the nation. It’s called connection to people and connection to principles, not to party per se. Utah Republican leaders have been able to connect with voters in a way that demonstrates that they understand conservative principles…and as residents of Utah, we reap the benefits of this every day as we continue to lead the nation in economic development and job creation, to name a few leading indicators.

Connection to the voters and an acknowledgement on the part of the elected official that they understand who they represent and whose money they spend is the key to victory, or conversely, the recipe for defeat if you fail to make that connection. Now the rest of the nation, broadly speaking, understands this as individuals across the country seek to again get connected with their leaders; and with the principles this country was founded on. Defending conservative principles, tested by time and results, is now even popular in the bluest state in the nation, Massachusetts. Wow. To put this in perspective, a Utah equivalent might be if Sen. Hatch passed away and Mark Shurtleff was beat by State Sen. Luz Robles. Who, you say? My point exactly.

One article I read about the transformation in Massachusetts put it this way, “But the race narrowed considerably over the past week as Brown's populist message resonated with an angry and resentful electorate in an antiestablishment environment. He's energized Republicans as well as attracted disillusioned Democrats and independents worried about taxes, spending, government expansion and health care under Obama.” (Obama makes last-ditch attempt to save Senate seat by BETH FOUHY and LIZ SIDOTI).

Republicans should be pleased; Martha Coakley couldn’t convince voters to ignore her gaffs and her commitment to big government. The fact that this race turned so quickly is nothing short of a historic and motivational victory. Momentum is certainly on our side. But at its core, this is not a partisan victory.

The party that articulates their foundational principles and demonstrates best that they are committed to connecting with voters will win in 2010. Put another way, voters don’t appreciate being ignored or taken for granted; they want accountability from their leaders and an assurance that candidates and party know their place in the political hierarchy. Like Scott Brown said, “It’s the People’s Seat.” Any candidate with a history of a gap between them and the voters will lose and conversely, the candidate or party that helps close this gap will win and become the dominant party of the future. Brown mentioned tonight in his victory speech that on the campaign trail that he heard over and over again that “voters were tired that elected officials had grown aloof.”

Aloof describes Coakley to a T. She ran an elitist campaign and made little connection with the voters; her failed campaign showed this clearly. Brown on the other hand connected with people and they also felt his connection to his guiding principles. This gave them confidence that he would not become aloof. That’s all voters want – connection. Brown will close the gap between government and the voters. The reason Democrats will suffer under this tide is big government screams for a large gap to exist.

Locally, many municipal incumbents lost for this same reason. Their elitist attitude and failure to understand and connect with the voters sent them packing. So, will Republicans be the party that bridges the gap and connects with voters? Will incumbents rush to close this gap, where one exists? For some it may be too late. Deal makers, big spenders, and liberal over-achievers may already know their fate after tonight.

For me, I will fight for accountability, fiscal responsibility, and for defense of the Constitution and protection of the family. It is clear that what happened in MA can happen all over America – and I’m not sure that is a bad thing.