Takeover (38 page)
Authors: Richard A. Viguerie
2. Field a candidate in every public office or party race (local, state, and federal) except where an incumbent principled conservative is running.
3. Avoid having two or more conservatives in the same race if there is an establishment Republican running—unless there is a runoff requirement if no one gets a majority.
4. Qualities to look for in a candidate
a. Boat rocker
b. Walks with conservatives
c. Well-read on conservative philosophy
d. Will put the Constitution, and their conservative principles, above party leaders
e. Has a personal record of achievement commensurate with the level of the office being sought
f. Is above reproach in their personal and business life
g. Is committed to building the conservative movement
h. Will vote to replace all establishment Republican leaders: local, state, and federal
5. The first law of politics is “define or be defined.” Be quick to define the following in the public’s mind by applying my Four Horsemen of Marketing to:
a. Your candidate or organization
b. Your opponents
6. Give the voters a “tune they can whistle,” such as:
a. My opponent is a Big Government, borrow-and-spend, establishment Republican.
b. My opponent is a crony of the failed Big Government Republican establishment.
c. My opponent supported Obamacare by voting for the October 2013 continuing resolution and for the Ryan–Murray spending deal (not committed to abolishing Obamacare).
d. My opponent is financed by Karl Rove–type establishment Republican crony capitalist groups—American Crossroads, US Chamber, and their stealth committees.
e. My opponent puts earmarks above principles.
f. My Republican opponent’s campaign is being run by Big Government establishment consultants, not the conservative grass roots.
7. Run on the issues voters are talking about, such as:
a. The failure of the Republican establishment to prevent the growth of government (Obamacare, unconstitutional NSA snooping and IRS criminal abuses; funding for left-wing groups such as Planned Parenthood, La Raza, and others)
b. The out-of-control spending that causes debt, high taxes, inflation
c. An immoral debt being passed on to our children and grandchildren
d. America under Democratic leadership is in decline
e. Amnesty for illegal aliens
f. Term limits
g. Fairness: for example, is it fair for politicians to burden our children and grandchildren with massive debt so they can win reelection?
h. Crony capitalism: the axis between Wall Street and Washington to loot the taxpayer
i. Need for new, mostly young, effective leadership—most of the present leaders have failed us
8. Use the problems and failures of Obamacare to indict the entire Democratic Party worldview. Help the voters connect the dots to demonstrate how almost all Big Government programs are bankrupt and lead to loss of liberty, mandates, higher taxes, and almost dictatorial rule by Obama and a small elite of unaccountable Washington bureaucrats.
9. Depending on the race, develop and promote a vision for your community, town, county, state, America. We not only need to articulate what we’re opposed to, but the voters need to understand that conservatives have ideas, plans, and a vision of how to make things better. Remember, every election is about the future.
10. Conservatives need to develop new, big ideas and promote solutions at every level of government. Consider:
a. Reform of health care and health insurance (tort reform, sell insurance across state lines, reduce red tape for doctors, etc.)
b. Reform of the criminal justice system (see
appendix 5
)
c. Reining in government abuse of property rights
d. Opposing Common Core, and support reform of failing, union dominated public schools
e. Privacy issues, such as NSA snooping, IRS, police surveillance cameras, and red-light cameras.
f. Mental health
11. Study and receive the training necessary to become proficient in grassroots campaign technology, and build the infrastructure, including training people, necessary to execute effective grassroots campaigns, be it in a city, county, state legislature, congressional district, or state.
12. Field candidates for every open precinct committee position, and every other “RINO-occupied” Republican Party position, who will campaign for the office and stress that they will actually “do the job” and work to maximize the Republican vote, not just hold down the position as an honorary title.
13. Remember, the Republican Party Rules and election laws are formulated to protect the establishment status quo. You may be attacked or have a complaint filed against you for any violation. Become proficient and well versed in the Republican Party Rules, and have experts in election law and campaign finance rules available to advise you so that you do not make “rookie mistakes” that sink your campaign or divert precious resources from getting the maximum conservative vote to the polls.
14. Don’t expect or rely upon a few big donors or special-interest money. Use the new and alternative media, grassroots fund-raising
techniques, and person-to-person contacts to solicit donations and volunteers from the grass roots.
15. Always be on the attack and respond immediately if attacked. Especially in the “war on women,” show Democrats as the “extremists” on abortion, parental rights, defense of traditional marriage, their other antireligious freedom positions, and other issues where they are out of step with the majority of Americans.
16. Do not make the rhetorical and strategic blunder of sounding as though you oppose a social safety net. Speak in favor of policies that support civil society, a safety net for the vulnerable, and encouraging every citizen to achieve his or her fullest potential.
17. Work to increase the minority vote for conservatives. It is a mistake to assume that minority voters are automatically opposed to the conservative agenda. Conservative positions on social issues and economic opportunity resonate well in minority communities. One of the great bastions of social conservatism is the African-American church, and many immigrant voters have first-hand experience with political oppression, corruption, and crony capitalism in their country of origin. Ronald Reagan and Jack Kemp kept to conservative principles and connected with these voters, so can you.
a. Perhaps the most effective way to get minority votes is to recruit and run qualified conservative minority candidates for public and party office—especially those with substantial populations in your area be they Jewish, Hispanic, Asian, African-American, South Asian, or other religious or ethnic minorities.
b. Campaign on issues of importance to minorities that the establishment is wrong on, including, but not limited to, traditional marriage, the right to life, and the Democrats’ attacks on open displays of religious faith.
c. Freedom is the best route to economic advancement. Be outspoken in your advocacy of economic liberty, and advocate making it easier to own and operate small businesses and climb the economic ladder. Oppose the red tape, rules, and regulations overwhelming small business owners.
d. Attack crony capitalism where politicians and big business collude to enrich themselves and their friends and keep the ruling class in control at the expense of the rest of us.
e. Strongly advocate for education reform, especially fixing failing left-wing Democrat, union-dominated schools. Support providing access to a quality education for all children through such innovations as charter schools and school choice programs.
f.
Target, target, target
. Speak to new voters in language they understand and embrace the traditions they have brought to America; campaign in minority communities and at religious and cultural festivals as appropriate. Respect the cultural traditions of the new Americans whose votes you are seeking.
18. Work to increase the youth vote for conservatives. Older voters are more likely to be loyal to their party and are usually not as persuadable as younger voters. Younger voters have their own unique set of concerns that make them prime candidates to be persuaded to become limited government constitutional conservatives. Let younger voters know that conservatism is not only best for their futures, but it is “cool” to be a conservative.
a. Recognize that young voters are not just the urban elite portrayed on TV. They are also young parents who are working hard to raise small children, buy their first home, start a business, and take the first steps up the economic ladder. Identify and advocate family friendly policies relevant to the office you seek and your community.
b. Attack the out-of-control wasteful spending that politicians use to get reelected, such as the Bridge to Nowhere, and frame your opposition as opposition to debt that will be passed on to and paid by today’s young voters.
c. Attack the unfair cost burden and mandates of Obamacare for young workers.
d. Connect the dots. Explain how Obamacare, with its loss of freedom, excessive costs and bureaucratic mandates is typical of all government programs and is the inevitable result of where left-wing Democrats and Big Government Republicans are taking America.
e. Freedom is the best route to economic advancement. Be outspoken in your advocacy of economic liberty, and advocate making it easier to own and operate small businesses and climb the economic ladder. Oppose the red tape, rules, and regulations overwhelming small business owners.
f. Attack the creation of Big Government high tech surveillance programs and the limits on privacy, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression that goes with it.
g. Attack crony capitalism where politicians and big business collude to enrich themselves and their friends and keep the ruling class in control at the expense of the rest of us; especially new entrants into the marketplace and those who are just starting out.
h.
Target, target, target
. Hunt where the ducks are and where the younger voters congregate; be online and on social media; connect with church youth groups, young family organizations, and service clubs; and make your events family friendly. Take interest in what younger folks are doing and saying, listen to them, and engage them.
i. Do not judge a book by its cover. Younger voters will follow new fashion and music trends, hairstyles and ways of speaking. You are working to build your coalition, not acting as the fashion police; embrace young voters for their idealism, energy and enthusiasm for conservative politics, whether or not you share their choices in music and clothes. Remember that our parents didn’t always understand our ways in our younger days, and yet we turned out alright.
1. Grow the human capital of the conservative movement in your area by organizing a real campaign for every candidate. Make sure every race includes a campaign manager, treasurer, volunteer coordinator, fund-raising chairperson, Internet and social media coordinators, and press or media relations coordinator. Get people involved—give them assignments and titles.
2. Invest in your human capital by having your key people attend leadership and campaign training schools, such as the Leadership Institute. Also consider hosting training by experts in grassroots campaign techniques, such as Lorie Medina and Michael Patrick Leahy of the Real Conservatives National Committee.
3. Get online! Become computer and social media literate: Use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linkedin, YouTube, build your own website, etc., to expand your connections and build your online community and brand, and engage in regular and ongoing communication with conservative voters.
4. Use Vertical Response or similar e-mail management software to build a mailing list of people in your circle of influence, and communicate at least weekly via e-mail, social media, postal mail, or all three.
5. Hone your grassroots campaign techniques and grow your organization by conducting “ground game” days or other grassroots canvassing and voter contact projects.
6.
Read, read and read
: Invest in yourself. Start with the books in the appendix. If you are well grounded in the arguments and history of conservative ideas, you will be more confident and effective in leading and arguing public policy.
7.
Educate, educate, and educate
: not only yourself but others. Make sure that all of your activities include an educational component. Start book clubs, discussion groups, etc. Follow Saint Paul’s example: don’t be embarrassed to speak out in public, and to talk to your friends, family, and circle of influence about your political beliefs and the truths of conservatism.
8.
Attack, attack, and attack
: whether you are in a primary or general election, draw a bright line and a clear contrast between you and your opponent. Make sure voters understand, particularly on the growth of government, taxes, and the social issues, that your opponent is out of the mainstream of American opinion.
9. Stay current on events from the conservative perspective; subscribe to at least two print conservative publications.
10. Regularly visit principled conservative websites such as:
b.
WND.com
11. Don’t feed the opposition: only support financially those organizations, businesses, causes, and candidates that support your worldview. This includes refusing to support liberal colleges, schools, churches, charities, professional associations, and especially the GOP national committees, as long as they are led by big-government, establishment Republicans (and when solicited, tell them why you are saying no). In 2014 this includes:
a. Republican National Committee
b. Republican Congressional Campaign Committee
c. Republican Senate Campaign Committee