As the congressional campaign season hits its homestretch, it is readily apparent that there will be more at stake in these mid-term elections than at any time since 1994. They present us not simply with the choice of Republican candidates versus Democrats, but of candidates fighting for small government versus those that support the swollen beast liberalism has created.
In truth, the views of Sarah Palin are pitted against those of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and the convictions of Barry Goldwater against the socialistic predilections of President Obama.
And if the polls are any indicator, these elections portend a revolution: one that could resemble the Reagan Revolution in raw political force, thanks to the tea party movement. Thus it only seems apropos to invite every voter who is outraged over the economy, the weakened approach to our military, and the ongoing attacks against our personal (and collective) liberties to “win one for the Gipper!” on November 2.
The idea of winning one for the Gipper was born out of Reagan’s 1940 film, Knute Rockne: All American, a movie in which Reagan played the role of Notre Dame’s George Gipp, a star player for that football team whose dying words to his coach were: “When the team is up against it and the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to go out there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper.”
Reagan seized upon this phrase when running for president in 1980, and the phrase stuck thereafter as Reagan’s presidential persona became iconic.
Although Reagan left this world in 2004, the ideals to which he held and his convictions about good and evil are every bit as valid now as they were during his lifetime. And it’s arguable that the tea party is itself as much a revival of Reaganism as it is a revival of the vision of our Founding Fathers.
Just think of it like this: Obama has no problem nationalizing large portions of the private sector, especially when it comes to areas like the health care industry. Reagan stood against government’s encroachment into the private sector, especially a government takeover of health care. Obama reads documents like the Declaration of Independence and purposely omits references to God as “Creator” when he comes across them; Reagan spoke of his belief in God in such a way so as to make it evident that without God there is no freedom.
As I wrote for Pajamas Media in July 2009, Obama is the anti-Reagan.
And what we must remember as November 2 approaches is that Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and every other senator and House member who have cast their legislative votes in support of Obama’s agenda have also aligned themselves against liberty and America’s continuance as a free nation.
Over 230 years ago, Thomas Paine looked at the coming revolution between the colonies and Great Britain and wrote: “Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected even to the end of time, by the proceedings now.” Our attempt to break the chains Obama and the Democrats have placed around us is no less pressing.
And as Reagan remains with us in spirit, along with the heritage of conservatism and the national pride that rages within our hearts, let’s the mark the day, November 2, as the day on which we “win one for the Gipper!” again.
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