OPINION: GOP should focus on core principles

Next week the Republican Party will be meeting to choose their state leadership for the next election cycle. This election represents a watershed event for the heart and soul of the party, and for the message that Montana Republicans will bring to the voters of Montana.

Are we to be the party of constitutional principles willing to stand for the ideals of personal responsibility, limited government, fiscal restraint, individual liberty, property rights and freedom, or are we going to become the party of unlimited pandering and political deal making, willing to do just about anything to get more Republicans elected?

I believe the path of victory at any price will lead to the ultimate destruction of the Montana Republican Party. After all, that has become the standard over the past 25 years with our open primary laws and leadership with the lack of resolve to tackle this issue head on. We now have a conservative Republican base that is being held hostage by a handful of folks that do not believe in our conservative values or our platform. They get elected as Republicans irrespective their actual beliefs because of cross-over voters during the primary elections, then hand political victory to the Democrats and governor on the most important issues.

Are we willing to accept the continual destruction of the constitutional free market principles that made our nation great, or are we going to show the voters of Montana that we really are the protectors of the American dream? It is time to put up or shut up!

Friends, we will be much more successful in recruiting the candidates we seek for a re-vitalized Montana Republican Party when we can demonstrate legislative success with a unified message based on common values and support for our state party platform. If our No. 1 priority becomes the protection of liberty for the future generations of Montanans instead of winning at any cost, we will gain the support and respect of our grass-roots Republican base, conservative Democrats looking for a new direction, and the informed youth that will map our future.

We need to understand the wisdom of defending with our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor, principles over politics. No true Republican could possibly say that politics are more important than principles; after all, without principles we are no better than our political opponents.

That does not mean that we must march lockstep in any political philosophy, it only means that our focus to strengthen the Republican message should be based on our mission statement: The state platform. Our Republican diversity is our strength; moderate philosophies should be supported when they uphold the platform and their oath of office. I want to exclude no one who supports our cause. We must be the true protectors of the common man and work with Central Committees around the state to build a party with renewed focus on local issues and local candidates.

We should provide support through the State Party that builds our base with education and cooperation. We must re-energize our grassroots base by concentrating on the most important core leadership group in the party — precinct positions at the county level. If we truly believe in bottom-up, not top-down government, we need to focus on organization and education of our voters at the local level. We have fallen short in building and supporting the coalitions needed to gain important victories such as Land Board seats. We must dedicate the resources needed to accomplish those goals and move beyond a focus on only office seekers at the top of the ticket.

As a retired, successful small businessman, I understand the importance of marketing to attract new clients and strengthening relationships with existing ones. I will dedicate the time and energy necessary to grow our grassroots conservative base by providing our county Central Committees with the tools they need. That means traveling to each county and developing a strong interpersonal relationship with each Central Committee and working with groups all over Montana to re-energize our conservative base.

We must move into the 21st century by developing a social network and website at the state party level that will allow us to reach into every corner of Montana with our message of solid Republican values. We need the support of our core group of large and small donors that support our efforts to grow the base through education and outreach.

The task is too large and the goals too important to look at as a part-time position that can be accomplished without a full-time dedication that understands the urgency of the times we live in. I will dedicate the 40 to 60 hours per week necessary to move our Montana GOP in the direction needed to assure success. I have several previous state chairs pledging to assist with my vision of a grassroots Republican future. I hope that you share my vision for a Montana Republican Party that stands on the solid ground of principled leadership and a commitment to conservative values that will strengthen, not destroy our party.

When we begin to lead from the front and not from the shadows of political expediency, we will see a renewed Montana GOP that attracts many independent voters, donors and conservative candidates that share our values. Isn’t it time we support our conservative base with a leader dedicated to conservative principles? If nothing changes, well then... nothing will change.

Happel, of Pony, Montana, is a candidate for Republican state chair.