Volume 11, Issue 22
What is the connection?
Ronald Reagan began his quest for the presidency in 1964 delivering his “A Time for Choosing” speech in support of the nomination of Barry Goldwater for the Republican nomination for President. America was still basking in the afterglow of World War II. Big government, big business, and big labor not only ran government policy but stifled any opposing debate. By 1974, the world was reaching the first pinnacle of globalization. The United States found itself uncompetitive in labor and product costs. The three bigs, along with big banks and the military industrial complex, dug in on government policy advantageous to their interests. This group was seen by people losing jobs and companies losing business to overseas competitors as the entrenched establishment.
Nowhere in the national political dialogue was there any challenge to government being too big or self-serving. And, nowhere was there any political discussion about the virtues of moral or family values and religion’s role in government policy. Neither was socially acceptable.
Governor Reagan became the champion of those who believed that government was unrepresentative and insensitive to their economic needs. He would likely have captured the Republican nomination in 1976 except for the complicating political circumstances of former President Richard Nixon’s resignation. In 1980, he was elected by a landslide unseating the incumbent President Jimmy Carter.
President Reagan was the first national candidate to successfully label government, in and of itself, as the effectuating problem.
Pat Robertson sought the Republican nomination for President in 1988. A new cultural constituency had arisen in America concerned about the existential threat of the loss of societal moral values. It was spawned by the Reverend Tim LaHaye in California. Fundamental Christians all over the United States began on their own initiative to seek out local candidates running for Congress to support. These activists were unled nationally. The Moral Majority and other movements were part of the building blocks. But until Pat Robertson ran for President, evangelicals were not of one identity. His campaign galvanized Christian activists in such a way that organizational politics were forever changed in the United States.
Pat Robertson came in first or second in seven of the first eight primaries. Most of those were caucus states. However, Pat came in second statewide in Washington, a general ballot state. The crowds that he drew to rallies stunned the Republican establishment. The campaign organization overtook the elected leadership of 31 state parties. The passage of any procedural vote on the national convention floor in New Orleans required Robertson organization support.
President Trump defied all odds by being elected President in 2016. Political pundits are still flummoxed at how he was able to defeat the powerful Hillary Rodham Clinton, even as he broke every rule of the political playbook. His candidacy does seem incredibly unlikely until you consider the fact that he rallied the Reagan-Robertson political foundations in a war against the ultimate establishment candidate.
And now the establishment is fighting back with every resource it can muster.
The federal indictment against former President Trump is a very serious and egregious charge. The Department of Justice is alleging that he improperly handled classified documents that belonged to the Presidency and the United States government. And further, he committed these acts with the mental intent to break the law and obstruct justice. It is this intent that is required for the criminal charge.
Many Americans will assume that former President Trump’s indictment is a personal vendetta. Other national figures, including President Biden, seem to be getting lenient treatment on investigations. The problem with selective prosecution is that it may be prejudicial. If the merits of the case are shallow, anti-government sentiment will be intensified.
National legal experts did not expect the details of the indictment to be released until next week. There is some speculation that they were released today to make the public aware of the evidence in hand providing the underlying rationale of the indictment. The public is on edge. Transparency is critical to avoid civil unrest.
Upon reviewing the details of the 37 counts of the indictment, national network commentators showed their true bias unconsciously by asking first, “Is this it? Will this get him?” instead of, “What is the legal protocol of the court process?” One commentator wanted to know immediately if the charges were serious enough that he would have to cut a deal through a plea bargain to avoid jail, thereby eliminating any possibility that he could continue to run for President. Legal commentators reminded the national host that every citizen is innocent until proven guilty.
There is a faction in America devoted to rational fiscal policy. They are less concerned about cultural or moral issues. They are most concerned about the deficits, the burgeoning national debt, and the primacy of the U.S. dollar. Many of these voters are now registered Independents who see both parties as deficient in commitment to sound economic policy. However, their suspicion of government malfeasance is paramount.
Ronald Reagan had the support of academics like Dr. Milton Friedman who advocated for free enterprise and less government. New Right conservative independents still adhere to this philosophy.
Pat Robertson bridged the divide of denominational gaps. Pat was a Southern Baptist. Independent Baptists do not believe that the gifts of the Spirit are relative today. They are not charismatic. At first, they were skeptical of Robertson’s candidacy. But, in the same sense that William Wallace united the Highland clans of Scotland to oppose the brutal English King Edward Longshanks, evangelicals united against the establishment attack on organized religion.
Sixty-two percent of Independents today declare that they are Christians by faith and believe that government has no authority to define religious standards. Further, they are adherents to the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution that states all things not specifically delegated to the federal government are the province of the states.
The brilliance of the Founding Fathers in establishing the United States as a constitutional republic is what provides societal stability today. This overreach by establishment government is not as pervasive at the state and local level. Americans still have confidence that local government is at least not corrupt and, even if wrong, is not attempting to usurp the people’s will. Local authority is a unique aspect of the American system of government. Local police forces are responsible for security on city streets. In developing countries, federal authority is ubiquitous. That is why in third world countries protestors storm the federal capitals.
As Reagan’s national field counsel, I can attest to the fact that, when attacked, President Reagan directed lieutenants to remain committed to principles. He was in private what he appeared to be in public.
As Pat Robertson’s campaign manager, I can give personal testimony that Pat personally turned to Christ at times of challenge. He was in private what he appeared to be in public.
Ronald Reagan made it socially acceptable for a New Right conservative to be active in politics and government policy.
Pat Robertson made it socially acceptable for a person of faith in the Christian Right to be active in politics and government policy.
Donald Trump leveraged both the Reagan and Robertson movements into a social mandate, for those who believe the objectives of government establishment are harmful, to be active in politics and government policy.
When citizens feel persecuted without respect for their cultural identity, movements develop into reactionary forces opposing government authority.
Citizens are now faced with a difficult choice: vote for a President who is most likely a partner of the establishment or an anti-establishment leader far outside the norms of civil service efficacy.
In the matter of the people vs the establishment, the people are, in fact, the judge and jury. We the people will make the decision about the future of our freedom.
And just as the Founding Fathers intended…
The fate of democracy will depend upon our decision.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?