Putting the people back in politics

By RPOF Chairman Jim Greer

Over the past 25 years I have had the opportunity to view the Republican Party wearing the hat of a small-town city councilman, political fundraiser, and now as chairman of the state party for the fourth largest state in the nation, during the most important presidential election in my lifetime.

Despite this tremendous opportunity, the role from which I have learned the most was not my last two years as chairman, but the years when, like the majority of Americans, I wore the hat of a small business owner, husband, and father of four. It is through the eyes of a businessman – not the party structure – that I became a Republican. I’ve learned that our party draws its strength not from the principles elected officials talk about, but from the values average Americans live by.

Refocusing on these values, putting partisan rhetoric aside, and putting the people back in politics, Republicans can regain our foundation and focus on serving the people. It’s what we do in Florida. It works for us here, and I believe it’s what we need to do in Washington and across the nation.

This election cycle marks the toughest political environment for Republicans since Watergate. Yet on Nov. 4, Florida emerged as a Republican stronghold in a nation swept by Democrat victories. Though Sen. John McCain was outspent in Florida by tens of millions, our Republican team’s impressive ground game made it possible to come within just two and a half points of winning Florida for McCain.

It was a perfect environment for Democrats in Florida. The nation wanted change. Florida Democrats were awash in cash and staff, with a never-before-seen-ground game. Yet the Florida Democrat Party defeated not one – not a single one – of our Republican incumbents in the Florida House and Senate. In Miami, an area Barack Obama carried, Mario and Lincoln Diaz-Balart both fended off credible, well-funded, DCCC-backed candidates. Republicans also picked up Congressional District 16 seat with Tom Rooney.

In addition to voting to maintain overwhelming Republican majorities in the state House and Senate, Floridians voted to cut taxes, define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and oppose tax increases for community colleges. Once again, voters here illustrated that Florida is still a red state where conservative values like growing the economy and cutting taxes are important to voters.

Why was Florida so successful when the majority of the nation fell into Democrat hands? The answer is simple: we’ve replaced divisive partisan rhetoric with common-sense solutions.

In Florida, Republican lawmakers have focused on conservative public policies that keep taxes low for families and businesses, fostering an economic environment that encourages companies to locate and expand here. We don’t get caught up on issues that are traditionally Republican or Democrat. Instead, Florida Republicans work in a bipartisan manner to create common-sense solutions to challenges facing our state, our nation, and even our world.

Under Republican leadership we have seen Florida’s high school graduation rate rise over 15 points in the last ten years, reaching the highest point ever this year – over 75 percent. Minority students have largely driven these gains, resulting in a dropout rate that continues to decline. Republicans have given parents more choice over what educational setting best meets their child’s needs, and we have held schools accountable for providing a first-class education for all Florida students.

On the health care front, Governor Charlie Crist recently signed the Cover Florida plan, providing health insurance options for nearly $4 million uninsured Floridians. The plan leverages competition by partnering with private insurance companies to create innovative health insurance products. Cover Florida is voluntary, with no mandates on individuals or on employers. This market-based approach will create greater opportunities for Floridians to access affordable health care. In a year of limited resources, these reforms maximize consumer choice with a minimal use of tax dollars.

Under Gov. Crist’s leadership, Florida Republicans have positioned the Sunshine State to be part of a national debate on global climate change by championing environmental policies that encourage innovation and promote green business development. Florida lawmakers recently adopted legislation that gives businesses flexibility in meeting standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging wind and solar energy. Republicans led the way in creating a comprehensive energy package that continues Florida’s leadership in increasing energy efficiency.

While Republicans have produced results for the people, we’ve also kept true to our pledge to reduce spending and return more tax dollars to the people, illustrated by the Cato Institute’s recent naming of Gov. Crist as the most fiscally conservative governor in the United States.

Our party’s future is bright, but we need a decisive vision. We need new energy, new ideas and an unwavering commitment to our party’s long-standing values and principles of less government, lower taxes and more freedom. We need leaders who aren’t afraid to stand up for what’s right with our Party and start a dialogue on what we can do to get it back to basics—back to the people.

We’ve done it right in Florida by putting the people back in politics, and that’s the only way we can re-energize the GOP on a national level. Ultimately, Americans don’t care if their leaders have an “R” or a “D” behind their name. Americans want more than a leader who represents conservative ideals…they want a leader who has something to show for it.