Voters have spoken. They don’t care about political parties. They don’t care about incumbency. They don’t fear a make-believe war on women. They want results. ADVERTISING Voters have spoken. They don’t care about political parties. They don’t care about incumbency.
Voters have spoken. They don’t care about political parties. They don’t care about incumbency. They don’t fear a make-believe war on women. They want results.
Americans want jobs, energy independence and a better economic trajectory. They want cooperation and progress. So they voted for change, putting the United States Senate solidly in control of the Republican Party.
Nationally and in Colorado, Republicans must show they can reach across the aisle and govern wisely or they will squander this victory along with any hope of taking the White House in 2016. They must stop fussing about President Barack Obama and start working with him and his party to achieve the policy changes they promised would create more opportunity for businesses, individuals and families.
We don’t need a Republican version of Harry Reid. As presumptive Senate majority leader, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell cannot flex his majority muscle and manipulate the process by restricting colleagues from voting on difficult and controversial bipartisan measures.
Sen.-elect Cory Gardner, as the first candidate to defeat an incumbent Colorado U.S. senator in 36 years, should lead the charge and meet Obama with the intent to help him succeed in wisely wielding executive authority. Sell him on the merits of improvements to the Affordable Care Act, constructive immigration reform combined with border control, and a host of Republican issues that Democrats could be persuaded to support.
Republicans must resist waging war with Democrats. They should avoid confrontations that merely flaunt majority status. Govern to enhance the dignity of this country, not as bullies in charge of a playground.
Republicans don’t like the Affordable Care Act, but they need to be realistic. Voting to overturn a law called “Obamacare” won’t survive the veto power of a man named “Obama.” So drop the symbolic repeals. Two chambers repealing the act will mean nothing more than House-only repeals, so long as Democrats control the White House. Suffice to improve the law by eliminating some of its worst elements and enhancing some of its best. Pass an increase in family tax credits, to make health care more genuinely affordable, and persuade Obama to sign it. Find ways to get more young people interested in the practice of medicine. Let the president win a few rounds if it means a better law for the people who live with it. Help move Obama to the middle. Doing so will benefit Republicans in the next presidential election more than it will hurt them. Leadership is respected; obstruction is punished.
Help President Obama approve the Keystone XL pipeline in a manner that acknowledges environmental concerns. That means accepting reasonable environmental protections as a condition of moving forward. Help the president restore work requirements for welfare programs, which President Clinton enacted when having to work with a Republican majority. Spend more time working with Obama; less time opposing him. Lead.
At the state level, we offer the same advice to both parties. Set aside ego, rise above and reach across the aisle. Don’t compromise principle but find common ground.
Let this election be one of genuine change, in which each party gets to achieve the best of what it stands for.
— From the Colorado Springs Gazette
