My wife last week sat down and watched the Republican Presidential Debates in South Carolina. She has some reluctant advice for Rick Santorum.
First of all stop saying, “I did this,” and, “I did that,” and “This is what I did, and those guys aren’t this and those guys aren’t that.” Rick start articulating conservatism. It works every time that it is used. Newt got that standing ovation because he expressed what we the people are thinking.
Make it a fundamental premise of every message to promote conservative ideas of Russell Kirk, Ronald Reagan and Goldwater.
If you have to mention the other guys, I know at some point you have to, so highlight the fact that they’re not conservative but do not make it your primary argument. Portray yourself as the only genuine conservative by actually doing it, not just saying it.
In the two debates that my wife and I have watched together, she has noticed that Rick seems jealous of the attention that Newt and Mitt are getting. It looks like he is standing in the corner of the room saying look at me, look at me. While making fun of the other people who are getting the attention. Rick stop making fun of Newt’s grandiosity and just be grandiose yourself. Be larger than life, but not in a phony way. Be careful that you do it in a way that you feel comfortable. The speech you made at the Iowa Caucuses was exciting and about the people.
Put out the fundamental differences of conservatism and liberalism. Remind people that it is ok to think of limitations of the federal government.
Russell Kirk’s 10 principles of Conservatism
- First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.
- Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity.
- Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.
- Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.
- Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.
- Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability.
- Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.
- Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.
- Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.
- Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.
