Ronald Reagan on Third Parties
Posted on 17. Aug, 2010 by jason in All Posts, Reagan Quotes, Reagan Revolution, What Would Reagan Do?
The awakening of the American people in the form of the tea party & 9/12 movement’s have surfaced a heightened distaste for politicians that carry the Republican banner but oftentimes disappoint their constituents with compromise on spending, taxation and government programs.
The temptation, as I’ve noticed in pockets around the country, is to vote third party. Although many believe this will “send a message to the party”, we know elections have consequences and this “strategy” will be disastrous for our country by splitting the vote and continuing down the path we’re on. There are efforts all across America to get inside the Republican party and change it’s makeup to reflect our core values and to call out those that sacrifice their principles.
When faced with such a challenge, though, it’s wise to seek counsel;
What Would Reagan Do?
In July of 1975, Ronald Reagan sat down with Reason Magazine for an extensive interview. The following excerpt is from that month’s publication.
REASON: …how do you feel about other prospects for minor parties or third party activities?
REAGAN: Well, third parties have been notoriously unsuccessful; they usually wind up dividing the very people that should be united. And then we elect the wrong kind–the side we’re out to defeat wins. I have been doing my best to try to revitalize the Republican Party groups that I’ve spoken to, on the basis that the time has come to repudiate those in our midst who would blur the Republican image by saying we should be all things to all people in order to triumph. Lately, we find that of the 26 percent of the people who didn’t vote, more than half of them now say they didn’t vote because they don’t see any difference between the parties. I’ve been urging Republicans to raise a banner and put the things we stand for on that banner and don’t compromise, but don’t try to enlarge the party by being all things to everyone when you can’t keep all the promises. Put up a banner and then count on the fact that if you’ve got the proper things on that banner the people will rally round.
Read more of this story from Reason Magazine:
http://reason.com/archives/1975/07/01/inside-ronald-reagan/singlepage
“I don’t believe in a government that
protects us from ourselves.” – Ronald Reagan, 1975
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