Pence rallies soul-searching GOP

MOUNT VERNON — Perhaps Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn said it best: What a difference nine months can make.

Strawn, who offered few highlights of the soul-searching journey Republicans have taken in the months following a general election that left his party deflated, pointed to the sunrise he could see on the horizon.

Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, rumored as a possible GOP presidential contender in 2012, headlined a multi-county event in eastern Iowa Friday night before heading to western Iowa to campaign on behalf of U.S. Rep. Steve King.

“If you think about where we’ve come in the few short nine months since the last general election … and the type of enthusiasm we are now seeing … it’s obvious that something is happening out there,” Strawn said to the roughly 200 people in attendance at the party’s first multi-county picnic last Friday night.

According to U.S. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the event’s keynote speaker, Republicans are recognizing recent mistakes and revisiting their past successes for inspiration — and not a moment too soon.

Declaring that resistance from Republicans and conservatives in the coming months would determine whether the nation continues as a “beacon of freedom” or is instead “swallowed in an avalanche of socialism,” Pence observed what he called a “great awakening,” as Republicans return to core values and fiscal discipline.

“For our movement and our party to go forward, I believe it is essential for us to learn the right lessons of the recent past,” he said.

On Election Day in 2008, according to Pence, despite the fact that only 22 percent of American described themselves as liberal, voters sent “the most liberal one-party government in the history of the country” to Washington, D.C.

“So, what happened?” he asked. “Some blame the war in Iraq. Others blame scandals in Washington, D.C. But I say the real scandal in Washington, D.C. was run-away federal spending under Republican control. The truth is that Republicans didn’t just lose a few elections, we lost our way. We walked away from our principles … and the American people walked away from us.”

This statement, which Pence himself described as “the harsh truth” about what happened, was not met with overt audience pleasure or displeasure. The crowd sat, silently listening and absorbing what they were being told.

After the event Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong, one of five individuals who have thrown their hat into Iowa’s GOP gubernatorial primary, described Pence’s remarks as “genuine.”

“Confession is good for the soul, and confession is good for the Republican soul,” Fong said. “For us to acknowledge that we’ve made mistakes — I don’t see that as a sign of weakness. I see that as a sign of honesty. And just being able to be genuine with ourselves first, because this was an event of Republicans for Republicans. So, this is us saying to each other, ‘You know what? We didn’t measure up to our own standards.’

“It makes it that much easier to turn to the rest of the nation and ask for forgiveness. We weren’t doing the right thing. Will you trust again and give us another chance? And, forgiveness is a great American tradition and a great Iowa tradition. So, this is a good thing. It’s good for the party.”

Johnson County Republican Carl Williams who drove from Iowa City to attend the event agrees.

“[Pence's comments] were very inviting to me,” he said before leaving Palisades-Kepler State Park where the event was held. “It was recognizing that it wasn’t just one party that has failed the American people, and that it is now time to regroup and do things right. … For [Pence] to be up there and recognizing that it isn’t just the Democratic Party that’s causing some issues, but the Republican Party has acted shamefully as well, it let’s everyone recognize it. It gives everyone an opportunity to turn it around.”

Local politician Steve West, who formerly served as the mayor of Hiawatha, believes that the Republican Party moved too far away from economic legacy of the late President Ronald Reagan.

“Pence was great — and he was right,” West said. “He said a lot of things that I think should have been said about four years ago. We wouldn’t have lost in 2006 and 2008 if we had stopped doing what we were doing. And, when you lose your way, the American people do push you aside and go in a different direction.”

Although national pundits are quick to point to any national Republican crossing the border into the Hawkeye State as a potential 2012 GOP presidential contender, those attending the event weren’t willing to make that leap yet regarding Pence or anyone else.

“2012? That’s a long way away,” West said with a smile. “Quite frankly, we’ve got a lot of work to do right here for 2010 before we can even think about that.”

Pence was also quick to kibosh any speculation that he might be considering a presidential run.

“I have no plans to run for president,” Pence told The Iowa Independent after the event. “I’m here in Iowa because I was invited by [U.S. Rep.] Steve King and his campaign to do a series of fundraisers for him tomorrow. Congressman King is a dear friend. I’m a big supporter of his. When the chairman heard we were coming into the state for King, he was kind enough to invite me to this picnic.”

The audio of Pence’s full remarks is available as an mp3 file.