Jeff Wartman

Ronald Reagan, 1977:

“And just to set the record straight, let me say this about our friends who are now Republicans but who do not identify themselves as conservatives: I want the record to show that I do not view the new revitalized Republican Party as one based on a principle of exclusion. After all, you do not get to be a majority party by searching for groups you won’t associate or work with. If we truly believe in our principles, we should sit down and talk. Talk with anyone, anywhere, at any time if it means talking about the principles for the Republican Party. Conservatism is not a narrow ideology, nor is it the exclusive property of conservative activists.”

Some of us understand the concept that in order to govern effectively, you need a reasonable, forward-thinking, middle of the road mindset to solve real problems encountered by real people.  Rigid, regressive ideology will only cause greater problems.  Reagan understood that, let’s hope the rest of us come to that realization also.