The American Spectator : Up From Big Government Conservatism

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Up From Big Government Conservatism

By W. James Antle, III on 2.15.12 @ 6:09AM

Ted Cruz and the constitutional conservative generation of Republicans.

It was yet another embarrassing spectacle of Republicans squabbling over who was for big government first. Jim Talent, a former senator from Missouri acting as a surrogate for Mitt Romney, took Rick Santorum to task for voting for Medicare Part D while in the Senate in 2003.

Medicare Part D was indeed an egregious example of federal government growth. It added at least $7 trillion to the already substantial unfunded liabilities of the Medicare system. The deficit-financed prescription drug benefit was also the biggest new entitlement program since the Great Society. On a media conference call, Talent described it as a "big expansion of a federal entitlement."

According to reporters who were on the call, Talent went so far as to say Santorum's Medicare Part D vote placed him in the "liberal wing of the Republican Party" on fiscal issues. There was just one problem: Talent also voted for Medicare Part D. Talent later told the Weekly Standard's Michael Warren that the senators' Bush-era Medicare votes could "be explained or justified" and that Romneycare was "on balance, a conservative measure" that had the Heritage Foundation's backing at the time.

The moral of this story: Republicans generally do a very good job of promoting fiscal conservatism when the Democrats are in power. Yet when they control the White House and Congress, Republicans have a tendency to lose their way. They are the party of the Paul Ryan budget under Barack Obama but the party of Medicare Part D, No Child Left Behind, and Romneycare under GOP chief executives.

Whatever happens in the presidential election, someone will need to resist big spending whether it comes from liberal Democrats or leap-year conservatives. One candidate who recognizes this need is Ted Cruz, who is running for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in Texas. Cruz told this writer that having the right party label isn't good enough.

"Texas is too Republican a state to settle for anything less than a conservative leader," Cruz says. Even casting the right votes and getting high ratings from conservative groups isn't as important as rocking the boat. Cruz argues that the solution is electing a critical mass of committed constitutional conservatives.

Cruz identifies Jim DeMint, Rand Paul, and Mike Lee as examples of what he is talking about (he notes that all three senators have endorsed him in his primary). He also points to Marco Rubio and Pat Toomey, suggesting that the generation of conservatives who came of age in the Reagan years are ready to make their mark on the party.

When Cruz first jumped into the race for Senate, admirers immediately predicted an epic Tea Party against the GOP establishment battle like Rubio versus Charlie Crist in Florida or Paul versus Trey Grayson in Kentucky. But for a while, the conservative vote was splintered among several candidates (the most important competitor on the right was Michael Williams) and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurt seemed like a strong frontrunner.

Gradually, Cruz consolidated conservative support. He has the backing of FreedomWorks, the Club for Growth, Redstate.com's Erick Erickson, and the radio talk show host Mark Levin. George Will, the dean of Washington conservative columnists, opined that for "conservatives seeking reinforcements for Washington's too-limited number of limited-government constitutionalists, it can hardly get better than" Cruz.

A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law (magna cum laude), Cruz displays legal interests quite uncharacteristic of the Ivy League: he believes it is important to limit the federal government to its constitutionally enumerated powers, as the Ninth and Tenth Amendments make clear. The former Texas solicitor general has tried to put these principles into action.

Cruz understands that fighting for limited government will sometimes entail fighting other Republicans. He has assailed Dewhurst's proposal for a Texas wage tax on businesses as a thinly veiled personal income tax. He's under no illusion that Americans are likely to elect 51 constitutionalist senators, but says a dozen or so working within the Republican caucus could do a world of good.

The ideological composition of the Senate Republican conference will be determined by primary races in states like Texas, Indiana, and Utah. But in some segments of the party, there has been movement away from the idea that individual mandates and deficit-funded government programs are only bad when instituted by Democrats.

Looking at the GOP presidential candidates and their surrogates, many conservatives undoubtedly feel such a changing of the guard couldn't come too soon.

About the Author

W. James Antle, III is associate editor of The American Spectator. You can follow him on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/Jimantle.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (48) | Leave a comment

Rachel| 2.15.12 @ 6:22AM

I live in Tarramt County, TX and strongly back Ted Cruz...
He is just the man we need to represent us in Wash., DC...Go Ted !!

Brian Mc| 2.15.12 @ 6:50AM

Would Ted Cruz make a better ambassador than senator?
Could Texas survive as an independant nation devoid of federal entitlements?
Would they close their border before, or after I've moved there from Iowa?

Dmac| 2.15.12 @ 3:44PM

Texas could certainly survive as an independant nation, but would we want to that with our current Govenor and Lt. Govenor? No, no way. While Texas may be a fantastic place, and it is, it is just now catching up to other states in what employers will pay employees. It is overly pro-business, not in the tax structure mind you, but in the way of lower wages and benefits as compared to other high employment non-farming areas of the country. If Texas were to become her own country under the present leadership she might be a fine place to live, you just wouldn't be able to afford to live there with the wages you would be offered or expected to work for.

Tommy Frisco| 2.15.12 @ 4:07PM

Dmac,
I hear that a lot and even see it in some statistical data, but my expererience has been the opposite. I am in engineering. I'll take the rates here in Texas, with our cost of living, over any other state you can name. My occupation must not be an anomaly considering how many people have moved here in the last twenty years...and stayed.

c. j. acworth| 2.15.12 @ 7:02AM

This is why I have been saying for weeks now, forget about the Oval Office. We aren't going to get a conservative President this time no matter who wins. Let's get a Republican candidate picked, hold our noses (again) and vote for him. But focus now on getting as many conservatives into congress as possible, and hold their feet to the fire! It will be up to us to jam their servers when they start thinking about creating new entitlements or expanding old ones.

Old Soldier| 2.15.12 @ 11:22AM

Enough to get rid of Mitch McConnell (who tried his best to block Rand Paul's election) and John Boehner?

I'm guessing that the establishment will be quite happy to see Jim Talent and others like him elected - as long as they are content to sit on the backbenches with their mouths shut.

Fred Farkel| 2.15.12 @ 11:26AM

Replace McConnell with Marco Rubio. Watch the RINOs fall away.

Old Soldier| 2.15.12 @ 11:34AM

How does that happen?

POST American| 2.15.12 @ 7:06AM

"NOTICE AGAIN, as the REAL campaign
approaches --the REAL issues 'disappear'."

---TAX FREE 'benny violent' foundations/NGOs

-------the ILLEGAL 'Federal' Reserve

----------a century of Globalist TREASON

-------------broad daylight USURY plunder

-----------------PSYCHOPATHIC EUGENICS

------------------------------------in a nutshell------------

A NON-GMO NUTSHELL

Indy| 2.15.12 @ 7:51AM

This is a candidate I can back and will gladly make calls on his behalf. I heard him on an interview with Mark Levin, he sounds like the real deal.

Maxwell| 2.15.12 @ 8:14AM

As I look to the right from my driveway I can see Old Nassau (one of Princeton University's buildings). I ask myself one question, how the heck did anyone get thru Princeton & not come out a liberal? Texas is sure lucky, I wish Jersey was half as lucky.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.12 @ 9:23AM

Do you see anything wrong with Joe Kyrillos?

Maxwell| 2.15.12 @ 9:56AM

Moe, correct me if I am wrong but I think there are two people running for the Senate one backed by the Tea Party and one backed by the Republican establishment. By your comment I presume that Kyrillos is a Princeton grad.

Moe Blotz| 2.15.12 @ 1:36PM

State Senator Kyrillos has BA from Hobart College and MS from Boston College, no Ivy League influence at all. The other GOP candidate is Joe Rullo, a businessman from Tom's River, an alternative energy expert. I have no idea if any TEA Party affiliates favour either one. Mr. Kyrillos appears to be gaining momentum as the presumptive Republican nominee.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.15.12 @ 8:19AM

What we really need is 50 Governors that are libertarian or fiscal conservatives that believe in limited government of Enumerated Powers.
Adding a Constitutional conservative to replace a Congressional moderate or liberal is useful; but there are 535 of them run by two corrupt Establishments in DC.
When the Governors unite and stand together against the central government; there will be "Hope" and "Change."

Mike Hawk| 2.15.12 @ 9:14AM

Here in PA we have a storm brewing. The Establishment RINOs on the state GOP defied the rank and file and endorsed a chameleon named Jack Welsh in Hershey back at the end of January. Our primary is closed party-wise, fortunately, but the powers that be were petitioned to not endorse any candidates and leave it open to several candidates wanting to run. They basically said ‘f/u’ and endorsed Welsh. They actually threatened to arrest committee people of the Tea Party persuasion trying to gain entry to the convention. It was a disgusting display of hubris.
Steve Welsh is a Chester County business man who was a Republican, then switched to Democrat to support Barack Obama in ’08 with his vote and his money. He supported Joe Sest-hack against Pat Toomey in ’10. He entertained thoughts of running for Congress in two districts, one of which he didn’t live in. Now he has switched back to being a Republican ( Arlen Specter syndrome ) and wants all to be forgiven and run for Senate. This guy is the poster boy for RINO.
Nonetheless, we have a principled Conservative in the race, a legislative veteran of moral and honest stature, Sam Rohrer. Nominating petitions were just turned in and Sam got over 13,000 endorsements from voters leading by double the next in line. 2000 were needed and the Rohrer folks targeted to get 10,000. Sam is right now an overwhelming favorite and will go against the Empty suit/ Rendell puppet Bob (with one ‘o’ ) Casey. Sam needs support to get it done in the April 24th primary. While the POTUS thing grinds on, we have a real opportunity with Sam Rohrer. Help Sam take on the PA RINO Establisment. http://www.rohrerforsenate.org/

I hope Mark Levin is watching this. He is from PA and would like this guy.

Lee Ghume| 2.15.12 @ 9:25AM

Looks like a candidate the TEA party would support. What do youse think, Clint?

Timothy L. Pennell| 2.15.12 @ 10:00AM

I Think You Sound Like A JEW Loving, Bunder/Who Loves Bibi And The JEWS And Goes Against Jesus, Who Also Hated The JEWS, And The Guinies, Wops, And Dagoes, Too, After They Made A Deal With Those JEWS And Killeded Him.
(The Tea Party Rebellion Is Alive And Well In This Porno Peep Show Booth, With Me.)

(I know I'm not Clint. I haven't seen him on the pages this morning, so I thought I would just "Cover for him", til he gets back on his feet.)

Buncha Israeli Firster Jews.

Fred Farkel| 2.15.12 @ 11:25AM

Coulda fooled me.

Tim the Enchanter| 2.15.12 @ 1:08PM

I think you have Clint down to a "T"!

Clint| 2.15.12 @ 3:10PM

That's A Lie.

You're A Buffoon Liar, Pennell.

I'll Tell My Jewish Buddies Steve, Ronny, Big Steve And Ari And Enosh What You Said.

They'll Laugh.

Clint| 2.15.12 @ 3:00PM

Rohrer Won Our Valley Forge Tea Party Patriots Candidate Meet & Greet Straw Poll Among GOP Candidates, Rohrer , Marc Scaringi, Tom Smith and Steve Welch.

We Are Still Vetting Dave Christian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Christian

Von Mises Jr.| 2.15.12 @ 9:38AM

In the special election NY-23 in 2009, the GOP backed Dede Scuzzy-something over Doug Hoffman, an accountant and fiscal conservative. Scuzzy dropped out three days before the election and endorsed Bill Owens, the Democrat who won in a landslide. This was sold as a referendum on Obama. Sometines I ponder if the GOP Establishment is mostly liberal Democrats masquerading as wolfs in sheep's clothing?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York's_23rd_congressional_district_special_election,_2009

Al Adab| 2.15.12 @ 10:35AM

Jr:
The GOP establishment is basicly a risk adverse organization. They are telling comitted to better management of the social welfare state rather than to its elimination and the growth of freedom. That is emerging as the issue in these primaries. Where is he who would say "Do not ask me about making government more efficient, for I intend to reduce its size."?

Indy| 2.15.12 @ 12:35PM

I recommend you hop over to legal insurrection and post your comment in the tip section. Prof. Jacobson is seeking information on conservatives to back and his blog is growing readers daily. http://legalinsurrection.com/

Bill| 2.15.12 @ 9:36AM

I do not want another DE, where we lost a chance in reclaiming the senate seat, in which Rep. Castle was "shoe-in" until Mrs. O'Donnell jumped into the GOP race and beat him, and she went on to losing to a "dark horse" liberal Coons. Otherwise, we would have been at 48-52, 3 seats shy of the majority.

Mike Hawk| 2.15.12 @ 10:42AM

If the DE Liberal RINO Establishment had put away the long knives, Christine might have won it. Castle was no conservative and was a Democrat butt kisser (to be kind). CHristine O'DOnnell earned the eternal emnity of the RINOs by upsetting their apple cart or was it pork cart. The GOP base voted for Christine O'Donnell. Coons was a self admitted Marxist. But then, that's Delaware. (BTW it is shoo-in. Shoe-in is for Islamists.) Castle would have been a better friend to Democrats ala Lincoln Chaffee. No loss there.

albert constantine jr.| 2.15.12 @ 4:17PM

Actually, I think the Islamic insult is Shoe-At.

You are correct about Castle. He forgot long before that he was running as a Republican. He would stick his finger in the eye of the conservative base early and often, and figured those on the right had nowhere else to go. The first time he had a primary in a 40 year elective political career, he lost.

Nick| 2.15.12 @ 2:58PM

"That nigger lover President Clinton had the pen and vetoed so many good bills passed by the Gingrich-led Congress."
- Written by Bill, yesterday, in the Time for Newt to Do the Honorable Thing thread:

http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_749403

You're a moron and a racist, Bill.
GO AWAY!

RCV| 2.15.12 @ 7:24PM

Thanks, Nick, for calling out that racist scumbag.

Nick| 2.16.12 @ 12:09AM

No problem, RCV.
I cannot, I will not abide racists.

Nick| 2.16.12 @ 12:12AM

Also, I'm not the only one calling out this racist pig.

Simon Templar, Al Adab, W, Con Chef, Vern Crisler, and others have rebuked this loser.

Al Adab| 2.15.12 @ 10:39AM

What I find so fascinating and perhaps telling about the current state of the GOP is the focus on eastern states and issues. In the rest of the country, California excepted, these are not the types of candidates we have nor the issues of technocracy we embrace.

By constanting harping on MA, PA, NJ etc. we lose our sense of perspective on just how large and varied this nation is. It is not those states which will decide the election in the fall.

Mike Hawk| 2.15.12 @ 10:44AM

We are talking Senate here, not POTUS, dummy. Even so, it does matter.

Al Adab| 2.15.12 @ 11:48AM

Mr. Hawk:
Thank you for the kindness of your response. Is it nonetheless true that replacing a Dem Senator with a GOP one like Castle or Brown carries little profit beyon the majority organizing vote? There is naught to be gained by accepting the legitimacy of the social welfare state and simply promising to manage it better. The citizens become subjects just the same.

Mike Hawk| 2.15.12 @ 12:58PM

Glad to oblige.

Zbigniew Mazurak| 2.15.12 @ 11:08AM

"Lt. Gov. Donald Dewhurt seemed like a strong frontrunner."

Jimmy boy, you might want to learn AT LEAST the basic facts about whom/what you're writing about. The Lone Star State's LTGOV's name is DAVID DEWHURST, a well-known RINO name.

W. James Antle III| 2.15.12 @ 2:06PM

It was a typo, since fixed. Thanks Zbiggy.

Zbigniew Mazurak| 2.16.12 @ 8:46AM

Not really fixed, because the article (if my eyes see correctly) calls him "Dewhurt", when his last name is "Dewhurst".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dewhurst

Or maybe there's a different David running in the TX primary? ;)

Naturalborn Texicanette| 2.15.12 @ 12:06PM

I support Ted Cruz. It is high time Senator Hutchinson is retiring.

Cruz is a true conservative and will help keep Texas conservative.

Tommy Frisco| 2.15.12 @ 3:33PM

Senator Hutchinson is a good example of someone who has been in DC too long. She is not the same person she was when we sent her there.

I'm looking forward to voting for Ted Cruz....and holding his feet to the fire to remind him why we voted for him.

JimP| 2.15.12 @ 2:38PM

"Big government conservative" is a contradiction. Big government Republicans are Rockefellers. They used to be proud of that liberal monicker. In the last few years the Rockies have begun referring to themselves as conservatives, but those of us who have been around for awhile know better. The Rockies have been coopting the term conservative to fool the voters. I've noticed many younger voters have been fooled by these efforts. They don't seem to realize that you can't be for big government and a conservative at the same time. They are learning though, as this column demonstrates.

Corie Whalen| 2.15.12 @ 3:01PM

Great piece, Jim. I've had the pleasure of spending some time with Ted Cruz down here in Texas and have several friends who work for him. I've been saying for quite awhile that I'm more concerned about this particular race (and a few other Senate races) than I am the presidential race. The problem of the last decade came down to big government Republicans not being an alternative to Democrats. In the late Bush years, DeMint was literally one of the only ones who stood up against TARP, etc. Having more like Paul, DeMint and Lee in the Senate will be so much more important than just blindly electing Republicans like Dewhurst. These primaries matter. I implore conservatives from around the country to check out and donate to Cruz - we need him in the Senate as a nation.

SteveLV| 2.15.12 @ 4:02PM

I've been reading the conservative press gush over Cruz for months now. I'm sorry, but I just don't see it. Our conservative savior is yet ONE MORE Ivy-league lawyer who has spent virtually his entire adult life chasing government service? ANOTHER Harvard law grad awaiting his turn to be elevated into his rightful position of leadership over the proles? Another champion of business whose only business has been suing people? Don't we already have a senate full of people with this same resume?

Look, Cruz seems like a good guy, and I'm glad he's on our side. He looks like he's got a future in the party. And he says the right things. But lots of politicians are saying the right things in this election year. This gushing over Cruz seems like a lot of wishful thinking to me.

And speaking of Dewhurst, most of the people calling him a RINO don't have any idea what the Texas Lt. Governor's job is. He might not have quite as much small-government fire in the belly as me, but he's no RINO. And I like the idea of sending a guy to the senate who served in the Air Force, runs a ranch, worked in the energy industry and went to a state university in the west, instead of the citadels of elitism back east.

dudette| 2.15.12 @ 8:04PM

I think Ted Cruz would be a great replacement for that treasonous old dingbat Ginsburg

Ole| 2.15.12 @ 8:20PM

Love the hypocrisy. HAve an article titled,Up from Big Govt.Conservatism,while you support Rick Santorum and ignore Ron Paul.

Rowdy Yates| 2.15.12 @ 8:36PM

Texas will go the way of California the next 10-15 years. Just wait. By then the state will be majority MExican and black.

Peter Verkooijen| 3.5.12 @ 11:19PM

The primaries have demonstrated that conservative priorities are abortion, gays, immigration, protectionism, keeping entitlements and sticking it to "libruls". Conservatives don't care about individual liberty, limited government and free enterprise.