Mike Pence and the Club for Growth: The Future of our Party

 

Americans who have been a part of and followed the conservative movement over the years have recently recognized two new distinct forces that have been very influential in advancing our conservative agenda of limited government and fiscal discipline: Indiana Congressman Mike Pence and the Club for Growth.

Mike Pence was first elected to Congress in 2000 and was immediately lifted up into leadership. In 2002, he became Deputy Majority Whip and was responsible for ensuring votes for the agenda of the administration and the House GOP leadership. After leading the charge with 33 other House Conservatives against No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, the administration and House Leadership continued advancing their agenda of Big Government Republicanism with the 2003 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Bill.

Mike Pence stood up for our conservative principles by leading the revolt against the Medicare Bill alongside 24 other conservative heroes, including the current President of Club for Growth Pat Toomey. After the fierce battle and the longest vote in Congressional history, Mike Pence was soon recognized by all of his conservative colleagues as the leader of the conservative movement. He was then elected unanimously as Chair of the Republican Study Committee by over 100 House Conservatives. Leading the RSC, the largest, most conservative caucus in Congress, Mike Pence has become the most influential conservative and has begun to put our conservative agenda on the offensive.

Mike Pence’s effective leadership has been responsible for such victories as “Operation Offset” and has inspired several within his band of rebels to continue to advance the agenda of limited government and fiscal discipline. One such effort has recently been seen by Jeff Flake, RSC member and Pence’s “Right hand man.” Jeff Flake, R-AZ, has begun to fight the battle of pork barrel projects by offering amendments to bills to eliminate irresponsible earmarks. Jeff Flake is forcing House Republicans to prove their commitment to fiscal discipline and giving the American people the opportunity to see which Republicans are truly on our side. Of the 19 amendments to cut pork offered by Flake, Mike Pence voted for all 19. In addition, Mike Pence and Jeff Flake were two of only 21 Republicans to recently vote against an increase in the minimum wage.

Club for Growth, seeing the shift in our Party from our conservative principles of limited government and fiscal discipline to Big Government Republicanism, has taken it upon themselves to expose liberal Republicans and organize campaign efforts to elect true conservatives in primary elections. Their work has been truly astounding in defeating liberal and establishment candidates, and putting in pro-growth Reagan Republicans.

The Club for Growth has become a major force in elected politics for the Republican Party. They have sent the message from the American people to the politicians inside the beltway: the American people want principled leaders who will preserve, promote and defend the historical principles of freedom and liberty.

The Club for Growth and Mike Pence are undoubtedly the future of the conservative movement and the Republican Party. They both now have the greatest opportunity to take our agenda and our message of limited government, fiscal discipline and freedom to the American people on a national level. With 2008 being pursued by so many self-seeking politicians who have only advanced Big Government Republicanism for the sake of their career, the door is wide open for the American people to elect a true Reagan conservative to our nation’s highest office. There is no doubt that America’s choice for President is a true conservative who can effectively lead and who has been tested in battle. Will the Club for Growth once again send the message from the American people to the establishment? Will the Club for Growth give Americans what they want by getting behind Mike Pence and turning our course of conservative governance back on the right path, once again restoring America as that “shining city on a hill?”

Our prayers are with Mike Pence and the Club for Growth, that they would take the bold stand for the future of our party and this great nation.