South Carolina Primary Day 4: January 17, 2008

Today started off fantastic! I woke up and went straight to a Meet Fred event in West Columbia. It was only a mile away from my cousin's apartment so I figured I would stop by before I went in for work. The good thing about this event, in my perspective, was that it was a radio type of event - something I have never seen before, even though I've been to what feels like a few dozen events. Usually, Fred comes on stage and preaches his consistent conservative mantra to a large crowd. He then proceeds to answer questions from the audience. In this format, Fred sits down and talks to a local radio host who asks Fred several questions. Then the questions are opened up to the floor.

One thing that I have come to notice about Fred is that he is a very refreshing politician. So often people tell me how much they are fed up with politicians who offer nothing but empty promises, politicians that change their position in order to appease an electorate, and certainly politicians they just flat out don't trust. To me, Fred is the one politician that can break this cycle of doubt and pessimism towards voters.

That being said, I wonder why people choose candidates that could reaffirm the status quo. For example, take the following conversation:

Person 1: I honestly have no idea who I am going to vote for - I am completely decided because there is no one that I believe should have my vote. In fact, I'm sick of politics - all the pundits say something and the candidates do what they say and it's all just hoop-la.
Person 2: What are you looking for in a candidate?
Person 1: I am looking for someone who is strong on national security, pro life, strong against illegal immigrants, and against lavish government spending. However, I want the person to have always had these beliefs and not changed their position.
Person 2: Well, Fred Thompson is a pretty consistent conservative that believes in all those things!
Person 1: I don't think Fred can win though - he's a great guy, but I think he go in the race too late and doesn't have much "fire-in-the-belly".

You may be surprised how many times a day I get this conversation - and frankly, it frustrates me a lot. Why do Americans want a truthful candidate and then discount that candidate because they got into the race (god forbid) only 6 months before the first primary. We, as Americans, are so caught up with the idea of a continuous election and doing things the way political pundits tell you to think that we never step back to realize that when we have a candidate that can restore dignity and honesty to a public office, our hope is pushed away by a small mention of laziness.

Frankly, its stupid. Sometimes I hope people will be able to voice their own opinions without quoting everything they read in the newspaper. Why you may ask? I think, and hope, that Americans are smart enough to look at a situation objectively. Obviously if you are looking for something or someone, and that person comes along, I certainly hope you give them more than a second look! It reminds me of an saying back in the 1990's when one campaign slogan was "Hey! It's the economy, stupid!" I guess sometimes its as simple as saying just that. To conservatives, it should be "Hey! It's Fred, stupid!" He's a candidate that doesn't have to play any defense on his positions (everyone else does), he's the only candidate that can rebuild the Reagan coalition, and he's certainly a candidate that everyone trusts.

But maybe the concerns of getting in too late and being "lazy" are valid. The situation definitely brings up some valid questions: To what extent do we, as Americans, value the Presidential Election Process? Do we want to have a constant election? Are we okay with being constantly bombarded by Presidential information? Will we actually pay any attention to all this information? Would we rather continue the trend of a candidate that placates voters as opposed to a candidate that stands up for the values of America? Are we complacent and so indifferent to change that we are not strong enough to abandon the current system?

I think its important that we also ask the question to what degree we all value change? The word "change" has been used for numerous campaigns, whether Republican or Democrat. Barack Obama and Mitt Romney pride themselves on bringing a "change" to Washington D.C. in that they have no or relatively little experience in the city. John Edwards aims to change the way Americans perceive and approach solutions towards ending poverty. Mike Huckabee, being the naive idiot that he is, says he can change everything in the world for good. However, there is an ingenuine or at least a degree to which I believe these people promise change only in order to get votes - it seems like a political ploy.

We should value change not simply for the sake of change, but rather change that aims to rectify contemporary problems. We should no be hesitant to accept change, but we should also not make brash changes. How do we distinguish between the two? I think we seek answers to that by looking at our own first principles. What type of change increases our freedom, our liberties, and our pursuits for happiness? What type of changes encourage us to step out against a system which no one completely trusts? In essence, how should we act against the status quo in a manner that will change the world in which we live in order to reaffirm our first principles?

This is certainly a discussion which I would love having with someone. But I think Fred hits it on the spot. You approach change by stepping up the challenge - by going out of your comfort zone to do what you think is best for you, best for the people around you, and if you're running for President, what's best for your country. You approach change by going beyond what is expected. You approach change by doing things your way, not by obliging to a set framework and method for action. You approach change by finding a desire within yourself to better the world and reaffirm the ideas, values, and traditions that you have always believed in.

Mahatma Gandhi once said "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." He was right.