Friday, November 13, 2009

Continetti: Palin can make a comeback

Matthew Continetti, author of the just-released The Persecution of Sarah Palin, opines in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that former Governor Sarah Palin can make a political comeback if she follows the example of Ronald Reagan and returns to her 2006 playbook:
In Alaska, Ms. Palin didn't run as a culture warrior. She focused on issues with overwhelming public support: ethics reform, a revised oil tax, and more competition and transparency in the effort to build a natural gas pipeline. She took the conservative vote for granted and focused on winning independents and even some Democrats.

The 2006 Palin model looks a lot like the approach that Virginia's next governor, Republican Bob McDonnell, used to win his election last week. It means applying conservative principles to problems like the economy, health care, and out-of-control federal spending. It means addressing voter concern that big government and big business are in cahoots, heaping expensive burdens on small businesses and individual entrepreneurs.

During her book tour, Ms. Palin is sure to mention that the Obama administration's opposition to offshore drilling and domestic nuclear power, and its support for an onerous cap-and-trade scheme, will raise energy prices across the board. But she also might spend less time discussing campaign intrigue and Alaska trivia, and more time outlining how to spur job creation through tax reform.

She might mention, too, that the Democrats' health-care plan would hike taxes, raise the cost of doing business, and lead to rationing down the line. She might point out that, on top of health care, the stimulus and bailouts, President Obama's 2010 budget will further bury the United States in debt. Every time the media try to shift the conversation to personal gossip or past mistakes, Ms. Palin should pull it right back to how the Obama agenda will hurt the middle class.
As Continetti points out, the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate's numbers aren't that great among independents, but but turning them around is doable.  Independents are turning away from Obama and the overreaching Democrats in droves.  Sarah Palin needs to send these voters a reassuring message of common sense Reagan conservatism.  They will respond positively.

Continetti appeared on Fox News thursday night on Hannity:



- JP

1 comment:

  1. With people identifying themselves as conservative over liberal by a 2 to 1 margin, Palin doesn't have to "remake herself or rebrand herself". The 48% of the people who voted for her and McCain will still vote for her now more then ever in 2012, All she has to do is convince moderate independents that she is the real deal.

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