Star Ledger (Editorial-New Jersey)
June 30, 2015
In
1992, Bill Clinton, decided that it was time to heave the Democratic
Party towards the political mainstream, where elections are won, and so
he organized his presidential campaign around that goal.
While
embracing the key priorities of his party, he added his own twists,
pressing for a balanced budget, a crackdown on crime, and welfare reform
that required most recipients to work for their checks.
To
hard-core liberals, that was all heresy. But Clinton stuck with it, won
the election, and built effective governing coalitions.
If
Republicans want to win in 2016, they may have to walk that same path,
to isolate their extremists and embrace a centrist who can speak to the
whole country.
Gov.
Chris Christie, who announces his candidacy today, has the political
talent to make that case, as he showed by winning two elections in a
blue state and by effectively working with Democrats, at least during
his first two years in office.
Granted,
Christie's chances of winning this race are miniscule either way. The
state's economy is a national laggard, its finances are in perpetual
crisis, and Trenton is now caught in the same pointless gridlock as
Washington. And since catching this presidential fever, Christie has
been ignoring his job. The state is a wreck and the overwhelming verdict
of New Jerseyans is that he'd make a lousy president.
But
if Christie can at least spark some soul-searching in the party, as
Clinton did in his, then this campaign will serve a useful purpose, and
may even establish him as a viable contender in 2020.
One thing is certain: If he poses as an extremist himself, he’ll lose by a mile.
One thing is certain: If he tries to appease the base by posing as an extremist himself, he'll lose by a mile.
So far, we've seen Christie play both sides, as if he hasn't decided.
On
Social Security, he came closest to the Clinton model, proposing to
means-test benefits and phase them out entirely for retirees earning
more than $200,000 a year. That broke with the party's reflexive
alliance with the rich, so it was risky. But it is a sensible approach,
and gutsier than anything we've seen from the other candidates.
On
education, he blew it, renouncing the Common Core standards after
vigorously supporting them for five years. That was beyond phony, and a
damaging contrast with Jeb Bush, who showed courage by sticking with
Common Core even when the base is riled up against it.
On
immigration, Christie seems stuck in the middle. At a town hall in New
Hampshire he pushed back when a woman accused undocumented immigrants of
mooching off welfare, saying that they come here to work. He said no
fence can stop the flow, and that deporting the 12 million or so in the
country is a fantasy. All that is tough talk for the base.
But
he later backed down, saying undocumented immigrants should never be
granted citizenship, as he had once advocated. It's worth watching where
he lands on that one.
Where
else could Christie make a mark? Several candidates have made noises
about expanding opportunity to middle-class and low-wage families but
have punted on details. Maybe Christie can summon the spirit of Jack
Kemp, a Congressman and protégé of Ronald Reagan, and offer a
conservative plan to achieve greater economic justice.
If
Christie doesn't like Obamacare, perhaps he can offer something
credible in its place. If he believes climate change is real, then
perhaps he can offer a conservative answer to that as well.
In
the end, Republicans can't win the presidency by ranting about the bad
character of Latinos, the sinful behavior of gays, and the need to give
the rich another tax break. They need something more credible.
Could Christie give them that? It's a long shot. But it's the only move he has.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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