The Republican Presidential Contenders and Why You Should Be Paying Attention
It may seem early, but the time is NOW to support true contenders, and to divest the also rans.
The July 14 Blaze Media Family Leadership Summit is still making the rounds and creating buzz, primarily because it is the one place that gave all the Republican presidential candidates an opportunity to express why they re running for office and their vision for the country. Apparently former President Donald Trump claimed he had a scheduling conflict, so he did not attend the summit. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dismissed the summit as irrelevant, and nobody missed him. Conservative Inc. pundit and radio personality Larry Elder? He’s supposedly running, but I have my doubts that he was even invited.
This really was Tucker Carlson’s moment, and it was smart on his part to accept Glenn Beck’s invitation to moderate the discussion with the candidates. Beck was smart in knowing that with Tucker moderating, the summit would garner the national attention needed, even if much of that would be negative.
The summit was bankrolled by Bob Vander Plaats, longtime Republican politico and activist. Vander Plaats has an agenda, as do most activists and donors.
Bob Vander Plaats, a former high school accounting teacher who is arguably this state’s most influential Christian conservative leader, knows the power of division.
That is why he wants lower performing Republican presidential candidates to exit from the race later this summer or fall in hopes that a single, stronger challenger can emerge to keep Donald Trump from winning the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses that start the 2024 nomination process.
“The more candidates, the merrier for the former president,” Vander Plaats said ahead of a major evangelical Christian gathering here Friday that featured virtually all the major GOP presidential candidates, except Trump. “Division allows him to win.”
Vander Plaats, who is contemplating an endorsement of someone other than Trump around Thanksgiving, has a record of picking winners—in Iowa, at least. He backed Ted Cruz in 2016, Rick Santorum in 2012 and Mike Huckabee in 2008, all of whom won the caucuses before failing to secure the GOP nomination.
Vander Plaats sat down with Tucker Carlson to talk about how he would approach the candidate interviews, what he would look for. Tucker’s responses were insightful:
“To find out who they are.” Tucker said he wasn’t interested in a resume or experience, but said it is, “Best to see what the candidate's instincts are. That's a much better guide on what kind of president they would be.
“Is that person pro-human.
“A politician tries to drown you with their words, so I try to keep the words to what's relevant to the audience.”
Tucker is on quite an interesting journey, and still in the crosshairs of Fox News, who kind of want to destroy him. After this summit, one can fully understand why. He’s a force to be reckoned with, because of their behavior, instead of neutering his reach, Fox has unleased the whirlwind. No stopping him now.
Tucker made one final statement to Vander Plaats that puts our present person occupying the White House and the candidates in stark focus.
“How do your children feel about you?”
He talked about the concentric circles of home, family, community, and said,
“I judge people by how much peace are in those concentric circles.”
I have no horse in this race. Frankly, even as a political journalist, I find this current election cycle is already exhausting and more than distasteful, mainly because the principles that I hold dear and look for in a candidate and in how races are won are pretty much lacking. Save for a handful of them, it is evident that most are in it in order to keep their connection, however tenuous, to the seat of power that is the presidency.
But that doesn’t mean we should not pay attention, especially to the names and voices that are being given ignored or given short shrift. It’s early, yes, but the earlier we start to support and promote worthy candidates and demote and remove those that are not worth their salt, the more attention will be paid to the voice of We The People, rather than well-paid kingmakers.
Here are my hot takes from viewing the interviews. Take it or leave it, for what it’s worth.
Tech Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy has managed to create name recognition where none existed before, which is no small feat. As a millennial tech entrepreneur, he feels called to reach his generation and Generation Z with his message.
“Our country is not doing well,” he said. “But it is also our opportunity as a movement to level up and fill that void, that vacuum, with our own vision.”
Ramaswamy had some interesting takes on the war in Ukraine and his bailiwig of censorship, where he focused his ire on LinkedIn and on January 6.
My take: he is worth paying attention to because he has thought seriously about things that matter to many Americans. While his answers sometime lacked depth or appeared contradictory, they did not come off as canned political speech. I believe it is that freshness of voice, as well as the passionate and informed delivery, that is giving him an edge in recent polling over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson
As I wrote on RedState in April when Asa Hutchinson formally announced his candidacy, Hutchinson focused on his experience and, in his words, how his “mettle” has been tested.
To paraphrase the biblical book of Daniel, Hutchinson was weighed in the balance and found wanting. Tucker went for Hutchinson’s Achilles heel—his pride over his record. As some reports that you may have seen have indicated, Hutchison doubled down on his veto of a bill that put a restriction on transgender drugs and surgeries for minors, claiming that it should be a parental decision. Tucker pressed and challenged, and instead of giving actual law or policy on his decision, he just got huffy. Essentially, Hutchinson faceplanted. While no one thought much of his campaign before this interview, Hutchinson can pretty much kiss it goodbye after this interview.
My take: Bye, Felecia.
Former Vice President Mike Pence
If Asa Hutchinson faceplanted, then Mike Pence literally imploded. To Pence’s credit, he chose not to use the word “insurrection” in referring to J6.
“There was a riot that happened that day. A day of tragedy became a triumph of freedom. By God's grace I did my duty under the constitution of America.”
Pence also made a statement about the “tragic loss of life” that occurred on J6. When Tucker pressed him on what he meant by this, Pence acknowledged Ashli Babbitt's death was tragic.
Pence said, “It's important that we hold those accountable,” but he deflected, preferring to discuss the 2020 BLM riots, and that this should be looked at with “equal vigor.”
Hearkening back to Tucker’s comments to Vander Plaats about cutting through politician speech, Pence made the most political of statements about the J6 Committee.
“It failed its historic mission of bringing the facts forward.”
No shit, Sherlock. Another tic that is bothersome about Pence. He never said Trump’s name. He would say “our administration.” No ownership of whose #2 he was. This is pure cognitive dissonance. It devolved from there. Pence went from dismissing the need to answer Americans’ questions about election integrity and what went wrong in 2020, to full on warmongering. Pence had a completely gobsmacking comment about Ukraine’s borders and Americas.
“It is in the interest of the United States of America to continue to give the resources that they need to repel the Russian invasion and restore their sovereignty.”
When Tucker challenged Pence about the overrun borders and rampant crime plaguing America’s cities, Pence flat out said that crime in the cities is not his concern. That Ukraine’s borders are a greater concern than U.S. cities.
Whut?!
Aside from the fact that this man is as boring as Melba Toast, this interview exposed what most knew was a weak underbelly.
My take: After Hutchinson, Pence will be the next to “shutter” his campaign. No doubt he will endorse someone who is an equally hawkish cheerleader for Ukraine. Globalist gotta global, I guess.
Ambassador Nikki Haley
In terms of political acumen, Nikki Haley probably has most of these candidates beat. Like Trump, she has the ability to skate between the political world and the real world, and speak in plain language. It makes her engaging, but also makes her a little bit too polished. Haley had a fluid and ready answer for every question that Tucker asked, some of them hit the target.
In terms of election integrity:
“When you have your people lose faith in an election system, that's the first crack of a country that's falling apart.”
Haley discussed how, as governor of South Carolina, she shored up the elections with voter ID, signature matching on absentee ballots, and cleaning up the voter rolls.
“We should all keep pushing for that. Every governor should make sure that doesn't happen in their state.”
Haley used the word “Democracy,” far too much for my taste. Again, that U.N. grooming probably peeked through, which is important to also note.
Like Hutchinson, Haley rattled off her accomplishments as governor, but managed to do it without sounding like an arrogant ass. There is some question on how any of this would translate on the national stage.
Then her talking points about homelessness were the typical think tank garbage that California governor Gavin Newsom spouts. Lots of window dressing and blaming “mental health” and lack of housing for the problem.
Tucker challenged Haley on the number of Americans who are on prescribed mental health drugs already. “There’s never been a higher percentage,” Tucker said.
Haley alleged that they were talking about two completely different issues, when in reality, they weren’t. Tucker dropped it, but her deflection is important to note. Another demerit in her column.
And when it comes to foreign policy, while she didn’t take the hardline that Mike Pence did on Ukraine, someone needs to let her know that 2012 is calling and they want their foreign policy back.
Haley closed her argument on why we should elect her as president with: “We deserve better.”
My take: We do deserve better, but Haley is simply looking for the next gig in government. There’s no real fire in the belly or vision for America, and it’s obvious.
Senator Tim Scott
Who knew that Tim Scott was so animated? One thing I like about the Scott campaign and Scott himself—he’s always surprising me in terms of his audience engagement—that’s a good thing.
Scott distills his message down to 5 Principles.
There is dignity in all work. Able bodied, you work.
Criminals go to jail.
Men should compete with other men.
The Southern Border is the major national security issue our country faces.
For those who don't like common-sense conservative principles driven by the Judeo-Christian foundation; they can choose another candidate.
I really liked Scott in this interview. For me, Scott is a breath of fresh air. I’m so over outrage and grievance, and he exemplifies just the opposite. So, to hear someone not gloss over our country’s serious issues, but to approach them from a vision of optimism, clarity, and even joy is a game changer—if given the chance.
Sadly, Scott has not been given the chance. He is immediately dismissed for the bright, shiny objects of Trump and DeSantis. That doesn’t mean either of these candidates lack substance, it just means that instead of giving the American people an accurate view of who and what is in front of them and allowing them to truly decide, the legacy and conservative medias continues to toss in red meat for the sole purpose of stirring up their bases.
It’s wearying, but this is the world we live in.
My take: Don’t discount Tim Scott, and pay attention to what he says and does, because there’s much substance there. If anyone deserves a shot at the nomination, it’s him.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
They saved Ron DeSantis for last, either because that’s what fit into his schedule, or because conventional wisdom is telling everyone that DeSantis is the heir apparent to the 2024 Republican ticket should Trump be convicted on any of the potpourri of charges against him.
Word to the wise: Don’t believe conventional wisdom. In 2016, conventional wisdom told us that Jeb Bush would be the Republican nominee. Remember Jeb? I don’t either.
As always, DeSantis was commanding and take charge with Tucker. Once a military man, always a military man. He’s known for his directness and he makes no apologies. Tucker focused on the controversial heartbeat bill that DeSantis signed into law and how that might play nationally.
“I will be a pro-life president. Of course I want to sign pro-life legislation. We need to develop a culture of life in this country. As president I will be somebody who uses the bully pulpit to support governors who support life.”
“At the end of the day, you get into office to do what's right.”
I appreciate what he said about the presidency being a bully pulpit to support governors who support life. Anything else comes off less than federalism. Roe v. Wade was overturned for a reason—so the states can choose their own fate as the constitution allows. So, aside from a stance to encourage life, the federal government needs to keep its paws off any legislation that wants to again federalize the decisions surrounding abortion.
“We're better off when everybody counts. We're better off when everybody is given a chance. So, we should stand for life.”
DeSantis had other cogent things to say about our sovereign borders, the war on Ukraine, and what true environmental stewardship involves and how they are doing it in Florida. Like Haley, DeSantis came off polished, but managed to skate the rehearsed insincerity that sometimes hovered over her answers. Yet, the authenticity factor may be why he is still trailing Trump in the polls. Because of this inability to move the needle, DeSantis is making big changes to his campaign, so we’ll see how the reboot looks.
My take: DeSantis does not move the needle for a lot of people, and this interview shows why. There is nothing new, fresh, or innovative here. Nothing that distinguishes him as the one to beat, which is probably why Trump still stands out as the popular choice.