Claremont Independent

John McCain's loss in the 2008 Presidential election, coupled with the loss of 7 seats in the Senate and 21 in the House, left Republicans puzzled. Plenty of political pundits offered their takes on what the Party needed to do to win in 2010 and beyond. Some even saw the 2008 elections as the end of the Republican Party.

On February 5, Christopher DeMuth offered his take on the current situation at the Ath in a speech titled "American Conservatism in the Age of Obama".

DeMuth is the former president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank. [Editor's note: DeMuth was on the short-list for candidates to replace President Stark. Unfortunately, Pam Gann was chosen instead.]

DeMuth began by outlining various arguments on the future of the Republican Party. One argument is for a new kind of moderate conservatism like that of Florida Governor Charlie Crist or Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, who traveled to Washington to offer his support for Obama's stimulus bill. DeMuth explained another popular idea for the future of the Republican Party - a return to its roots in federalism, which Bush ignored on many occasions.

DeMuth criticized the Bush administration often for its lack of fiscal conservatism and for paving the way for the almost $800 billion stimulus package the Democrats are advocating. One reason DeMuth gave for Bush's many problems is the fact that Bush is a moralist. Bush defined things as good and evil, leaving no gray area. His moralism prevailed in the introduction of No Child Left Behind and the War on Terror, for better or worse. Bush and Karl Rove used "Compassionate Conservatism" to expand the federal government.

DeMuth was fair in acknowledging the Bush administration's need to expand the government temporarily after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, but he believes Bush expanded the government more than what was necessary.

DeMuth found it especially surprising that a Republican who had worked at the state level as a governor for five years would expand the government to such a large degree, as in the federal bailout for much of the banking industry, and ignore federalism.

DeMuth reflected on the Republicans' battle for the 2008 presidential nomination, which included a libertarian in Ron Paul, a true fiscal conservative in Mitt Romney, and another moralist, the ultimate victor, in John McCain. Republicans need to do some soul searching before 2012 comes around.

DeMuth commented on globalization as a major factor in how governments work today. Many governments function like businesses. One difficulty in running a government as a business is the limit of the executive.

The head of a company would never swear an oath that limits his power, just as an American President can no longer honestly swear to limit his power in favor of upholding the Constitution. Such are the perils of the administrative state.

DeMuth mentioned the popularity of big government under both Bush and Obama. Big government seems to be comforting in times of trouble.

DeMuth explained how AIG told its shareholders not to worry now that the government owns a majority of the insurance corporation.

He pointed out that the reason so many people like big government is because they do not have to pay for it. According to DeMuth, the wealthiest 10% of the country (along with all future Americans) pays for the other 90%. Under Obama's proposed tax plan, over 50% of Americans would not pay any taxes (besides Medicaid and Social Security.)

During the Q & A, DeMuth fielded a question on Bush's proposal to privatize social security. DeMuth said the AEI had done some research, and a privatized account still would have outperformed a government account had the account ended last month.

In short, Christopher DeMuth's visit to the Ath provided a great analysis of the Bush Administration's successes and failures. The only thing missing was an equally in-depth analysis of where the Republicans should go from here.

Linnea Powell CMC '12 is a deputy publisher of the Claremont Independent.