McDonnell believes government’s role is to create, expand, and equalize opportunity

Steven Warshawsky writes:

I was disheartened by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s rebuttal to the State of the Union speech. There was too much talk of bipartisanship. There was too much liberal rhetoric about struggling workers and families.

This was my first exposure to McDonnell. He did not strike me as conservative in any meaningful sense (except, I suppose, being pro life). He appears to be what we used to call a moderate Democrat (back when Ronald Reagan was president; but that was a different country). This is what passes for a conservative Republican these days?

This quote—one of the “high points” of McDonnell’s speech—floored me:

“Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.”

That’s liberalism, not conservatism. We politicians will allocate your resources—through the use of government power (confiscation and redistribution)—to “equalize” opportunity. Blech!

And Republicans/conservatives across the land are excited about McDonnell?

Sorry to be a naysayer, but if McDonnell, Christie, Brown, et al.are the best we can do, it’s absurd to believe that the Great Society will ever be scaled back, let alone undone.

We’re all socialists now. Even the “conservatives.”

— end of initial entry —

Mark Jaws writes:

I lived in VA Beach from 1993 to 1999, and during those pre-Bush years I was very active in the GOP. Those were the days when Lady Jaws and I were conservative activists just itching to have a Republican president in the White House who would work with the GOP Congress and do Reaganesque things. Thus, we were enthusiastic and somewhat idealistic, which is why we often attended the VA Beach Breakfasts on the first Saturday of every month. Bob McDonnell, who was then a VA Beach Delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates usually attended these breakfasts. He was approachable, personable and one of us conservatives. While he was not an outspoken firebrand, he spoke often against the Democrats.

As I have stated in the past, I believe in the GRADUAL rollback of liberalism. Thus, Bob Mcdonnell is good enough for me. We do indeed want equal opportunity for all citizens, and the government should do reasonable things to ensure that. But unlike the Left, we do not wish to give the government power to force equal results through social engineering. Liberalism was not imposed in a day—rather it was a slow, gradual infestation. It will have to be treated and dismantled in a likewise fashion.

Doug H. writes:

I read Steven Warshawsky’s post regarding McDonnell’s speech. I told a friend who informed me he did not hear this spoken. We looked at the AP posting of the speech and could not find these quote. The speech I read actually sounded good and gave me some hope.

It can be found here.

LA replies:

Here are the passages in the speech with the references to “opportunity.” There are many. The last one is the one that Mr. Warshawsky quoted.

• All Americans should have the opportunity to find and keep meaningful work, and the dignity that comes with it.

• Here in Virginia we have faced our highest unemployment rate in more than 25 years, and bringing new jobs and more opportunities to our citizens is the top priority of my administration.

  Good government policy should spur economic growth, and strengthen the private sector’s ability to create new jobs.

  We must enact policies that promote entrepreneurship and innovation, so America can better compete with the world.

• A child’s educational opportunity should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code.

• Here at home government must help foster a society in which all our people can use their God-given talents in liberty to pursue the American Dream. Republicans know that government cannot guarantee individual outcomes, but we strongly believe that it must guarantee equality of opportunity for all.

  That opportunity exists best in a democracy which promotes free enterprise, economic growth, strong families, and individual achievement.

• America will always blaze the trail of opportunity and prosperity.

• Government should have this clear goal: Where opportunity is absent, we must create it. Where opportunity is limited, we must expand it. Where opportunity is unequal, we must make it open to everyone.

January 29

Doug H. writes:

Sorry I got that wrong on the McDonnell story. The same article earlier in the day I could have sworn did not have that statement. Both my friend and I read the AP story.

I am now very disappointed in the republicans.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at January 28, 2010 01:32 PM | Send