The McCain/Palin Message of Reform A Winner for Centrists

Statement of former U.S. Rep. Charles F. Bass, President of RMSP

Chris Barron
(202) 286-4533

(Washington, D.C.) – “Last night, Governor Sarah Palin electrified the delegates in St. Paul with a powerful message of reform. The good news for the GOP is that this message won’t just resonate with the admittedly partisan crowd assembled at the Republican National Convention; this is also a message that will appeal to independent and centrist voters.

Governor Palin is true maverick, a leader who has done more than just talk about change – she has a track record of delivering positive change for the people she has represented. The addition of Governor Palin to the Republican Party’s ticket smartly puts the message of fundamental reform front and center in this race, and this message is a winning one for the GOP.

This election will not be decided by the political partisans on the ends of the ideological spectrum. This election will be decided by centrist Americans – the true swing voters. Centrist voters – whether they are registered Democrats, Republicans, or independents – long for an end to the hyper-partisanship in Washington. Centrist voters want leadership that will bridge the political divide inside the beltway and deliver common-sense, pragmatic solutions to the challenges we face as a nation. After last night, it is clear that McCain/Palin has the vision and record to capture this critical constituency.

While the Obama campaign may like to talk about post-partisanship, the reality simply doesn’t match the rhetoric. Senator Obama has compiled a decidedly partisan record in his short time in the U.S. Senate. Ranked the most liberal member of the United States Senate, nothing in Senator Obama’s record reflects a willingness to stand up to his own party and reach across party lines.

Unlike Senator Obama, Governor Palin has consistently stood up to those in her own party to fight for what is right. She took on corruption and waste, took on the leadership of her own party, took on a sitting Republican Governor – and won.

Centrist voters are hungry for real change, not more empty election year promises. Talk about change is nice, but without the political courage required to take on the entrenched interests, such talk is only talk. To really effectuate change, to end the bitter hyper-partisanship that has crippled Washington, and to break the hold the special interests have over our political and legislative process, that talk must be accompanied by political courage. Only one ticket can offer voters a track record of exhibiting the political courage necessary to deliver that change – and that’s the ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin.”

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The Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) is dedicated to promoting and building a pragmatic, thoughtful, fiscally conservative, and inclusive “Governing Majority,” where political debate is encouraged to promote solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Embracing the full spectrum of center-right ideologies and values in order to build coalitions, RMSP is the largest organization of elected leaders who are in the mold of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. For more information on RMSP, visit our website at www.republicanmainstreet.org.