Conflicted Libertarian

I greatly admire Jack Kemp. I remember working the polls at a local precinct in 1988 for Kemp for President. Kemp polled 3% overall in Virginia but was 6% at my polling place, I’ll have you know! I often wondered what would have happened if Kemp had been Reagan’s running mate rather than George H. W. Bush. Maybe there would have been no electoral disaster in 2006 and 2008.

When I ran for House of Delegates (state representative) in 1989, I tried out the Kemp outreach because I believed in it. I spoke at an African-American church (yes a Republican in a primary!) by the invitation of the pastor due to some legal work I did at a discount to establish a museum for a local African-American leader of the 1800s, Jennie Dean. Miss Dean established a school for blacks in Manassas and started three churches (two still exist today). She was a great example of what Christ can do when He gives a person vision. Today, we have two nice places to honor her in Manassas.

I believe that Gov. Jindal is blessed with many of the same qualities that Kemp brought to politics. Although Kemp was a professional athlete in his early years in contrast to Jindal being a state cabinet secretary, university president, federal sub-cabinet officer and member of Congress, both have a great love for ideas. The Kemp-Roth tax cutting bill was a leading impetus that gave the GOP the Presidency and eventually majorities in both houses of Congress. Kemp was also pro-life and somewhat socially conservative. He had a great vision for the fall of communism.

Jindal can make a mark in several areas: one is health care. Louisiana has a charity hospital system that can lend well to experimentation. He made the Health and Hospitals system in Louisiana turn a profit.

Another is prison reform – Jindal’s recent initiative as stated before the Baton Rouge Press Club on April 20 has the potential to be revolutionary:

“The Department of Corrections is partnering with sheriffs in a program to better prepare state prison inmates for release and re-entry into society so they do not become repeat offenders.”

Let me add (in case the Governor reads this blog) – maybe a faith-based prison reform system to reduce recidivism and divert non-violent offenders to other places. Jordan Ballor of the Acton Institute cites a New York study, A Case for Faith-Based Prison Reform, that,

“Inmates who attended 10 or more PF [Prison Fellowship] Bible studies in a year were nearly three times less likely to be re-arrested during 12 months after release.”

And other studies confirm this result.

A third initiative could be reducing the size of state government and lowering taxes. As the governor reported to the Baton Rouge Press,

“Our second major reform initiative is forming a “Commission on Streamlining Government” to examine each state agency’s statutory and constitutional duties in an effort to reduce the size of state government.”

This Commission will make a recommendation to the legislature with a one time up or down vote similar to the base closing commission at the federal level.

Anything Governor Jindal tries to do will be backed up with solid ideas and justifications.

Jindal with his youth and immigrant background will appeal to many voters who may be wary of social conservatives. He also can use his experience as governor to show a governing pattern. Like President Obama, he has a young attractive family and projects well in certain situations. He will be like Kemp a happy warrior, pursuing the clash of ideas without being personal or petty.

Jack Kemp is the past and the future of the GOP – we must expand the base of the party. We can do so without sacrificing social conservative principles. Let us find a person who can explain why we believe what we believe and why it is good for the nation.

I urge Americans to look around you and see: Who is the political leader that people will put their hope and trust in? (I would be derelict if I did not assert that the people of the United States must not put ultimate hope in ANY political leader, no matter how gifted, but rather trust in God and His Son Jesus Christ to deliver and preserve this land!) The person you find is likely to be blessed with many of Kemp’s talents and abilities. Governor Jindal could be that political leader.

Tags: Dept-of-corrections, Faith, George-Bush, Health-Care, Jack-Kemp, Jennie-Dean, Kemp-Roth, Prison, pro-life, virginia