abstract: Humble advice for the new Republican majority.

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by Niles S. Campbell

Faithful Readers:

The changes wrought by the November 8 congressional elections have occurred at a dizzying speed. Lobbyists, special interest groups, and the press are still shell-shocked by the election of a majority of Republicans who campaigned on the theme of reducing government and the deficit.

Back in January I heard of a meeting of lobbyists wherein around the table they asked who knew whom on the GOP side of the aisle. After 40 years of Democratic Party domination of Congress, none of the men and women at that meeting had any substantial contacts with Republican lawmakers. The staff contacts they did have worked for Democrats or within the Democratic House and Senate committee infrastructure, the very same infrastructure that took the first and heaviest hit by the new majority when it "down-sized" committee staffs. What shocks the traditional players in Washington is not so much that the GOP won, though many are still scratching their heads as to why, but the speed at which the new majority has gotten down to business.

As someone who daily watches Congress as a reporter for an industry trade group newspaper, I can tell you these folks are serious. I've met about a half dozen freshman Republicans and these men and women are a breed apart. They are not your typical politicians. Most have solid business backgrounds. Some, like Dick Chrysler of Michigan, have actually started new and thriving businesses, and a couple at that. Others, like Sue Kelly of New York, have spent a lifetime in the real world of commercial real estate, construction, and banking.

These are just two examples of this unusual class of lawmakers. A friend tells me that several of the new members are believers, who look to the Supreme Lawmaker as they seek to make laws. The Freshman class has a zeal for reform. They don't plan to stay on Capitol Hill forever, and they want to make big changes, now. They are driving the GOP agenda forward, pushing the cautious leadership to make even greater reforms than promised in the Contract with America.

This, folks, is change.

But--and there is always a but--the GOP leadership is still full of folks like senators Bob Dole of Kansas, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, and John Warner of Virginia--folks who wouldn't know a principled stand if it walked up to them and shook their hands. On the House side, there's still the old boy's network and, of course, the coven of moderates, both of which can be counted on to put a damper on any real reform.

Beyond the traditional road blocks to reform, such as "pragmatism" and a politician's propensity to "grow" in office (that is, become more liberal with time and incumbency), there are other impediments to change. Not the least of these is a failure at the very start to begin a solid foundation upon which a new government can be built.

We at the National Reform Association look to the Cornerstone that was rejected by the builders. That Cornerstone is Jesus Christ, the great King and Lord of nations. Yes, our nation. His law is the one true foundation, and any reform movement, regardless of how well intentioned, will run aground without His blessing. And His blessing comes through obedience to His Law.

In this issue of The Christian Statesman we offer humble advice to the new majority. And it is humble, because we don't pretend to know all the answers, but we know where to look to find those answers. God's Word provides us with the blueprint, the building plans, the strategy for godly and just statecraft. This nation was founded by men and women who looked to that Word when they established what is probably the best union yet devised by man.

We have seen centuries of His blessings in our land. And, according to Rev. Ray Joseph, we have witnessed His judgment for rejecting His law. If we hope to see our Lord's blessing continue then we must turn to Him for guidance.

With that in mind, then, we offer our advice to the new leadership in Congress.

For Christ's Crown and Covenant,

Niles S. Campbell

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