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Exclusive—Cliff Sims: Trump’s Populism Is the True Heir to Reagan’s Blue-Collar Conservatism, not Pence’s Globalism
Breitbart ^ | 12 Sep 2023 | CLIFF SIMS

Posted on 09/13/2023 6:49:13 AM PDT by SoConPubbie

Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence declared that there was a “fundamental” and “unbridgeable” divide between Reagan and Trump conservatives and that the new populist right could very well end the Republican Party as we know it.

In reality, while Donald Trump’s hard-charging style is a departure from Ronald Reagan’s happy warrior approach, the ideas that underpin Trump’s campaign are building a blue-collar coalition reminiscent of the Reagan era – a development that could actually save the GOP as a national party, rather than destroy it.

Similar to Pence, I am an outspoken evangelical from middle America who came up in politics idolizing Reagan. As chairman of the University of Alabama College Republicans, I used to quote Reagan in nearly every speech, reminding people that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

Years later, while working in the Trump White House, I admired that Pence was unashamed to speak openly about his faith. Even now, I respect his willingness to buck what’s politically fashionable, even though I often disagree with him. But I also believe that Pence’s vision for the GOP is the surest path to Republicans never again vying to win a national election.

As Thomas Jefferson wrote to John Adams late in life, reflecting on the political divisions of their own era, “every one takes his side in favor of the many, or of the few.”

For far too long, Republicans have been the party of the few. Of entrepreneurs, but not the employees who help bring their ideas to fruition. Of Big Business, but not the workers – often union members – on the assembly lines and shop floors. Of globalization and the idea that lower-cost consumer goods were a worthwhile tradeoff for disappearing livelihoods and vanishing purpose.

The Republican Party’s problems have been both public perception

(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2024election; cliffsims; fakenewsblogpimp; presdjtrump; reagan

1 posted on 09/13/2023 6:49:13 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
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To: SoConPubbie

And he is correct


2 posted on 09/13/2023 6:50:07 AM PDT by Nifster ( I see puppy dogs in the clouds )
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To: SoConPubbie
"What Americans want, what the GOP base in particular truly desires, is a president who looks at them the way that Mike Pence looks at random Ukrainians." -- Auron MacIntyre, The Blaze (7/20/2023)

This should go down as the defining statement of the 2024 election campaign.

3 posted on 09/13/2023 6:53:21 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.”)
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To: SoConPubbie

He is correct. Scoundrels like Pence invoke the ‘bearer of Reagan’s legacy’ much like certain cheerleaders invoke George Washington or Churchill when referring to Zelensky.


4 posted on 09/13/2023 6:56:32 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: SoConPubbie

this is correct...and if you go back a bit further, Reagan perfected something that Nixon was tapping into, as well.

FWIW, we shouldn’t forget that the Teamsters endorsed Reagan in 1980.


5 posted on 09/13/2023 7:00:29 AM PDT by ConservativeDude
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To: SoConPubbie

Pence is beneath contempt.


6 posted on 09/13/2023 7:08:05 AM PDT by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: SoConPubbie
...“fundamental” and “unbridgeable” divide between Reagan and Trump conservatives...

Really? I voted for both and am proud I did so.

7 posted on 09/13/2023 7:10:26 AM PDT by jeffc (Resident of the free State of Florida)
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To: SoConPubbie

Agreed.

Our PDJT, The GOAT, believes in us, that’s why we believe in him.
It’s not the other way around.

Pence’s loyalty is not to We The People.


8 posted on 09/13/2023 7:10:36 AM PDT by Macoozie (Handcuffs and Orange Jumpsuits)
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To: SoConPubbie

BTTT


9 posted on 09/13/2023 7:12:05 AM PDT by nopardons
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To: SoConPubbie

Republicans are Whigs


10 posted on 09/13/2023 7:23:38 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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To: jeffc

They are the only two Presidents that I had respect for, and still respect to this day. Regan actually was the reason I got involved in politics. I hadn’t participated in elections until Reagan came along.


11 posted on 09/13/2023 7:37:25 AM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: SoConPubbie

Pence MAY have his faith-—BUT I KNOW he doesn’t have a SPINE


12 posted on 09/13/2023 7:41:50 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: SoConPubbie

Yes,DJT understands and admires the middle class and working class. He also understands the nation’s elite and that’s why he’s always thumbing his nose at them.


13 posted on 09/13/2023 7:55:36 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Two Words: BANANA REPUBLIC!)
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To: Gay State Conservative

What is being described is Jacksonian Nationalist Conservatism.


14 posted on 09/13/2023 8:30:10 AM PDT by cowboyusa (YESHUA IS KING OF AMERICA! DEATH TO MARXISM AND GLOBALISM! Trump 2024, NO more Mr Nice)
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To: ridesthemiles

Well said.

Trump applied the ‘sanctimonious’ label to DeSantis but its a more appropriate pejorative for Pence IMO. Pence’s claims of rectitude and principles are simply a facade. You’re right, he’s spineless.


15 posted on 09/13/2023 8:40:29 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: SoConPubbie

Pence is a nobody except in his own mind...as are a lot of the elected GOP(RINO) they will slowly be voted out in the future as Trump’s legacy...there is no going back.


16 posted on 09/13/2023 10:37:53 AM PDT by bte
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