Sanford: Voters Rejected Fakers

Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) has a good piece in the Politico where he hits on why the GOP lost (Hat Tip: Don Surber.):

Instead, voters rejected the fact that while Republicans have campaigned on the conservative themes of lower taxes, less government and more freedom, they have consistently failed to govern that way. Americans didn’t turn away from conservatism, they instead turned away from many who faked it…

Well said, and then Sanford lays out three principles for rebuilding the party. The first is key:

First, let’s go back to the principle of saying what you mean and meaning what you say. A political party is much like a brand, and brands thrive or wither based on how consistently they deliver on what they promise. Along those same lines, it’s important for brands to stick to their knitting. If John Deere’s tractor sales are declining, they don’t say, “Tell you what, let’s make cars and airplanes, too.” Instead, they focus on producing better tractors.

I make that point because there’s a real temptation in Republican circles right now to try and be all things to all people. We tried that already — it was called “compassionate conservatism,” and it got us nowhere

Emphasis mine. Sanford’s other principles include a loyalty to ideas and not individuals, and looking to the states and not to Washington for leadership and solutions. Good stuff. It’s also clear that Sanford is taking his job as Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association seriously, heaping praise on Sarah Palin, Mitch Daniels, Rick Perry, and Bobby Jindal.

As chairman of the RGA, Sanford may be the highest ranking Republican in America to have some inkling as to why the party lost. He’s definitely someone to watch and listen to the next few years.