Fiscal Cliff Action is urgently Needed

It is becoming clearer by the hour that Obama’s real goal in his “negotiations” with Speaker of the House John Boehner is not to raise more revenue for his spending programs or even more unlikely, to solve the federal government’s spending, deficit, and debt crisis.

Obama's real goal in these negotiations is to take back the majority in the House by destroying the Republican brand as the party of fiscal conservatism.

That is why we need your immediate action to help stop the folly of Republican leaders who are “negotiating” their way into Obama’s trap.

A coalition of principled conservatives has sent an open letter to Boehner and all the Republican members of Congress reminding them that, “President Reagan and then the first President Bush made deals to support some tax increases in return for Democrat promises to cut spending even more. In both cases, the new taxes were quite real, but far from cuts in spending, spending increases followed” and urging them to stand fast against any fiscal cliff deal that increases taxes.

You can read the letter and the list of signers here.

Morton Blackwell, Virginia’s principled conservative Republican State Committeeman and a signer of the letter, reports that “Rumors of deals or no deals are swarming around Capitol Hill, but I believe nothing is yet decided. “

Morton urges, and I wholehearted agree with him, that “There should be no deal, the sequester should be allowed to happen, and the Bush tax rates should be allowed to expire. That would mean that our side didn't break its commitments.”

Many economists are already predicting the economy will suffer next year, whether or not Republicans cave now. The key issue as I see it is that Republicans retain their credibility. If they stand firm on spending, 2014 could look like 2010; if they lose their credibility, 2014 will look more like 2012 or worse.

Those of us who have been around Washington a while remember the smirk on Democratic Senator George Mitchell’s face when he left the meeting where he outfoxed President George H.W. Bush and got him to go back on his "Read my lips, no new taxes" pledge.

The Democrats ran ads against Bush when he ran for re-election attacking him not for the economics of his decision, but for breaking his promise not to raise taxes — Bush was soundly defeated.

Republicans face a similar choice today.

There are two ways President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid could get what they want out of the Congress now.

First, just enough Republicans could vote with the Democrats and against most other Republicans to pass what Obama, Pelosi, and Reid want passed.

Second, the Republican leadership could negotiate a "deal" with the Democrats and take most Republican representatives and senators with them.

We need to let the Republicans in Congress know that if Republicans cave in now, when it really counts, that a great many potent conservative organizations and millions of conservative and liberty-loving voters do not believe in the divine right of incumbents to be renominated.

Conservatives know how to recruit and support candidates, and every Republican who votes to trade tax increases for empty Democrat promises of spending cuts can count on opposition in the Republican Primary and no conservative support in the general election.

Time is short. The Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Please call your representative and senators and tell them not to support any fiscal cliff deal, but don’t stop there.

Forward this article and the link to the open letter to your friends, call and email your local Republican Party leaders and your local tea party and other conservative activists, post it on your blog, write a letter to the editor — get the word out every way you can that falling into Obama’s trap is a recipe for Republican political oblivion and that allowing sequestration to proceed is the best way for Republicans to keep their commitment and credibility as the party of fiscal conservatism.

Richard A. Viguerie pioneered the use of direct mail in politics. He made it possible for candidates and causes to raise money from millions of small contributors rather than from a few “fat cats.” Read more reports from Richard Viguerie — Click Here Now.