Donald Trump’s victory was a defeat for the political establishment and its allies in the mainstream media. More importantly, it was an affirmation of conservative ideas.
Hillary Clinton ran a personality-driven campaign, more against her opponent than for a coherent set of policies. But voters had serious concerns: illegal immigration, trade, taxes, jobs, health care, gun rights, national debt, and many others. In each case, a branch of our government had either exceeded its constitutional authority, or refused to exercise its constitutional duties -- and voters were fed up.
Therefore, the anger directed at Washington was more than the sum of its parts. It was expressed through a sweeping disdain for those at the levers of power -- and many of the levers themselves.
It was also directed against those in the media who oil the federal machine, people who have seemingly sacrificed nonpartisanship to be an entertainment arm of the elite. Americans sensed they were no longer getting the information they needed from their television screen -- their screen was inserting the information it needed in them. So they turned it off.
In short, this movement was an equal and opposite reaction to a government and ruling class that had forsaken its limits. And just when they needed something different, Hillary offered them more of the same: more foreign failures, more illegal immigration, more spending, more government control of health care and education, and more disdain for the concerns of regular folks.
Donald Trump won because he promised to secure the border, repeal Obamacare, rebuild our military, provide tax and regulatory relief, and appoint judges who respect the Constitution. These are conservative policies that Americans had been demanding for years -- only to be called bigots and rubes by their elected leaders and talking heads.
Although many found Trump’s campaign divisive, he spoke to the priorities and needs of a people too long ignored by Washington. Those who hadn’t voted in years, or hadn’t ever thought of voting for a Republican, were willing to give a chance to the outsider who could shake things up.
Conservatives should welcome these newcomers, whether Bernie Sanders supporters who couldn’t take the cloud of Clinton corruption, or libertarians who wanted to throw Trump like a hand grenade at the status quo, or first-time voters. Together, we can work together to improve the lives of all Americans.
It’s the duty of all Americans to keep an eye on their leaders, demanding they abide by the Constitution and respect the separation of powers. Voters rejected the broken legacy of Barack Obama and Clinton on precisely those grounds.
For my organization, The Heritage Foundation, this is a trust-but-verify administration and a no-excuses Congress. We will work with both to make good on their conservative policy promises and remind congressional Republicans of the fact that, since they now control the House, Senate, and the White House, there is no longer any excuse for not implementing reforms they’ve long promised the American people. Congress cannot afford to continue business-as-usual after such a stern rebuke.
On day one of his administration, Donald Trump can nominate a Supreme Court justice who respects the Constitution. He can also immediately revoke all of Barack Obama’s terrible executive orders and “guidance” that restricts personal and individual liberties. And if congressional leadership keeps its promise, a full repeal of the unfair, unworkable Obamacare disaster could be on Donald Trump’s desk on Inauguration Day, ready to sign.
It will be a challenge to hold our government to high standards, but nothing could be more challenging than the last eight years. At long last, conservative policies have an opportunity to make America great again.
By Jim DeMint
Jim DeMint is the president of The Heritage Foundation (heritage.org) and a former US senator. -- Ed.
