Candidate Cliches and Empty Rhetoric

By Andrew Zuelke, Chairman
Constitution Party of Wisconsin

We hear the following empty words all the time from the two major parties, but even more so during election years. Here are the classic cliches and empty promises from Democrats and Republicans –

“Move the country forward.”

How exactly are you going to do that? We in the Constitution Party say the best way to move our nation forward is by going back to the past, restoring tried and true things like –

1. Funding our government by Article 1: Section 8 of the Constitution.
   
   

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2. Basing laws and policies on common sense and what has produced actual results when implemented in the past (i.e. – spending less than you bring in, maintaining there are only two sexes and that each is different, insisting children need to be protected and disciplined so they grow up to be law abiding and responsible.)
3. More absolutes of right and wrong.
4. Reward work and merit and don’t subsidize/reward laziness or incompetence.

“We must reject the failed policies of the past.”

Translation – Any policy the other party proposes with which our party doesn’t agree is a failed policy.

“Putting forward common-sense solutions for the good of the American people.”

Translation – Solutions are only common-sense when they come from our party.

“We need to create jobs and grow the economy.”

Congress, legislatures, governors, and presidents don’t create jobs, unless they are hiring more public sector employees, and I would say we have enough of those already. We don’t need more bureaucrats.

“If elected I will bring Americans together”

or “Americans need to unite.” OK, how will people of one-party calling people who don’t agree with them on issues fascists or Nazis or comparing their presidential candidate to a mass-

murdering dictator make them want to work with you to fix our nation’s problems, exactly? How does allowing tens of thousands of illegal immigrants into our nation who don’t assimilate into our distinct culture, learn our language and who get local/state benefits many citizens can’t get “unite us as a people,” exactly?

“We need change.”

A television ad from Americans for Prosperity (afpaction), talking about Senate candidate Eric Hovde, has Dale from Milwaukee saying, “We have to change things and if we get the right people in there that will change.” Sharp comment there.Another afpaction ad has three voters around a table with a woman saying, “We need some fresh blood. We need some new people in office.” Translation – We need to vote out the incumbent (old blood) who is from the other party, but when our candidate is the incumbent, forget fresh blood, we need experience in office then.

“We need to invest in our children’s futures.”

Translation – We’re not spending enough on education.

“Not voting to raise the debt ceiling is wrong. Defaulting on our debt is fiscally irresponsible and not who we are as Americans.”

Fiscally irresponsible? This from the career politicians who since the late 20^th Century have spent our nation $35 trillion in the hole.

“If elected I will cut spending and stand up to both parties.”

OK, exactly which federal spending will they cut if elected? And when candidates say this, do they mean they will cast their one vote to cut spending, because one Congressman cannot cut spending by himself?

Democrat and Republican candidates saying they will “stand up to both parties,” if elected sounds nice, but these “independent-minded mavericks” railing against their party establishment have no problem running under that party’s name and accepting financial support and resources (mailings lists, volunteers, etc.) from the party establishment they claim to oppose after the primary.

The two major parties know voters are fed up with both parties, and so do the candidates, so they play on your anger and say to the voters, “Hey, I’m not a politician; I’m an outsider fighting for real change. I’m just as mad at the two parties as you are. OK, yes, I’m running under this party’s name, but I have to do that. If I’m going to reform the party and fight the establishment, I have to be on the inside. That’s why I need your help this November. But trust me, I’ve been an independent my whole life. As I see it, the party establishment is on one side, but you and I are on the other side, united against them.” Do any of these words sound familiar to you, fellow voters? Heard them all before, have you?

As long as we as voters set low expectations by settling for Democrat and Republican candidates who spew feel good clichés and empty rhetoric, who will spend whatever it takes to win, and who can’t – or won’t – answer debate questions, these two parties will never step up and offer us any better. We obviously cannot count on the mainstream, traditional press to fulfill their Constitutional obligations and be a watchdog for the people and hold the government accountable by getting the truth out to the people. It’s up to us. Stop settling for the lesser of two evils; you’ve done that for long enough.

Contact us at 608-561-7996 or membership@constitutionpartyofwisconsin.com to receive your free, no obligation information packet. Thank you.

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