Guest-endorsement submitted by Jeff Chidester. Jeff is a well-known New Hampshire political analyst and commentator and has his own radio talk show, New Hampshire Perspective, on WGIN and WGIR AM. Jeff also has his own political blog.
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While most kids dream of getting their drivers licenses, I could not wait to vote. I was in awe of the process, and I knew from a young age the importance of the ballot. My very first election was in 1980…Ronald Reagan… the Gipper…wow! What an amazing first election to be a part of!
Four years removed from the rejection of his party’s convention in 1976, and behind in the polls in New Hampshire, Reagan remained steadfast. Then one night on a stage in Nashua, New Hampshire we all saw the fire we wanted in a leader.
Some said it was aggressive, some said it was unpresidential, and many Republicans said it was not becoming of a GOP candidate. But even now, I get goose-bumps when I see video of Ronald Reagan grabbing the mic, proclaiming, “I paid for this microphone!” The crowd erupted in applause, and Reagan – and for that matter the country – never looked back.
Had the New Hampshire voters listened to some of their fellow Republicans, Reagan would have lost. “He is not experienced enough.” “He hasn’t paid his dues.” “He has only been a Republican for a few years.” The list was long, but it was merely the party establishment attempting to promote their own candidate – the same type of establishment I find myself a member of today.
But the party leaders in 1980 forgot one important detail: Reagan was one of “us.” When Reagan said “We the People”, he meant “WE THE PEOPLE!”
Some called Reagan a nut, hot tempered, overly aggressive. But most just called him a patriot, relieved that, finally, we had a leader and not just a politician. He made us proud to be conservatives.
Over this past week I have seen a dear friend of mine, Jack Kimball, attacked, maligned, misquoted, and abandoned by some who claimed to be his friend. It seems at times politics makes good people do terrible things. But through it all, my friend has remained committed, believing in the faith of the people of New Hampshire, choosing to believe that it is only a handful of people who have decided to play the politics of personal destruction. My friend has maintained the “high road,” while so many others prefer to muck in the swamps.
Worse still are people I have always trusted being so easily duped. They are being fed misinformation by people they trust, many of whom don’t realize they are being used.
Many of you reading this know me. Many of you trust me. Jack Kimball is my good friend, I know him better than any of you do and there is something I want you to know about him: I trust Jack Kimball more than any other person in this world other than my wife.
I would trust him with my child’s life. He is a man of immeasurable integrity and passion for both our party and our nation and I trust him more than anyone else to lead our party forward in these difficult times.
Jack Kimball is no Ronald Reagan; they broke that mold and threw it away. But Jack Kimball is a hard-working, honest business man, who is devoted to his family and cares deeply for his country and our great state. He is loyal to a fault, and far more humble than some believe. And above all, Jack Kimball is a man of incredible honor and a passionately proud Republican.
These reflections of Ronald Reagan remind me of why Jack will make such a strong leader for our party. Let the establishment insiders say whatever they want – the truth is, they don’t know Jack. But I do. And on January 22, I will be casting my vote for Jack Kimball for Party Chairman and I respectfully ask you to do the same.
By the way, in the ignorance of youth, I did not vote for Reagan in 1980. That is a mistake I will not repeat.
Respectfully,
Jeff Chidester
“Our party must be based on the kind of leadership that grows and takes its strength from the people. Any organization is in actuality only the lengthened shadow of its members. A political party is a mechanical structure created to further a cause. The cause, not the mechanism, brings and holds the members together. And our cause must be to rediscover, reassert and reapply America’s spiritual heritage to our national affairs." – Ronald Reagan
