Let Palin be Palin!

In the 1980 presidential campaign staffers and speechwriters for Ronald Reagan realized after the first debate that instead of over coaching him, the best practice was to “let Reagan be Reagan.”

Tonight, during the vice presidential debate in St. Louis we finally got to see “Palin be Palin.” After weeks of watching Sarah Palin being tentative and restrained during hostile interviews with Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson as she tried to remember her talking points, it was refreshing to see her turn on her charm and showcase her down-home values to score a significant victory!

America watched her up close and personal for 90 minutes—and they liked what they saw. She came across as a real person, a hockey mom who got involved in her home town of Wasilla, Alaska because she didn’t like the way things were being run in the city. She talked about middle –class family struggles to make ends meet—and it was believable. Untainted by Washington, D.C.’s political culture, she hasn’t learned how to lie smoothly (and we hope she never does) like Sen. Joe Biden who was caught in at least ten “misrepresentations” tonight according to Karl Rove.

Sarah Palin came across as a warm, humorous, down to earth person tonight. Yet she was able to go head to head with a veteran senator with 35 years of congressional experience. She connected with much of middle America and showed that she has what it takes to be a trustworthy leader.

Win or lose this election, we’re going to hear a lot more from Gov. Sarah Palin in the future. The McCain campaign handlers just need to step aside and “let Palin be Palin.” She is a winner!

A Tribute to Oliver North

Last week Lt. Col. Oliver North spoke at Regent University’s Executive Leadership Series. More than 600 people came to hear him speak about radical Islam and “The Greatest Challenge Facing America.” I had the privilege of hosting and getting to know him.

I remember when North first burst upon the national scene. It was July 1987 when he was called to testify in the Iran Contra hearings. The Democrats on the congressional committee were licking their chops as North was called to testify. They planned to take him down and if they played their cards right—the administration of President Ronald Wilson Reagan.

Most of us over the age of 30 remember watching some of the hearings that summer. North testified in his Marine dress uniform resplendent with row after row of combat–earned medals, short cropped hair—looking every bit the epitome of a clean cut All-American Marine. Making his testimony all the more striking was a two-tiered dais filled with more than 25 representatives and senators, plus staffers, arrayed in a menacing semi-circle about him. They looked like wolves closing in on a kill.

An amazing thing happened during those hearings. Americans watched the proceedings like it was the World Series and were soon cheering for the patriotic, God-fearing, courageous, highly-decorated war hero. An American icon was born.

Since that summer 21 years ago he has run for the U.S. Senate, written 12 books, written a syndicated column, hosted War Stories on Fox, visited the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan 14 times since 9-11, and founded the Freedom Alliance, a foundation that provides scholarships to the children of service members killed in action.

Last week I was privileged to observe North up close for one night and nearly a full day. I found him to be noble, generous, caring, kind and compassionate. He made a special effort to greet the family of a Make-a-Wish kid and posed for pictures until they got tired. He took time to pray for our University and our founder during a special 30th anniversary celebration (both of these were unscheduled). He was a true gentleman who treated everyone with respect. He shook every hand offered, signed and personalized nearly 200 books.

Lt. Col. Oliver North became a hero to me in 1987. However, sometimes when you meet your hero in person you’re disappointed.

I was not disappointed. Having spent time with him, he remains a hero to me. Semper Fi, Col. North.

GOP Fired Up!

The race for the White House is on! I know, I know, it’s been going on for the last two years. But now, after the selection of Sarah Palin and a tremendously successful Convention—the GOP is in the game for real.

The nomination of Sarah Palin has completely changed the dynamics of this election. McCain’s selection of her at once energized the conservative base of the Republican Party. Then, at the GOP Convention the rest of the party and the rest of the nation got to meet her. It was love at first sight.

Somehow, somewhere in the waning days of summer, McCain finally got the message that to win the election he had to woo and win over the conservatives. And boy has he ever done it in the past few weeks.

The Republican Convention was the most watched convention on television ever, eclipsing the record set by the Democrats the week before. The Republicans averaged 34.5 million viewers compared to 30.2 million for the Democrats. Surprisingly, John McCain’s acceptance speech drew just as many viewers (42.4 million) as did Barack Obama’s.

Though McCain’s speech was too long (48 minutes) and at times downright boring, in the closing minutes he soared! He challenged us to not just find fault with our country but to make it a better one by working to correct the faults. He offered ways that we could help such as by enlisting in the armed forces, becoming a teacher, entering the ministry, running for public office, feeding a hungry child or defending the rights of the oppressed. He had it right when he said, “…nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.”

A New Attitude

I’ve noticed something very encouraging in the past few days - a new attitude developing in conservatives. It’s an “Enough…we’re not going to take it!” attitude. After experiencing the efforts of Democrats, liberal media and political attack dogs doing everything humanly possible to demean, belittle, and diminish Sarah Palin—conservatives are beginning to fight back.

One great example of this was when former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich got very forceful with MSNBC reporter Ron Allen during an interview in which he questioned the resume of Palin.

Gingrich said, "It's stronger than Barack Obama's. I don't know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She's been a real mayor, he hasn't. She has been a real governor, he hasn't. She's been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn't. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She's a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I've never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don't know of a single thing Obama's done except talk and write." To see the interview, click here: http://newt.org/tabid/193/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3682/Default.aspx

What Republicans Have Succeeded in Doing

And finally, you have to believe the Democrats are reeling because of what the Republicans have succeeded in doing this week. McCain and Palin have brilliantly gained the high ground on: Reform (Obama calls it change), the women’s vote, the energy issue (drill here, drill now), defense (addressing the real threats that face America and talking about real solutions), family values, tolerance, racial and gender diversity, patriotism, honor and cultural values.

Not a bad week at all for the GOP.

Governor Sarah Palin pick a Grand Slam for McCain!

A month ago I along with many other conservative Republicans felt that the McCain campaign was in the doldrums and was showing few signs of gaining any momentum.

Then two weeks ago (Aug.16) came the Saddleback Civil Forum on Leadership and Compassion where Barak Obama and John McCain were both questioned (separately) by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. Obama seemed to me to hem and hedge and answer many questions in a halting, unsure manner. He even replied that one question was “above his pay grade.” McCain however, for the first time seemed sharp, focused and on target that Saturday night. I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, McCain had found his footing.

Later Obama seemed to make a safe choice with his pick of running mate Senator Joe Biden, a man with many years of Senate experience and a solid record of involvement and knowledge in foreign affairs.

But while the Democrats partied and politicked in Denver reliving their “glory days” with the Clintons, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy and dreaming of re-taking the White House with Obama and growing their numbers in the Senate and House of Representatives—John McCain and his team plotted, planned and worked diligently to make that final, all-important decision on his vice presidential running mate.

On Friday, August 29 as we awaited McCain’s announcement on his running mate, I confess I was nervous and concerned that he would pick someone like a Joe Lieberman, or Gov. Tom Ridge, or some lesser known liberal or moderate running mate—and it would be all over for the Republicans in this 2008 election. I felt a sense of dread and foreboding as I waited for the news.

Then like a crack of lightning and a boom of thunder came the surprise announcement, McCain had picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. As I listened to her speak my excitement grew. She was a conservative, a mother of five, a Christian, pro-gun, pro-life, pro-drilling for oil and natural gas, a proven leader, young (only 44 yrs. old) feisty, well-spoken, attractive and intelligent. I was elated!

The selection of Palin has ignited passion in the conservative base of the Republican Party that will result in increased fundraising, volunteers and enthusiasm to support this ticket.
Way to bat McCain. You knocked this one out of the park!

The Passing of a Patriot--Jesse Helms

On July 4th, a sacred holiday honoring the birth of our nation, we learned of the death of a great statesman, Sen. Jesse A. Helms, Jr. How fitting for such a patriot to pass away on the same day as two of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

Back in 1980-81 I had the privilege of working for and getting to see Sen. Helms in numerous private settings with many well-known political and business leaders. I can report that he was the same man whether in front of a network television camera or sitting quietly at a table having a cup of coffee and privately discussing a political matter. He was as comfortable dealing with a foreign dignitary as he was with a North Carolina tobacco farmer.

It is true that Jesse Helms was a strong-willed, opinionated, forceful, dogged and unrelenting man. But, he was always a gentleman, always kind, always humble and he always treated everyone with the utmost respect -no matter their station in life.

A quote from Helm's book, "Here's Where I Stand" speaks volumes about his philosphy of politics and life.

"I told my young staff that the way to be successful in politics and remain
true to your principles is to know the distinction between your principles and
your preferences. On your principles, you should never yield; you should be
prepared to be defeated. Nobody likes to be defeated, but you should let everybody know in the most articulate and thoughtful and civil way you can (you don’t go out and pick fights with people) that in certain matters that you define as matters of principle you will not budge, you cannot yield, you will not compromise. If you don’t have the votes or the winning argument, then you stand to
be defeated and rolled over, and you’ll just have to come back another day.

But on circumstances that are your preferences, you’d better be prepared to
compromise, because that’s where you can demonstrate that you can engage
with other people. Then you can, in fact, operate in the political realm.
So make a clear distinction anytime an issue arises—is this a point of principle
or is this a point of preference? An awful lot of politicians never understand
the difference. They compromise their principles and they fight to the
death on their preferences. They end up of course, being frustrated and unsuccessful--and failures at achieving their objectives."

Oh how I wish we had more conservative patriots in the House and Senate now, who knew the difference between principles and preferences; who would not budge, would not yield, on matters of principle.

More later maybe, from the miscellaneous file.

*I welcome your comments about Jesse Helms.

The John McCain I Wish We Were Hearing About In The Media

I think many of you would agree with me that so far John McCain's presidential campaign has been lackluster, unfocused, uninspired and disappointing. He comes across as stiff, crotchety and cold--while Barack Obama seems young, hip, energetic, inspiring and likeable.

About two weeks ago I had the privilege of attending a fundraiser luncheon for a local Republican congresswoman, Thelma Drake. Karl Rove (The Architect), former Special Advisor to President George W. Bush was the keynote speaker.

If only the American voting public could hear the things Rove said about McCain that day, he (McCain) could win the election in a blowout! (Keep in mind, Rove is not a part of the McCain campaign.)

Rove told us about a John McCain who was a true hero during the war, a man who exhibited uncommon bravery and guts in the face of torture.

He told us about a man who had a big, loving heart and who without a moment's hesitation accepted into his heart and life a helpless, hopeless, little orphan girl from India.

He also told us the story of a man with magnificent faith in God, a man whose teachings gave his fellow prisoners the hope and motivation they needed to survive in a brutal North Vietnamese prison.

I left the luncheon feeling inspired and motivated to support McCain. I had learned about the personal side of MCain--the side we will never ever hear him talk about, and that's a shame.

Because beneath his gruff and crotchety exterior there is a man of real substance. A man of experience, a man who has been tested --a hero.

While McCain was not my choice for the Republican nomination, I can now vote for him with confidence in his character, strength and integrity. Hope you can too.

Keeping A Family Tradition Alive

Last weekend I attended my family reunion. It was the 87th Annual Ennis Family Reunion, held in Benson, NC. While going to a family reunion may not mean much these days to a lot of people -- it means a lot to me.

For one thing it's a braggin' rite. I know of no other family that has been gathering each year for 87 years (if you know of one please let me know). And the other big reason I make the effort to drive 200 miles each way to a reunion--is my dad.

Attending the family reunion each year was like Christmas to my dad, Preston Ennis. My dad was not a big, important man in the world's eyes. He didn't have a lot of money and he wasn't on anyone's Who's Who List-- but he was a hero to me.

He taught me some very simple but important values; values like the importance of visiting the sick and those who weren't able to get out and about, of taking time to write someone a short note, the value of being kind to people and treating everyone from the highest to the lowliest with respect, and the value of doing the right thing -- just because it's the right thing to do. He also demonstrated to me how important just showing up sometimes is--just to show support.

As our families live further and further apart, and our pace of living grows faster and gas prices soar to more than $4 a gallon,--there are a hundred reasons why not to attend a family reunion.

But there is one overriding reason I will always attend as long as I'm physically able to do so--To Honor my Father.

Dad, we had a good one this year. Wish you could have been there.