Reagan's 11th Commandment: The 21st Century

"Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican" ~ President Ronald Reagan

The following can be said of the recent slew of GOP debates: informative, tense, entertaining, captivating, and at times combative. Post-debate comments have ranged from "these two have a personal dislike for one another," to "they are all ganging up on one guy," to "whatever happened to Reagan's 11th commandment?"

With the understanding that moderators of each debate have reveled in the intra-party fireworks and at times poured fuel on the fire (some more than others), America benefits when the process of selecting our GOP nominee is a "full-contact sport." In addition to candidate platforms, a major indicator of presidential demeanor stems from whether a given candidate can take the heat. Can he or she exude passion for the job while simultaneously preventing a misstep, blunder, or meltdown? Can he or she be forceful without becoming angry? Can he or she withstand blistering scrutiny and not forsake core guiding principles?

I do my level best to honor Reagan's 11th commandment at all times. That being said, I find myself increasingly supportive of the candidates' desire to "duke it out" during the presidential debates.

America is undergoing tough times. In 2012, we will need a leader with thick skin who has the intestinal fortitude to stand ground and not budge an inch. After four (4) years of indecisive leadership, beer summits, and handpicked audience members at televised Potus pep rallies, I for one am most ready for a president who leads from the gut without kowtowing to the morning's poll numbers.

While Reagan categorically believed in Republican unity and spoken goodwill to (and about) fellow Republicans, it stands to reason that 21st century political debate requires setting aside the ever-present "PC-speak" and chiseling down to the truth in order to shed light on each candidate’s core beliefs. Again, America benefits when the true character of a candidate is revealed. This is especially true when the revelation occurs prior to nominee selection.

For now, enjoy the break... It all heats up again on November 9th, November 12th, and November 15th.

United We Stand: Let's Heal America!


Sincerely,

Marion D. Thorpe, Jr. MD MPH

Chief Medical Officer (former)
Agency for Health Care Administration
State of Florida