Scott Brown: The Case for Term Limits
The election of Scott Brown to the US Senate this last month shook conventional wisdom to its' core and has inspired many would-be candidates to believe that if it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. Massachusetts had been written-off as so totally "blue" as to be a lost cause for conservatism and Republican candidates. I believe, however, that this election demonstrates how deceitful incumbency can be.
Throughout the course of my life, Massachusetts had always had a Democrat occupying their US Senate seats. Yet since Ted Kennedy was elected in 1962, 6 of the 10 Governors were Republican. In fact, from 1991 to 2007, only Republicans occupied the Governor's office there. (In case you were wondering, John Kerry took office in 1985.) I believe the single most important fact to take away from this comparison is the awe-inspiring nature of incumbency. While personalities certainly played some role in the election last month, it was far more a referendum on ideas. Scott Brown was elected to advance specific positions, not on the power of his name.
And of course, it isn't all just name or just time. Incumbency is a gift that grows with age. The longer one is in office, the less likely one is to draw an able opponent. Money flows in from every direction, as various interests prefer to deal with a known quantity, rather than have to start from scratch pitching their perspective. It is it erroneous to ever claim that a particular area is now "red" or "blue". When it comes to an office with unlimited terms, it becomes about the candidate, whatever color they may wear. This is not meant to downplay the significance of the single-year shift from Obama's 26 point victory to Coakley's 6 point loss. These results were as raw and unattached to familiarity as can be achieved in such high profile races.
And so, the case being made that incumbency often masks the true temper of the electorate, the question turns to term limits. The Founders often were men of great character, who understood their limits and removed themselves from the process, such as the example set by our first President. Today, however, our legislative halls are filled with many who would be king and who now treat their office as a noble birthright.
Set aside the simple fact that support for term limits continues to poll well above 2/3 of the electorate. It is time to address this issue at the Federal level as a matter of common decency. We must demand that those elected this fall send our States an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Failing that, we must gather together the necessary number of States and demand that such an amendment be sent to us. This is an issue I promise to fight for upon election to the Florida State House.
Matt Caldwell is a Republican candidate for Florida State House, District 73.He currently resides in Lehigh Acres with his wife and daughter.
