John Kasich Strikes Mature, Reasonable Tone at CPAC 2016

Kasich Remains Differing Voice in Republican Primary

by Josh Guckert

Like so many of the other speakers at CPAC, John Kasich began his Friday speech by hearkening back to the days of Ronald Reagan. The Ohio Governor spent much of his time discussing his record as a US Congressman and distancing himself from the so-called “Establishment,” a wing of the Republican Party of which he is generally considered to be a member. Kasich noted that the Establishment “never liked Ronald Reagan, never liked Newt Gingrich and they don’t like me.”

Kasich also sounded some libertarian values, suggesting that rehabilitation should be prioritized over stigmatization when it comes to drug addicts and the mentally and physically disabled. He also noted that while he is “strong” on defense, the Pentagon needs to be inspected for waste. During his question and answer session with Sean Hannity, Kasich warned against nation-building and cautioned that the US should never enter into civil wars.

On more “traditional” conservative matters, Kasich discussed his reforms to the tax code and welfare during his career of elective service. Interestingly, he also attempted to portray himself as an “outsider” to the political process, even though he has been an elected official for over thirty combined years.

It is quite noticeable what Kasich’s strategy at this point: he is attempting to capitalize on the “outsider” movement which has catapulted candidates like Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina into the national spotlight. He is also seemingly depending upon Republican voters getting tired of the increasingly hostile tactics of front-runners Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

Kasich is beginning to find his niche within the presidential election cycle, often suggesting that he is the “adult” voice in the room while the others squabble over personal insults. The message he is crafting is also one of hope. For example, at the end of his CPAC remarks, Kasich struck a sentimental note, addressing the youth in the room, accentuating that every young person has potential and that each one is special.

However, time is running out on Kasich’s campaign. Most notably, the Ohio primary (which is winner-take-all) is on March 15. If Kasich loses in his home state (and recent polls suggest he might), not only will his candidacy be finished, but his political legacy could be shattered for the foreseeable future.

Kasich is certainly not without his flaws. Though his record as a conservative is well-documented, his compassion is at times misguided. He notably expanded Medicaid throughout Ohio. In defense of this, he claimed reasons of morality, suggesting that compassion should triumph over ideological purity, saying that “[W]hen I get to the Pearly Gates, I’m going to have an answer for what I’ve done for the poor.”

The problem with Kasich’s belief is that it surmises that those wishing for smaller government already know that their beliefs harm certain groups, but that they insist upon small government out of ignorance or stubbornness. In reality, lovers of liberty oppose big government because it so often harms those whom it is intended to help.

In addition, Kasich also commits sins typical of most other Republicans. For example, he stated during a Republican debate that it’s time that the US “punched the Russians in the nose,” embodying his fairly interventionist stance on foreign policy. Though he wishes for some modest reforms on defense, his record on spending both domestically and internationally should draw some skepticism.

John Kasich’s presidential campaign is likely on its last legs, but it has been significantly more successful than his run in 2000. However, he represents the fact that the “compassionate conservatism” of the 1990s and early 2000s, while perhaps waning in strength, still has a home in the Republican Party.