Jim Jordan, R-OH, told conservatives at CPAC today to “be positive” in this season of trial for America. The upbeat attitude of the Chairman of the Republican Study Committee reinforced his motivational call to get back in the game of politics.
“This administration is doing everything wrong, making it more difficult to remain the political superpower in the world,” Jordan said, and his remedy is for conservatives to take big risks.
“We need to get off the sidelines,” Jordan said.
To illustrate his point, Jordan referenced the movie, Chariots of Fire, where the previously undefeated British runner Harold Abrahams lost a race to his Scottish rival, Eric Liddell. As a depressed Abrahams gazed over the racetrack, a woman asked him what was wrong. Abrahams told her, ” “I don’t want to lose. I run to win, and if I can’t win, I won’t run.”
Jordan said the woman replied in the most profound line of the movie, “Harold, if you don’t run, you can’t win.”
Jordon ended the illustration and said, “That mindset has always characterized the people of this great nation…We are at one of those moments in American history when we have to do just that. So thank you for being willing to do that, to take the risk and make a difference in this critical election year.”
He continued, “Be positive. We have the truth on our side.” He emphasized the need for what he calls the David attitude, referencing the Biblical story of David and Goliath. Young David’s knowledge that he was right, that God was on his side, gave him the courage to confront the giant Goliath.
“That’s the American attitude. That’s the spirit we need,” said Jordan.
Jordan shared his experience being at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. He recalls standing in that hall, imagining the individuals who signed the Declaration of Independence.
“When they signed that document in 1776, pledging their lives and their fortune, and more importantly, they were declaring to the world why this nation would be different, why this experiment in liberty would be special…If they weren’t willing to go against the conventional wisdom, there would never be a United States of America.”
Jordan concluded his remarks by quoting what he called “my favorite Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:7,” which says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”
“It is a scripture that characterizes all of you; it is a scripture, more importantly, that captures this attitude…that we have always been willing to fight, and to finish the race and to keep the faith.”
