David Brat: God, Hillary and the 10th Amendment

Hillary Clinton who, as senator from New York, voted in favor of President George W. Bush’s Iraq Resolution of 2002, said recently that she “could not have predicted” that al Qaeda-related terrorist groups could take over key parts of Iraq this past week. But wiser Democrats did, among them her longtime advisors.

But Hillaryland, like the Land of Ooo in the popular cartoon, must now be seen as a separate place; a place apart. America has changed. We are no longer “one nation, under God.” We are now Some Nations — a few of them “under God” while others will gladly settle for Jefferson, Marx or even Gov. Jerry Brown (D-Calif.). A clear picture arises today of distinct regional divisions which have been growing for two decades:

“Political polarization is the defining feature of early 21st century American politics, both among the public and elected officials. As part of a year-long study of polarization, the Pew Research Center has conducted the largest political survey in its history — a poll of more than 10,000 adults between January and March of this year. It finds that Republicans and Democrats are further apart ideologically than at any point in recent history. Growing numbers of Republicans and Democrats express highly negative views of the opposing party. And to a considerable degree, polarization is reflected in the personal lives and lifestyles of those on both the right and left.”

And this week brings a defining moment: The overnight replacement of Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor (R) by David Brat, an economics professor from the venerable Randolph-Macon College in Jefferson’s backyard. We are at a turning; a turning of the generations. Brat brings it and so do U.S. Senate candidates like State Sen. Joni Ernst (R) in Iowa and Ben Sasse (R) in Nebraska.

Three elements brought about Brat’s victory: God, Hillary Clinton and the 10th Amendment.

“God acted through the people,” Brat said.

But Hillary Clinton had an effect on the vote as well.

Conservatism’s old jedi, Pat Buchanan, made this astute observation about the recent European election: “That victory in the recent Eurovision contest of Conchita, the bearded transvestite drag queen who performed in a gown, though celebrated by much of the European press, sent a message to millions of traditionalists that this is no longer their culture.”

It may be respectfully suggested that the rising blitzkrieg of Clinton culture, pressing her book and ostensibly her 2016 candidacy only a week before the Virginia primary, greatly affected the outcome, driving voters to the more conservative, more libertarian, more contemporary Brat, sending the message that Hillary’s duplicitous America was “no longer their culture.” And chose a brand-new start with Brat.

And in our time, states like Virginia have rediscovered that they need not be dominated by Washington or Madison Avenue. The path forward is the 10th Amendment.

“The 10th Amendment is the big one,” said Brat. “The Constitution has enumerated powers belonging to the federal government. All the rest of the powers belong to the states and the people.”

There should be a lesson here that the endless Hillary presence and continuing Clinton press barrage will likewise drive the heartland further and further to the right in upcoming elections, possibly bringing a catastrophic shift to Washington in November. And I have predicted here that a Hillary Clinton presidency will bring a “bloodless revolution” to the heartland states to redefine who they are among themselves without consultation with Washington or New York, starting in Texas.

Quigley is a prize-winning writer who has worked more than 35 years as a book and magazine editor, political commentator and reviewer. For 20 years he has been an amateur farmer, raising Tunis sheep and organic vegetables. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife and four children. Contact him at quigley1985@gmail.com.