As 2009 is the Bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, we all should take the opportunity to admire and reflect upon Lincoln the Emancipator, Lincoln the man who single-handedly held the Nation together through its most troubled time, and Lincoln the Commander in Chief. 

It is because Lincoln was a great Man and Great President that makes him such a current hot commodity, surprisingly among Barrack Obama and his Democrat Party.  While it is not surprising that anyone would embrace Honest Abe over the likes of Jimmy Carter, Ted Kennedy, or Robert Byrd, both the Democrats and the mainstream media are attempting to cover up the most important Lincoln… Lincoln the Republican. It is time for Republicans to reclaim Lincoln from the Democrats.  An examination of Abe Lincoln makes clear that his politics formed the Republican Party, and his beliefs are still the major planks in the GOP platform.

Lincoln was a simple farm boy who through his own hard work, determination, and patience overcame obstacles, setbacks, and defeats to become President of the United States.  His presidential campaign was built on the platform of free labor.  At his Gettysburg Address, Lincoln famously said “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”  This was not just lip service, as evidenced from the words of contemporaries like Frederick Douglas, former slave and early civil rights leader.  Douglas said Lincoln was “the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color."

Specifically, Lincoln was talking about ending the evils of slavery, but more broadly, he was emphasizing the equality for each person in the eyes of God and government.  The belief that every individual should be free to succeed, or as the Declaration of Independence reads, that all people are created equal, and that all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  This sentiment that all men are equal is evidenced in the Republican Party’s current platform of equal taxes on all, and opportunity for all regardless of race, gender, or age.   

Contrast that with the tenants of the Barack Obama and the Democrat Party, who believe the way to treat everyone equally is restrict freedom, opportunity, and success through government sponsored taxes and regulation.

Although Wisconsin’s interaction with Lincoln was relatively limited, his beliefs have always guided Badger State Republicans.  Governor Tommy Thompson made Wisconsin a great place to live, work, and raise a family.  Mark Neumann was a foot soldier for Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America.  Looking forward, America’s Dairyland is blessed to have young Republican leaders who share Lincoln’s beliefs, like Congressman Paul Ryan, Attorney General JB Van Hollen, and the Fitzgerald brothers.  Building on our proud history and continuing to promote the beliefs of individualism, opportunity, achievement, and freedom, we can proudly and accurately proclaim to be the Party of Lincoln.