Smith: He fights and wins

President Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but he delivers.
President Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but he delivers.

Last week, President Donald Trump's remarks to a record crowd of lawful gun owners who seek representation by joining a group called the National Rifle Association revealed why people are drawn to him. Donald Trump loves to fight for the things and people he believes in and he finds a way to win.

During his 40-plus minute address, often interrupted by cheers of "USA, USA!" Trump referred to the seemingly eternal Russia collusion investigation that has yet to provide any evidence of his collusion or illegality by him in the 2016 election by making the following statement: "We're all fighting battles. But I love fighting these battles. It's really a disgrace what's happening to our country."

photo Robin Smith

The gun-owning crowd erupted in supportive applause. Not because their priority is to fight the special investigation perpetually occupying headlines and talking points, but because this group fights for its constitutional right that is frequently under attack. More simply, the NRA folks relate to the ongoing attacks made to score points in the game of identity politics that operate to agitate and divide.

Granted, Trump has character flaws: He's arrogant, temperamental and plainly a jerk on a regular basis. Trump's absence of pleasantries, a deficient resume that's absent of the fineries of intellect and academia, and his brashness in moving his agenda forward will always offend some. Thus, folks who despise The Donald often miss the good policy he's churning out.

But, Trump reminds me of some of the athletes of the day who bring a lot of drama to the team, who can annoy the fire out of you, but, keep winning. Trump gets things done and wins. And because he loves America and paints in the deep, rich, bold colors of the red, white and blue with no apologies as he stands up straight in the face of our enemies and deconstructs failed policies that have slowed our economy, penalized work and created an environment that places global interests over that of Americans, Trump has support.

For decades, Democrats and even some Republicans who abandon the bedrock platform of smaller, accountable government to embrace globalism first have approached a disagreement with their opponents on policy by appearing to take the moral high ground in order to demand compromise. There's no argument that working toward common goals is a very good approach. But, we're witnessing the reality that when Democrats don't win or get their way, they never truly compromise or collaborate. They #Resist and begin the attacks, even personal ones, that pull the battle away from the policy at hand.

Former President Ronald Reagan was a champion at compromise in understanding that, while having no expectation to win every battle, it was important to produce results. He wrote in his autobiography, "If you got 75 or 80 percent of what you were asking for, I say, you take it and fight for the rest later." The element of fighting smartly, in that you must gain ground and be prepared to fight on for your cause, was part of the process.

Another who was loved for her fight was Lady Margaret Thatcher, who posited, "Consensus: The process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values, and policies in search of something in which no one believes, but to which no one objects; the process of avoiding the very issues that have to be solved, merely because you cannot get agreement on the way ahead. What great cause would have been fought and won under the banner: 'I stand for consensus?'"

Trump fights for that which the average American would fight. And, he's winning.

Robin Smith, a former chairwoman of the Tennessee Republican Party, owns Rivers Edge Alliance.

Upcoming Events