When the going gets tough, it’s time for straight talk. It’s time to say what needs to be said, without all of the lofty rhetoric. That’s precisely what Sean Hannity does in Conservative Victory: Defeating Obama’s Radical Agenda.
Hannity’s style is approachable and no-nonsense, much like the down to earth, call it like he sees it energy he has brought to radio and television from the start. He discloses in his introduction that, “We are in desperate need for a new vision, and an effective strategy, to defeat Barack Obama and the American left before they rob from us everything our ancestors sacrificed to bequeath us, and all that our military has fought, bled, and died to preserve” (3). In Conservative Victory, Hannity outlines what that vision should look like in order for conservatism to be reborn in the 2010 and 2012 elections.
Throughout the book, Hannity traces Obama’s radical roots, his appointment of extremists, and the cold, hard realities of his socialistic, Alinsky and Wright-inspired ideology. His discussion of the radical philosophies of Obama’s former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and Wright’s spiritual mentor, James Cone, is pivotal, as is his peek into the likes of our President’s chosen leaders, from David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett to Kevin Jennings and Ron Bloom. Hannity asserts that, “We’re all known by the company we keep, and Obama consistently—and deliberately—keeps company with hard leftists” (40).
Hannity nicely articulates the manner in which the Left has a knack for cloaking their radical, unpopular agendas in moderate, election-worthy verbiage: “They use ‘progressive’ instead of ‘liberal,’ knowing the latter has come to mean high taxes, softness on crime, appeasement of our enemies, and secularism. They use ‘community organizing’ to mask the true activity of the political agitator” (46). He dissects Obama’s Orwellian ideology, unprecedented spending, false promises of transparency, the failure of his mortgage bailout program, the stimulus bill that failed to stimulate, and the truth behind and potential implications of Obamacare and cap-and-tax. He boldly declares that, “None of these inevitable results bother liberals, of course, because they judge themselves—and others—not on results, but on their supposedly good intentions” (89).
Hannity cites numerous examples of Obama’s repeated apologies for America and neatly divulges our President’s mishandling of Iran, the democratic uprising in Honduras, and the war on terror. He juxtaposes the practical failure of Obama’s statist vision to the prosperity unleashed in America as a result of Reagan’s revival of conservatism. He takes on RINOs and “big-government conservatives” by asserting that, “ . . . I don’t believe that the arrival of modern times requires us to abandon timeless principles” (153). He dissects the Contract with America, introduced by Newt Gingrich in 1994, and pays tribute to its successes and the commitment and accountability it represents.
Hannity makes the much-needed point that Republicans often don’t fire back fervently at attacks from the Left: “When confronted by the allegation that conservatives lack compassion, they simply fold their cards and walk away” (175). He isn’t afraid to critique the Republican Party for past mistakes and salutes the Tea Party movement, but affirms that conservative victory in 2010 and 2012 lies in a Republican Party that rediscovers its conservative roots, not in the formation of a third party.
Hannity ultimately outlines the “first principles” of Reagan conservatism, including but not limited to economic and social policy, national security, and the Constitution. He takes on the concept of wealth redistribution and delineates a guideline of twelve “Items for Victory” that includes strong national defense, “peace through strength,” fiscal responsibility, market-driven health care solutions, choice in education, entitlement reform, and others. One of the most prominent quotes from the text is a definite home run regarding Barack Obama: “The one campaign promise he does intend to keep is to bring about fundamental change—to the point where, if his efforts aren’t stopped, we will no longer be able to recognize this country” (196).
Overall, Hannity’s Conservative Victory is a powerful testament to his strong conservative beliefs and love of country. As we near the 2010 and 2012 elections, this text is a must-read in terms of what has worked, what hasn’t, who we are up against, what’s at stake, and why it’s all worth fighting for.