The American people see Republicans not as the preferable choice of an engaged electorate but as the default choice of a desperate nation — the last hope of stopping the devastating attacks on our freedoms and economy from the current power structure, led by Obama, Pelosi and Reid. Unfortunately, many elected Republicans see that wave of anxiety as their ticket to the reins of power, and based upon what we have seen in many of the primary battles this year, many of us fear that the new Republican boss will be the same as the old Republican boss — the one that failed to recognize America’s right and proper demand for a return to Constitutional Government.

But Republicans have an opportunity to do something extraordinary. Something exemplary. Something that would demonstrate their commitment to the Americans who put them in office. Republicans, upon assuming power, should nominate an incoming freshman to be speaker of the House. It would be a bold move but it is the kind of thing that can remake the GOP — in the image of the country. It would loudly declare that Republicans recognize that the people of this nation want to govern themselves and not be slaves to political establishments from either side. It would be a loud proclamation that the party should exist for the people, and not the other way around. It would be a formal recognition that the people run the country.

This idea won’t sit well with the leadership in waiting because they, like the Democrats, believe they are entitled to power, that it is their turn, they won the election lottery so they get to sit in the big chair and dictate the seating arrangement. But here is a chance to change the course of history. A chance for elected officials to be bigger than politics. An opportunity for Republicans to demonstrate good faith with the American people by choosing one of them to lead The People’s House, showing that they are serious about reforming Washington, changing the status quo and kicking that image the Democrats and their brethren in the news media have crafted of the GOP as the “Good ole boy” party.  Among the field of Republican newcomers poised to win house elections across the country, there are many who are well qualified to lead. Some have led young men into battle and have a proven track record of subordinating their own interests, including preservation of life and limb, to the greater cause of the principles of their nation and the lives of subordinate soldiers. Of course this idea will be met with the usual cynicism of “you don’t understand, running the House of Representatives is so hard it requires decades of experience…” We Americans see what all that experience has done for the country, so I hope Republicans won’t be foolish enough to go down this fallacious path. This is a concept few, if any, Washington Republicans will understand, even though it would not only be good for the country, it would be a brilliant political strategy.

In preparation for losing control of the House, Democrats are already framing their targets and sharpening their attacks against who they think will be the Republican leadership. But what if the new leadership was not part of the current Republican establishment? A freshman speaker forces them to attack an American, one of the people they have been ruling — not part of the political ruling class. This would truly expose the Democrats for exactly what they are — anti-American elitists — and the American people would rally around an American under attack by the establishment. It would further expose the Democrats’ war on America’s freedom and their desire to be our rulers instead of our government.

This momentous action would send a clear message to the American people that the establishment elite has been disenfranchised — and that regular Americans are the special interest of the new GOP.

Scott Wheeler is a former television producer, investigative journalist and author of the book Shadow Government: What Obama Doesn’t Want You to Know About His Czars. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the National Republican Trust PAC.