Will the Real Conservatives Please Stand Up?

In which direction will the Republican party head after the 2020 election? Has President Trump influenced the party enough during his term to help steer it back to conservatism with strength of conviction?

Will the party continue his policies if he loses?

Will they help with his policies if he wins?

Will they go back to cowardly conceding to any attack that comes from the left?

There are few public institutions that support conservatism, especially now that Fox News has changed its political stripes. True conservatives will continue their vocal support of Trump policies and values, but they are always put on the defensive, explaining against what the liberals propagandize or try to twist.

Since the merger of the Mainstream Media and Democratic Party, Republicans have not done well explaining our message. As a result of this anti-democratic union, many Republicans have become RINO's (Republican in Name Only), partly because they have merely gotten tired of trying to swim against the "popular stream." Some people just need to be liked or accepted. It takes a strong person to stand against the constant assault of a weaponized institution like the press.

The ultimate antidote to the harmful bite of the "fourth estate" emerged from the 2016 battle for the Republican soul. During the primary race, Donald John Trump took on the barely or non-conservatives, the timid candidates, the dispirited candidates, and the two-faced candidates of the GOP establishment.

Because of that battle and eventual victory, we, the conservative base, finally gained a leader who goes on the offensive and understands messaging. Partly because of the collateral damage of that primary contest, President Trump has gotten little help from the Republican establishment. That fact has been proved during this 2020 election debacle.

Few GOP congressmen have stood up and stood by President Trump in his fight against a potentially compromised election. There have been accusations and sworn testimony of voter fraud. A weaker Republican candidate would have conceded to Joe Biden despite the many irregularities and sworn witness statements. The president has taken the side of the Constitution in calling for and pursuing election integrity and transparency. Trust in the electoral system is a must to maintain our republic. Verifying the election tallies, in the face of possible fraud, is a must.

Initially, the media pounced on Trump's refusal to concede. They wanted this election over quickly with little to no oversight of the voting and counting processes. The message that the left almost unanimously voiced was "count every vote."

Trump's team countered accusations from the media of "not wanting to count 'all ballots'" with the constitutional message of "ensuring every 'legally cast vote' is counted." That is called "messaging." The Trump surrogates and supporters need to hear this to help spread that same content. That is necessary because not many Republicans, even those who rode his coattails into office, are helping the president fight the public opinion battle.

We need to become steadfast with this forward-thinking method. Conservative senators and representatives will attract more constituents by simply stating and standing up for what we do support. Our current strategy of responding to Democrats' accusations is a failure. GOP members must go on the offensive.

For example, do not respond to their accusations of "anti-immigration" merely because we desire a controlled border and a wall. Instead push the honest message by beating the drum that we support all legal immigration, welcoming the diverse people and ideas of this world join our republic.

• Win or lose this legal battle of the 2020 election, President Donald Trump has shown the way for conservatism to thrive.
• Do not back down from the media. Do not depend on the media. Take your message directly to the people.
• Truly care for Americans … ALL Americans. They will care back.
• It is "the economy, stupid." The better the American economy performs, the better ALL Americans do.
• Worry about America, then about the world.

The MAGA/Conservative movement and ideology cannot be sustained by pinning all our hopes and efforts on just one man, even someone as strong, politically savvy and forward thinking as President Trump. We need a Republican party that will emulate his model. It is on "We, the People" to elect those who will.

John Cylc is a conservative Christian and eight year U.S. Army veteran who primarily speaks out on the Second Amendment, gun rights issues, and contemporary topics. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he currently resides with his wife and youngest son in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in beautiful East Tennessee. He is the founder of ThirteenFox.com and a former contributor to LifeZette. Read John Cylc's Reports — More Here.