Congratulations to President-elect Obama. He won a decisive victory on Tuesday. It is my sincere hope that he makes good on his campaign promises of bipartisanship and governs from the center. I hope that he does not embrace the liberal policy proposals of Nancy Pelosi and Co., such as the Fairness Doctrine or the Freedom of Choice Act. It was an historic election that could only have happened in one country, but I have always been proud of my country and I’ve never needed an election result to validate my belief in American Exceptionalism.

As for the Republican Party, we need new blood. We have strayed from our core beliefs of small government, personal responsibility and liberty. This election was not a failure of the conservative ideology, but a referendum on the messengers who have bastardized it. New entitlement programs and massive spending are not conservative policy positions. President-elect Obama didn’t run as a liberal. Instead, he co-opted the conservative ideology, championing tax cuts and vowing to cut ineffective programs. Leadership teams at the Republican National Committee should resign as well as chairmen of the state parties who lost seats in the House and Senate. The bloodletting should continue with leadership changes in the House and Senate Republican caucuses.

As retiring Republican Rep. Tom Davis noted earlier this year, “the Republican brand is in the trash can…if we were dog food, they would take us off the shelf.” Rep. Davis was right. We need to rebuild our party. Remember the oath? We could learn a lot by remembering what it is we’re supposed to be advocating.

I BELIEVE the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I BELIEVE in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, sex, age or disability.

I BELIEVE free enterprise and encouraging individual initiative have brought this nation opportunity, economic growth and prosperity.

I BELIEVE government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I BELIEVE the proper role of government is to provide for the people only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.

I BELIEVE the most effective, responsible and responsive government is government closest to the people.

I BELIEVE Americans must retain the principles that have made us strong while developing new and innovative ideas to meet the challenges of changing times.

I BELIEVE Americans value and should preserve our national strength and pride while working to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world.

FINALLY, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.