From Reagan to Kemp to Cain

When it comes to economics, Jack Kemp was often called the heir to Ronald Reagan; it’s more accurate to say he was the godfather of Reaganomics. After all, it was Jack Kemp who, in the 1970s, sold Ronald Reagan on the virtues of supply side economics.

While Ronald Reagan publicized supply side economics to the world, it was Jack Kemp who actually designed the economic plan that Reagan signed into law. Reagan laid out the vision of the road ahead; Kemp poured the concrete for the highway.

Those economic policies—which became know as Reaganomics—were the foundation of the economic boom of the next two decades. Despite it’s obvious success, once Reagan left office the GOP establishment slowly abandoned supply side economics and returned to its old government-centric approach. Reaganomics was good for the country, but it wasn’t always good for politicians (who found it easier to obtain votes by focusing on how the government can help people, instead of how the government can empower people).

Jack Kemp never wavered from his supply side principles. He carried the Reaganomics torch his entire life. What many don’t realize is that Jack Kemp passed that torch onto someone else: Herman Cain.

Soon after Cain’s famous confrontation with Bill Clinton, Jack Kemp traveled to Omaha to meet Herman Cain. It was the start of a strong relationship. A relationship where Kemp (the architect of Reaganomics) mentored Cain on economic theory. As Herman Cain described it: “He helped me to focus in on the power of the free-market system. Growing up in corporate America, I was in the middle of it. I didn’t step back and analyze it. He helped me to realize that it was under attack; he helped me to recognize the grenades that were being thrown at the free-market system; he helped to realize, and even study, how tax rates being too high was a negative against the free-market system.”

Jimmy Carter devastated the American economy with Keynesian economics. Reagan saved it by implementing supply side economics which ushered in two decades of prosperity. Now another Democrat president is wrecking our economy with the same big-government Keynesian economics. We need another supply-sider; we need another Reagan.

Who understands fully that supply side economics is the solution? Who can take the case for economic change over the heads of Washington politicians directly to the American people (as Reagan did)? Who’s more concerned about rebuilding America than building their political career?

Herman Cain learned economics from the man that tutored Ronald Reagan, he has the ability to move crowds and opinion, and he’s in the race for the right reasons. Herman Cain is the man we need.

From Reagan to Kemp to Cain; the supply side torch has been passed to the next generation. It’s time to use it to relight our economy.