The Collegian

Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News

Congressman Tim Walberg speaks to the College Republicans. {Myles Sandrian/Collegian}

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and his wife paid a visit to Hillsdale's campus Monday at the invitation of Hillsdale College Republicans.

For two hours, Walberg focused on issues larger than his own campaign, such as the importance of this upcoming presidential election for the conservative movement.

Walberg has several ties to Hillsdale College - his campaign manager and chief of staff are Hillsdale alumni. Juniors Amanda Gill and Elise Hill in the WHIP program intern in his office in Washington, D.C.

President of the College Republicans and senior Katherine Montgomery, who interns in Walberg's district office, invited Walberg to speak on President's Day.

"Congressman Walberg is in one of the most hotly contested races in the fall," Montgomery said. "We as College Republicans want to make sure that [Walberg] is re-elected, so we thought he'd be a good speaker on President's Day."

At the event, Walberg told faculty and students they need to have conviction in the face of victory and defeat. He pulled out a business card out of his dress pant pocket and turned it over to read a favorite quote from Abraham Lincoln that he always carries: "The problem that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the cause we believe to be just."

Walberg interpreted the quotation in his own words.

"For the good of the country, [conservatives] need people to stand out there regardless if we win or loose," he said.

Walberg said Lincoln's words give him dedication, discipline and direction. He said conservatives should follow such advice in the upcoming election - an election he says is crucial to the future of the conservative movement.

In particular, Walberg encouraged attendees to support John McCain if he is the Republican presidential nominee.

Walberg said he disagreed with conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter and evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson, who have spoken strongly against McCain.

"Ann Coulter and James Dobson have to get realistic […] and see the bigger picture here," Walberg said.

Realistic, Walberg said, does not mean compromise, but to realize what is at stake in the upcoming election. He said the potential nominations of at least two Supreme Court justices and several federal judges by Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama would be a blow from which the conservative movement would not recover easily or quickly.

"We're at a tipping point where if we give [the Democratic presidential candidates] the opportunity, it will tip to the left for generations," Walberg said.

Walberg will return to Washington, D.C., soon where he will balance the tasks of serving as a congressman and campaigning for re-election. He said his every action of will be watched, judged and analyzed in the months ahead.

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