The GOP needs a team concept

By Sen. Clark Barnes

Five years ago I retired from active coaching following a twenty-two year career.  It seemed that I was always a full-time coach with another full time job to support my habit.  I began coaching when my oldest son’s soccer team needed help.  My wife, Debbie, graciously volunteered my services and set off the chain of events that directed the lives of my entire family for the next twenty-two years.  I left the coaching field following eight years at Elkins High School.  My wife had been the Assistant Women’s Coach at D&E College for three years and it was time to spend some time together.

So now, with all this time on my hands, here came the opportunity to jump into politics.  There were several things I brought with me from the athletic world which have been beneficial in this strange world of politics.  First, it hurts to be a winner.  Strange statement, huh?  We’ve all heard the old adage “no pain, no gain.”  Simply put, it takes a commitment of time, resources and hard work to win at anything.  Politically, the same holds true.  A few accomplish success with extraordinary resources (money) but most have to combine all three at a level which has never before been required. 

Secondly, planning for an opponent is vital to success.  Not every opponent is the same.  They don’t all play the same and individual and team personalities are as different as eagles and buzzards.   Building a strategy based on the opponents strengths and weaknesses and considering “game day situations” is vital to success.  In the political world it seems we assume that all Republicans and all Democrats are the same and develop generic strategies that are doomed for defeat before the starting whistle.  The truth is, not all Republicans are conservative in all areas, and rarely, in West Virginia, are Democrats liberal in all areas.  Not only are the candidates different in strengths and weaknesses but an analysis of the geographical area in which an individual is running is vitally important.  “Game day strategy” considers that an individual’s strength in one area, may be a weakness in another.

Teamwork is the key ingredient that holds all of this together.  Even when a team is blessed with individual talent, success is hard to achieve. 

Do you remember a basketball player by the name of Ralph Sampson?  From the little town of Harrisonburg, Virginia he was highly recruited all over the country.  He stayed close to home and attended the University of Virginia and quickly became a nationwide celebrity for college basketball.  During his years at UVA they had a phenomenal winning record but never won the national championship.  The first year following his leaving and joining the NBA, the Cavaliers became the national champs.  The political message here is that the team can win even if there is no superstar out front.  But…clearly, there must be a team.

Does a team ignore a superstar?  Of course not!  We get the ball into their hands (or on their foot) as much as possible.  Teams don’t eat their own.  They support and protect individual members and send them on to play with other teams at higher levels.  They build one another and make each individual a better player to make the team stronger.  And…don’t forget, they shake hands with their opponent after the game is over, and then go back to work planning for the next game.  No grudges, no regrets, nothing left on the field.

Sad to say, doesn’t sound like the political world. 

As we look to the future of West Virginia’s Republican Party let us remember what it takes to win.  Let’s recruit the superstars.  Let’s build a team recognizing the differences in ability, personal beliefs, and personality of each individual.  Let’s make the commitment of energy and resources.  And, most of all, let’s shake hands and recognize that the last game is over!

Clark Barnes is a State Senator representing West Virginia's 15th District.