THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT

The Republican’s Secret Weapon

President Reagan’s famous 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican,” reflects his pragmatic approach to politics and his legendary ability to put those words into action. The Great Communicator understood the value of projecting unity to voters and building relationships. His adoption of the rule helped him navigate contentious primaries and maintain goodwill within the party. Most importantly, by avoiding personal attacks and showing respect to his detractors, Reagan masterfully used this principle to ingratiate himself with voters on both sides of the political aisle.

Reagan personified strong leadership. There is much we can still learn from him today.

Although Reagan worked across the aisle, he wasn’t a RINO. Reagan brought his Democrat counterparts to him and to his fellow Republicans. With a Democrat-controlled House during his first term, and the House and Senate stacked against him in his second term, the odds weren’t good that he could get much done. Despite this, Reagan was able to develop a relationship with Speaker O’Neill which ushered the way for tax cuts, corporate deregulation, and a substantial buildup of the U.S. military. It proves the old adage “You get more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.” For Reagan, it started with the 11th Commandment, which serves to remind Republicans that diplomacy begins at home… with fellow Republicans.

The impact of 11th Commandment is significant when it is put into practice:

• PRIMARY DISCIPLINE: It encourages candidates to focus on policy differences rather than personal attacks, reducing the risk of alienating voters or creating lasting rifts among party members. One key example is during the primary campaign of 1980, where Reagan refrained from harshly criticizing Bush, which paved the way for an eventual partnership between the two, in which Reagan chose Bush to be his Vice-President.

• PARTY UNITY: It allows the party to consolidate during times of ideological transition. Notably, Reagan’s leadership bridged the gap between traditional conservatives, libertarians, and religious conservatives. By discouraging public feuds, the rule fostered a sense of shared purpose and tolerance of those with differing priorities.

• ELECTORAL SUCCESS: The emphasis on unity contributed heavily to Republican victories in the 1980s. Reagan’s wins in both 1980 and 1984, along with the GOP’s ability to maintain a united front, were attributed to this strategy. It allowed the party to focus on broader themes like economic conservatism and anti-communism, which resonated strongly with voters.

• POLICY SUCCESS: Without the distraction of internal party squabbles, Republican leaders in the 1980s were able to focus on delivering the policies that taxpayers wanted. This paved the way for a period of historic economic success and prosperity that hadn’t been realized for many decades.

Hyperbolic manipulation of the electoral process through personal attacks, race-baiting, class-warfare and general mud-slinging have been the hallmark of Democrats since the Civil War. It demands that people take sides in petty feuds that don’t directly involve them. Democrats rely on this trivial tribalism to anger voters and distract them to avoid any constructive discussion about ideas and issues that actually matter. It stokes division within communities and encourages violence that can last for years. This rancid approach to political dialogue brought us cancel-culture, defund the police, and the race riots of 2020. Primal rage and empty platitudes are no substitute for meaningful leadership.

Gratefully, Reagan’s 11th Commandment, gives us something better.

The 11th Commandment doesn’t just help Republicans be better Republicans. It benefits voters by providing clearer policy choices, reducing cynicism, and ensuring stronger candidates. It also strengthens communities through civil-discourse, which ultimately reduces polarization. Although its legacy is rooted in Reagan’s style of pragmatism, it underscores the value of unity. Not just unity in politics, but within our community as well.

The moral of the story goes something like this… Republicans who follow the 11th Commandment and refrain from petty schoolyard games, can harness the magic of Reagan.

Conservatism is at its best when Republicans work together.