As the 2024 Republican primary contest heats up, one is reminded of Phyllis Schlafly’s famed apologia for Barry Goldwater’s 1964 presidential candidacy, A Choice Not an Echo. In this canonical text of movement conservatism, the title of which is a phrase of Goldwater’s, Schlafly implored the GOP to challenge the status quo. Her words still resonate in our present moment and could find a reflection in one potential candidate — former New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
In 2016, Christie was a sideshow at best — a kamikaze candidate whose only accomplishments included bulldozing Trump’s rivals, like Marco Rubio, and who ultimately legitimated Trump. But not this time around. As the governor toys with jumping into the race, he stands out as a call to ditch the spectacle of the Trumpian establishment. Christie’s chances of securing the Republican nomination are, by all accounts, a long shot. But in a field of echoes, his voice is impossible to ignore.
Consider Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and other prospective candidates. They are savvy politicians, no doubt, but their approach to handling the Trump question is akin to a delicate ballet. Christie, on the other hand, confronts the issue head-on, in his familiar style, unafraid of the political tremors it might cause.
This doesn’t mean that Christie is serving up the same critique one might hear from Rachel Maddow or Adam Kinzinger. He has demonstrated a willingness to point out Trump’s failures in delivering to conservative voters, like his unfulfilled promises to build a wall on our southern border, repeal Obamacare, and reduce ballooning national debt.
Admittedly, DeSantis has hit Trump from the right, but his punches often fail to leave a mark. While he occasionally indirectly takes aim at Trump’s shortcomings and responds to his attacks, sometimes he attacks Trump for the wrong reasons. He’s also tried to woo the intellectual expositors of Trumpism, resulting in a precarious dance that is more of an echo than a voice.
This gambit hasn’t paid off, at least not yet. The Republican base is not a monolith of Trumpism, and many conservatives still support limited government, fiscal conservatism, and individual liberties. And in the general election, tethering oneself to populist nationalism, as evidenced by the lackluster performance of its proponents in the 2022 midterms, seems more like a gamble than a strategic move.
Chris Christie might be an improbable contender, and his baggage is well-known. But his willingness to face the elephant in the room — Trump’s lingering influence — could prove catalytic for the GOP. His choice to challenge, question, and critique is a stark departure from the echoes in the room and a testament to the enduring relevance of Schlafly’s entreaty. If nothing else, it may be the spark needed to ignite a new debate about the party’s future and core values, a conversation that may ultimately lead to a stronger, more united GOP.