A New Way Forward for America

Ex-Congressman to ‘Rally’ Chamber

Former U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson has been a busy man since leaving Congress last year, but he will find time to address the Chamber’s next breakfast meeting on May 30 and discuss his latest book.

“I believe this will be my fifth time appearing before the Chamber,” said Gibson, a Kinderhook Republican who retired from Congress to enter academia. “It’s a great privilege and honor. I very much enjoy the audience interaction.

“I always know I’m in a room with strong leaders when I’m there because they’re leading the economy and I really look forward to the opportunity.”

The breakfast, sponsored by Begnal Motors, is scheduled for 7:30-9 a.m. at the Best Western Plus in Kingston. Things may go longer than advertised, though, as Gibson has promised to stay and sign copies of his book, “Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream,” which will be free to breakfast attendees.

The book has drawn rave reviews on such sites as Amazon and Goodreads. Former U.S. Attorney General Ed Meese calls it a “fresh and compelling vision for our country—a must-read.”

The five tasks Gibson outlines in his book include:

• Strengthening national security.

• Restoring founding principles.

• Promoting a flourishing life.

• Keeping faith.

• Unifying and growing the movement. “What I present is really a review of founding principles and make the argument that through that perspective, we can actually find a way forward in the 21st Century,” Gibson said. “This is a way of applying the lessons of the past to help us come together as a people to solve the major problems of our time.”

“I think it’s really important to embrace these founding principles because they really helped our country. Our country was really very diverse from the outset.”

Gibson said America in the late 18th Century featured diverse economies and perspectives on a number of issues. “But by committing to the Constitution, which itself was a compromise, it helped bring

our people together and helped them make decisions and sort their way through the major issues in a way that still kept us unified,” Gibson said. “At a time when we’re so highly divided in our country, I make the point that this tried and true approach has worked for our nation in the past and, quite frankly, we have walked away from it.”

Gibson argues in the book that we don’t enact major political change that way anymore. The last two decades have seen change by fiat and executive orders and actions.

“This is not just President Trump,” Gibson said. “This is also presidents Obama and George W. Bush. That has exacerbated the divide in our nation.”

Gibson argues for a flourishing economy, “where every American has the opportunity to rise to their God-given potential.” He also calls for a return to faith—“not just in God, but in ourselves.”

“Increasingly Americans are throwing their hands up thinking that we can’t fix this,” he said. “They’re losing faith in our ability to be self-governing and that’s a particular concern of mine. We need to keep faith in our exceptional way of life and our ability to be self-governing.”

Gibson, who served in Congress from 2011 to 2017, said he plans to talk for 20 to 25 minutes and then take questions.

The audience may be surprised about the decorated war hero’s position on the new omnibus spending bill, which dramatically increases military spending.

Gibson, in his book, advocates for a $25 billion to $30 billion increase in military spending to $625 billion to $630 billion overall.

“Quite frankly, I think they overshot the target here,” Gibson said. “What they just enacted went over $700 billion. I don’t think that was all necessary. I didn’t support that bill. I would have been a no.”

Gibson’s book also discusses the crushing national debt, which has reached $21 trillion. He noted that he worked to help reduce the annual budget deficit from $1.5 trillion the year before he was elected to $400 billion by the time he left office.

“We’re on track to double the deficit now by next year,” Gibson said. “I’m paying very close attention to this. I say that that deficit and the debt are a national security threat.”

Gibson fears the annual budget deficit could exceed $1 trillion again.

“We can’t sustain this,” he said. “We have to be able to balance our budgets. Whatever we argue for and debate, we ultimately have to pay for.”

Gibson, who normally addressed the Chamber each January to present a legislative update, said he is “not likely” to discuss the 19th Congressional District race between his successor, U.S. Rep. John Faso, and a crowded field of Democratic challengers.

“I don’t really think that’s in good form,” he said. “I can talk to the overarching political dynamic. I certainly can do that and talk about where we are as a nation and where we are in our politics and our policy.”

Gibson recently agreed to chair the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro, the Dutchess County executive. As for returning to politics himself, Gibson does not close the door. “Well, we’ll see,” Gibson said. Gibson, the Stanley Kaplan Distinguished Visiting Professor of American Foreign Policy at Williams College since last year, is committed to that post until the summer of 2019—when his youngest child graduates high school.

“I’ve said that’s another opportunity for us to take a look at and make a decision as to where we go next year,” Gibson said. “Whether or not I sign on and stay in academia will be a decision for the future, or whether or not we get back in national leadership in some form or another, that’s another possibility. But that’s a decision for the future, not for today.”

The 54-year-old Gibson served 24 years in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of colonel after attending Sienna College. He was deployed seven times, including four combat tours in Iraq.

Gibson, who also holds a doctorate in government from Cornell and also taught American politics at West Point, was awarded the Purple Heart, four Bronze Stars and many other medals during his military career.

In 2008, Gibson published his first book, “Securing the State.”

Chamber breakfast programs are a great way to network with other local business leaders and stay on top of current events. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. For more information or to register, call the Chamber at (845) 338-5100 or go online at www.ulsterchamber.org.