Understand both sides
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — People sometimes ask former CIA agent and frequent FOX News commentator Mike Baker what they should read or watch to stay informed.
His response to this question may have come as a bit of a surprise to some of the roughly 350 Lincoln Day Dinner guests in The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday evening.
"My answer is 'basically everything.' Read and listen to everything," said Baker, who lives in Idaho. "Don’t limit yourself to one source of news or information. Even if it’s frustrating, even if getting outside that means you feel like you want to bang your head against the wall, you have to understand what the other side — those with a different opinion — you have to understand what they’re saying. You have to understand how they phrase an argument. You have to understand what they consider to be the truth.
"If you don’t do that, then you can’t properly defend your own positions,” Baker continued. "You can’t talk to others and convince them in a rational, civil manner if you don’t understand where they’re standing. And sometimes, honestly it looks like, nowadays, it’s trench warfare. It’s WWI all over again. Two sides sitting in their trenches, nobody wants to get out.
"But if we do that, if we understand — I’m not saying agree with them. I mean, disagree civilly — but I’m saying you have to understand what they’re thinking."
The charismatic Baker was the keynote speaker during the dinner, which serves as the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee's main annual fundraiser to support Republican candidates.
Baker touched on several topics during his dynamic, hour-and-a-half-long speech, including Russian meddling in world affairs, China's theft of American and allied intellectual property, the American economy, North Korea, President Donald Trump's accomplishments since being elected, shortcomings of President Barack Obama's presidency, foreign policy, stomping out the ISIS ideology and much more.
He made a point to discuss President Abraham Lincoln, for whom the event is named, and share a reminder that one of the greatest presidents faced the greatest challenges.
"We're here to celebrate the legacy of one of this nation's top public servants," Baker said. "President Lincoln served during the most tumultuous juncture in our history. His belief in the Union, his faith in God and in the Constitution, his ability to influence, negotiate and compromise when necessary and his unwavering strength of character and his honesty literally held this nation together."
He said even though Lincoln was surrounded by enemies, skeptics and a hostile press, he found a way to work with others.
"Conviction, strength, a belief in civil discourse, humor, humility — it was a powerful combination of virtues and characteristics," Baker said.
He said this is a big year for Republicans, especially considering that the left side is expecting a "blue tsunami" to take over in November.
"We could choose to be complacent and sit on the sidelines. We could be happy with the way things have been while an energized and Democratic party drives a continuing narrative of an inevitable win," he said. "Or we can be focused and engaged.
"You have a responsibility to participate, to convince others to participate, and without a record turnout in November, I'm telling you there is every chance that Ms. (Nancy) Pelosi and one of her cohorts will be in charge of the House come November," he continued. "It's an uphill battle … Participate in the process, do so with civility and with respect to all sides."