Inglis: Conservatives Must Return to Optimism

Outgoing Rep. Bob Inglis, R-S.C., believes conservatism has turned a bit negative and must return to the more positive brand practiced by former President Ronald Reagan. In an interview on CNN, Inglis called for a "credible conservative" movement that doesn't focus on "hatred" of President Barack Obama, The Hill reports.

Inglis was trounced in a June primary runoff by staunch conservative Trey Gowdy, who went on to win the 4th District last month. "We'll get through and we'll get back to optimistic conservatism," Inglis says. "We just got to get through this unfortunate period."

He says his campaign suffered by not going after Obama. "I don't call him a socialist because he's not," Inglis says. "I don't doubt that he was born in Hawaii because he was. I don't call him a Muslim because he says he's a Christian. And I didn't say anything about death panels because there weren't any in that health care bill."