Small Government Principles Key To Republican Revival
While many Democrats saw their sweeping victories last fall as the sign of a new era of liberal ascendancy, polling taken then and since shows that despite Barack Obama’s brief period of popularity, America remains a center-right nation. Conservatives outnumber liberals in every state, with nearly twice as many Americans identifying as conservative than as liberal. If Republicans could hold those conservative voters and bring in just over one-third of moderates, they would win the same popular vote majority Democrats received that fall.
But, up until quite recently (like, um, last month), Republicans have had a problem not just with moderates, but also with conservatives. Many just weren’t convinced we would stand up for any of the principles near and dear to their hearts.
As Michael Barone explains there “are more conservatives than Republicans“. That expression alone explains why Republicans have had such difficulty the last two election cycles. Not all conservatives (including a number of very good bloggers ) don’t consider themselves Republican and have regularly (indeed quite frequently during W’s second term) expressed their displeasure with the GOP.
For at least the past six months, since the first Tea Parties in February, growing numbers of Americans have publicly expressed their opposition to increased government spending, a concern the Democratic presidential candidate tapped into in his successful bid for the White House. With a Republican President and Congress not holding the line on spending, many of those conservatives become disenchanted with the GOP and either didn’t bother to vote or registered their disapproval by pulling the lever for a Third Party candidate or even the Democrat. (In 2008, Obama got 20% of the conservative vote, up from John Kerry’s 15% four years previously.)
By building on what Peter Wehner and Michael Gerson call the “durable national consensus hold[ing] that American interests are served by the promotion of free trade and classical liberal ideas” that Republicans can hold onto the conservative base while winning back many of the moderates they lost in the last four years and so recapture the majority.
In a piece just published in Commentary, Wehner and Gerson find that President Obama, “by indulging his seemingly limitless faith in the power of government to solve every human ill.” has given the GOP a path to revival.
To be sure, this is not all they say is essential to Republican rebuilding. They also believe Republicans need “put forth a comprehensive reform agenda,” continue to promote a strong national defense, reach out to Hispanics and address “issues of social justice from a conservative perspective.” Importantly, our party needs new strategies to address an electorate than has changed since the Gipper’s heyday:
The need of the moment is not for greater “ideological purity” (a phrase which Reagan himself abhorred) but for greater clarity; not for louder voices but for more thoughtful and persuasive ones; not for retrenchment but for outreach; not for building a bridge to the past but for creativity and innovation for the moment and for the future.
With polls showing a growing distaste for big government and a solid conservative plurality, Republicans have great opportunity to recover from the losses of the preceding two election cycles. The essence of that revival means a return to the principles of Ronald Reagan, but with an approach suited to our times.
In a certain sense, the Gipper brought to our party the ideas which transformed it and made it (all too briefly, alas!) the majority party. His ideas reshaped the GOP. Now, we need leaders to communicate those ideas to the American people.
Make sure to read Wehner and Gerson’s piece. Print it out as I did and consider carefully what they have to say. Should leaders of our party be able in implement the suggestions they offer, just over three years hence, Democrats will feel as we did just shy of ten months ago.
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So tell me. What does it mean to be a conservative, if you vote for Kerry and Obama? Maybe the lesson here is that a surprisingly large number of people may self-identify as conservatives when in fact, they simply are not conservative, not by any definition either you or I would use.
Which means that the 2:1 conservative:liberal polling may not reflect reality.
Comment by Tano — August 21, 2009 @ 9:08 pm - August 21, 2009
I have always been a true mainline conservative, Unfortunately, so called “social conservatives” which are really big-government types, have hijacked our Republican party. As long as people see the Republican as being owned by the fundamentalists, we will remain a majority.
Recently, while sitting in the barber chair, I saw O’Reilly on TV haranging “left-wing gay activists” about their oppostition to DADT. Hey, wait a minute . . . . I’m not left-wing, and I’m not an activist! But somehow that’s how it has become in the public arena.
How can we take back our Grand Old Party from the minority fundamentalists who hijacked the party two decades ago? How can we free good intelligent republicans from having to kowtow to these people? Surely many republican elected officials are embarrassed about having to beg for their approval.
The fundamentalists earned their seat at the table by organizing, by working at the precinct level, and by volunteering and writing checks.
We need to do the same.
Comment by Man — August 21, 2009 @ 9:15 pm - August 21, 2009
Sorry should have said ” . . . we will remain a minority.”
Comment by Man — August 21, 2009 @ 9:17 pm - August 21, 2009
Tano, good question. Maybe some people self-identify as conservative but vote Democrat. But, then again, vote that W got 13% of the liberal vote, 3 points more than McCain did last year.
That said, I do know some conservative-inclined people who voted against W because he rubbed them the wrong way and for Obama because he rubbed them the right way.
So, maybe a certain percentage of conservatives regularly voted Democratic (just as a certain percentage of liberals vote Republican), thus the GOP will have to win a slightly larger share (just shy of 40%) of moderates.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — August 21, 2009 @ 9:24 pm - August 21, 2009
The word “conservative” is essentially meaningless because it stands for two radically opposed ideas. (1) The idea that ordinary people are not fit for self rule and must be governed by elites; and (2) the idea that the government is best that governs least, thus leaving ordinary people alone because they are entirely fit to rule their own lives.
The first definition was dominant in the 19th century and still has some sway with regard to social conservatives, who think that women and minority members need to be ruled by men or by their superiors = nativist white people.
No self-respecting conservative of the second sort (the sort that was properly called “liberal” in the 19th century) would have anything to do with those of the first sort, who were extra good at telling ordinary people how to live.
Conservatives of the first sort routinely thought that gay behaviors should be criminalized. Don’t forget it!
Any honest conservative of the second sort would have nothing to do with today’s GOP, which has devolved into the Confederate Party.
The reason there are more conservatives than republicans is that most of the conservatives of the second sort have quite properly left the GOP and are finding their way into other political groupings, e.g., libertarian party or conservative democrats.
Conservative Gays should now leave the GOP. Let the dead bury the dead. Lots of room elsewhere, where you can escape being hounded by the haters, gay bashers and out and out nutcases.
Comment by ljwaks — August 21, 2009 @ 10:12 pm - August 21, 2009
wow, ljwaks, with such great knowledge about conservatism, you remain incredibly ignorant of the modern GOP.
If you think the GOP has devolved into the Confederate Party, you get all yours news about us from the MSM and left-wing blogs.
And what should conservative gays leave the GOP when many of us are trying to transform it from within–to make it more amenable to Reagan-style conservatism (or did you even read the post to which you attach your comment?) Oh, I’ve been out and in GOP circles for 14 years now and haven’t been hounded or hated, but welcomed.
So, learn a little more about the way the GOP actually is before you slime in. And read the posts to which you attach your comments.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — August 21, 2009 @ 10:18 pm - August 21, 2009
#5 – “Lots of room elsewhere, where you can escape being hounded by the haters, gay bashers and out and out nutcases.”
Uh, ljwaks, not to disillusion you, but I am more warmly greeted in my GOP circles than I am at my local gay bars.
Try again.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — August 21, 2009 @ 10:51 pm - August 21, 2009
Are you drunk, high or just stupid? Seriously.
Which is the party who ran Sarah Palin, who is more “ordinary people” than just about any politician in the past 50 years, and which is the party that smeared, mocked and viciously attacked her more than any politician in memory PRECISELY BECAUSE she was not “elite” enough???
Holy cow you libtards are utterly blind to your own rank hypocrisy aren’t you? You dont even know who YOU are, let alone anyone else.
LIBERALS are the ones who, at the very core of their beings, that people (all people, but especially minorities) are too stupid to do things for themselves and must have benevolent dictators to decide FOR them — what cars they can have, where they should live, what health insurance they should have, what it should cover, how much it should cost, how much people should make, what products they can buy, what foods they can eat, etc, etc, etc, ad infinitum…
And you are absolutely correct that no self respecting conservative WOULD have anything to do with you dictatorial liberals! Other than to boot your fascist asses out of office, I certainly wont!
Comment by American Elephant — August 21, 2009 @ 11:23 pm - August 21, 2009
ooops, that should read
LIBERALS are the ones who believe
Comment by American Elephant — August 21, 2009 @ 11:24 pm - August 21, 2009
What does it mean to be a conservative, if you vote for Kerry and Obama?
It means you’re too trusting.
As I stated earlier today, Obama ran on this:
– Tax cuts
– Spending cuts
– Personal responsibility for morality
– Reducing abortions
– Against mandates for health insurance
– Prosecuting those who don’t pay taxes and should
In contrast, what is Obama doing in office?
– Tax increases
– Spending increases
– Government programs as morality
– Government funding and promotion of abortions
– Mandates to buy health insurance
– Appointing those who don’t pay their taxes and should to Cabinet and key advisory positions.
They took Obama at his word. That was a mistake. But people learn from their mistakes, sometimes the hard way.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — August 21, 2009 @ 11:34 pm - August 21, 2009
Hey ljwaks, put the pipe down, pick up a phone and dial 1-800-468-6933. Seriously. When you get cleaned up, let us know.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — August 22, 2009 @ 4:36 am - August 22, 2009
Dan, re: #6, and Peter re: #7, I too find it easier being gay among Republicans than Republican among gays.
Comment by Pink Elephant — August 22, 2009 @ 10:57 am - August 22, 2009
#8 is a perfect example of why the Republican party is viewed negatively by some. Free the party from haters like American Elephant and you may again have something to offer the United States of America. We who value freedom and justice know that those such as he/she/it, who are totally consumed by their hatred of others are a threat to all this country stands for. It is true that their are hateful people on both sides and they are equally dangerous to our country. But while conservatives run around like chickens with their heads cut off screeching about socialism etc., they remain in complete denial of the obscenity that has grown and will continue to grow in their midst, ultimately to overpower any rational voice in the GOP. You ignore this plague at your own peril.
These words have never been more true:
“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross” Sinclair Lewis
Dan, you are a voice of reason (most of the time) and your various posts on conservative ideals and the Republican party are filled with excellent thoughts. Perhaps if there were more like you and less like the thugs who spew venom against ALL liberals, Democrats and well actually, anyone who doesn’t agree with them, the party would have a chance. Obama is handing you 2010, don’t let the fanatics destroy the opportunity.
Comment by a different Dave — August 22, 2009 @ 8:09 pm - August 22, 2009
oops, “there are” not “their are”
Comment by a different Dave — August 22, 2009 @ 8:11 pm - August 22, 2009
Free the party from haters like American Elephant and you may again have something to offer the United States of America.
Or, in other words, get rid of the people who not only know the difference between right and wrong, but are willing to stand up and say something about it.
This doesn’t surprise anyone; after all, when adDave is confronted with gays molesting and sexualizing children, his response is not to attack them, but to attack those who point it out as “haters”. Instead of dealing with the problem, he tries to silence and destroy anyone who would dare point it out.
All I can say is this; if adDave thinks GPW is the type who will set aside his principles to get along, he has seriously misread GPW — who I also know from personal experience is very aware of what happens when one does that.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — August 22, 2009 @ 9:03 pm - August 22, 2009
#13 – “These words have never been more true:
“When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross” Sinclair Lewis”
Here’s my revised interpretation:
When fascism comes to America, it will be flanked by an ACORN and carrying a crescent.
Checkmate.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — August 23, 2009 @ 3:28 pm - August 23, 2009
NDT – there’s the difference between you and Dan. He has principles, you have none. There is nothing you will not lie about and few you won’t malign. I don’t suggest at all that he set aside his principles for it is exactly those which could save the GOP and show this country that real conservatives have a lot to offer the USA. Bottom feeding hate spewing people like you and AE are dragging it down. You are not pointing out anything that is “wrong” or demonstrating that you have a clue what right is all you are doing is condemning innocent people for the actions of the few.
Wrong as usual, I have no desire to silence those like you I would like all to see the vile darkness that is at the heart of some who call themselves conservative.
Comment by a different Dave — August 23, 2009 @ 6:24 pm - August 23, 2009
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