Posted on 08/03/2006 8:00:37 PM PDT by SmithL
I remember hearing something that President Ronald Reagan once (well, actually, a lot more than once) said. He described it as the "Eleventh Commandment" of GOP politics: "Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican."
The point behind this Reagan quote is the topic of this week's commentary.
Here of late, in Tennessee's GOP U.S. Senatorial primary, it seems that this "political commandment" has been thrown to the wolves. Not a day goes by that I don't see, hear and/or read one of the top three GOP contenders doing a little morality sniping at one or both of the others. There are times when it seems that the Bryant and Hilleary camps, while I'm not accusing them of working together, are double-teaming Corker's campaign.
All of the polls that I've viewed have Corker as the leading contender to come out of this fracas wearing Tennessee's GOP Senate primary crown. If, as the polls predict, Corker wins, it will be very interesting to see how his primary opponents, if they are so inclined to do so, "kiss and make up" with him after August 3rd.
(Please note that I am not prophesying that Bob Corker is THE winner. I will quickly and freely acknowledge that polls are measures of potentialities, not absolute predictors. Just ask the ghost of Thomas Dewey.)
I also wonder how much of their intra-party accusations, finger pointing, situational interpretation, innuendo and malice aforethought will reappear in November's general election. Without doing any research or making a single phone call, I have no doubt that the most likely nominee from Tennessee's Democratic Party, Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., has a crew of people taking notes. They're probably giddy with joy about how easy this GOP mud slinging has made their general election preparation.
Getting back to the GOP side of the primary, how can anyone who has been watching what's been going on take seriously any post-August 3rd show of unity should Bryant and/or Hilleary make a public declaration of their support for Corker's general election candidacy?
I've seen other politicians pull it off with a believable performance after both close and lopsided losses. Maybe it was the character of their campaigns that made it possible to accept their "all is forgiven and now we're the best of political party buddies and I want you to vote for my new best friend" public display of political affection. Somehow, I just don't think I could believe it this time.
Not for one minute do I suspect that the second and third place finishers in the GOP primary will brazenly continue to publicly filet the winner. There will undoubtedly be honorable concession speeches and a strong urging of the party faithful to stay the course with the GOP nominee. However, I really don't expect there to be a three way hand holding session after the concession remarks. For that matter, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if neither Bryant nor Hilleary appeared as a part of any campaign event dealing with Tennessee's U.S. Senate race.
Of course, there is a strong likelihood that they or their words might make a few unwanted guest appearances in some of Ford's campaign ads.
There are a couple of disclaimers or bits of information I need to share with you. This commentary should not be considered as being an endorsement of Bob Corker or an attempt to speak against Bryant or Hilleary. Neither should it be viewed as an endorsement or bashing of the Ford campaign. If by some chance, any of you believe you have me pegged as one of those "left wing/right wing, liberal/conservative media types" who has spent his adult years gleefully going about trashing Republican or Democratic candidates, you're wrong. I'm just doing a little "wondering out loud."
Yeah, well when you have RHINOs running amoke, commandments go out the window.
Commandments go out the window and DINOS come in.
Don't forget to tell those DINOs you created them.
If you liked RINOs you will love DINOs.
There is a freeper who must fancy himself some sort of Reagan fan by adopting a variation of his name, and he trashes Republicans regularly, saying they deserve it.
We shouldn't be surprised when other RINO's do the same.
Is there such a beast? I have yet to see one since Zel left the party.
A: A twelve year old who is up past his bedtime.
Ben Nelson from NE is more conservative than many Repubs, including his counterpart, Hagel.
Maybe the Republicans deserve to be, in your words, "trashed".
Though I'd bet that this "Reagan fan" (ReaganMan?) might use a different verb.
ReaganMan...Pinged per FR's posting rules.
Well, then, vote for him if you think he's such a hot commodity.
But, when he starts voting for tax increases, troop withdrawals, and more regulation on business, don't come whining to me. It'll happen, they always do it to keep with the party line.
Here in FL we have the other Nelson(Bill), and he does the same thing.
No the time to fight is in the primary season, as it always has been.
Related?
Don't think so, but they vote the same way, apart from the few times when Ben Nelson votes with us.
Thanks, I'd forgotton his name.
I'm sure he'll come and re-inforce the point I made.
Gee, don`t remember RR bad mouthing Rinos. Of course, Mr. Reagan knew the Rats are worse.
I do remember that Reagan ran against a sitting Republican president in 1976.
Yeah, I agree, the bashing by some conservatives toward so-called RINOs has gotten a little out of hand. I'm sure I'll get flamed for saying so, but whatever. Strom Thurmond types will never win in New England. I'll take the likes of Snowe and Collins and Specter over a Dem-controlled Senate any day.
I keep reminding people that Reagan did not create the phrase, the Eleventh Commandment. Instead it came about during his 1966 run for the California Governorship.
"The personal attacks against me during the primary finally became so heavy that the state Republican chairman, Gaylord Parkinson, postulated what he called the Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since."
Reagan actually broke his own rule when he ran against PresFord for the GOP nomination in 1976. Reagan criticized Ford during the primary season, and right up through and including the GOP convention. Reagan was a gentleman and he wanted everyone to like him, but when the chips were on the table Reagan was a tough SOB. Ford found that out in 1976 and George Bush found out how tough Reagan was in the 1980 campaign for President.
Btw, as you well know, I only criticize Republicans when they stray from the conservative course. I also don't think liberal Republicans are good for the GOP. Especially two liberals by the names of Schwarzenegger and Giuliani. Liberal Republicans are the antithesis of conservatism and need to be excommunicated from the GOP.
Sure Reagan ran against Ford, but he didn`t say he would not support him in the fall. In fact , Ronnie worked hard for Ford.
I concur.
Especially two liberals by the names of Schwarzenegger and Giuliani.
I again concur.
Liberal Republicans are the antithesis of conservatism and need to be excommunicated from the GOP.
I, Jemmy Madison, Thomas J and RR concur.
Watch now, they'll come in and tell me that Madison and Mr. J were not Republicans. Of course, they were not. They were republicans.
I admire you, Reagan Man, because you are immune to peer pressure.
In 2004 I voted for GWB, but against Arlen Specter and there is not an argument in the world that could convince me to do otherwise. Obviously Reagan believed that some office holding Republicans should be defeated, thus his run against Ford.
Thanks. Hopefully that last remark won't be the kiss of death for you. Its appreciated nonetheless. We republicans have to stick together.
Right on comment!
Don`t kid yourself, a vote for a third party is both thrown away and a vote for the RATS.
I agree. RINOs are ruining the party. The people respond to conservative ideas not watered down consevatism.
I expect RINOs in New England not in the heart of red state country
*mcCaIN* *mcCain*
Ahh, my throat is clear now.
Check his posts.
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