Posted on 04/05/2007 6:30:42 PM PDT by tcostell
Rudy & the Social Right [Andy McCarthy]
FWIW, I have to agree with Ramesh, Rich and Kathryn on this one. I don't think the Right neatly divides into social and national-security conservatives. There's too much mutual cross-over to fix a hard line. I find myself in that blur, solid on the national-security side and in sync most of the time, but not all, on the social side. Having watched the dynamic for a while, my sense is that it's the socials that drive the movement.
We national-security types tend to be so confident we are right about what needs to be done to protect the country — to the point over over-confidence — that we don't always realize it's not enough to be right. You need to get out and make the case all the time. In this, we're at a distinct disadvantage: the left and its civil libertarian allies are much more attentive, politically attuned and organized. We think it's so obvious that the government has no interest in peeking into your library records, and that it's no big deal if the government, like the credit companies, has access to your financial records, that we never see the blitz coming until it's washing over us. By the time we get out of the batter's box, the left's shock troops already have the media covered in stories about Big Brother and domestic spying. We blithely assume we'll win based on common sense, and we end up playing catch-up, or losing, because the other side is fighting for public opinion before we even realize there's a game on.
Social conservatives are under no such illusion. They're no less sure they have it right than the national-security types, but they've been hammered too long to be under any illusions. Their vision of America is under assault every day, and they know they have to bring it every day just to stay even.
No one on our side, including Rudy, can win without giving social conservatives a reason to believe it's important that he or she wins. Period. They are the thrum that makes this thing go. They'll be steadfast if your disagreements with them are few, principled and coherent; but you can never suggest to them that their issues — which are ingrained to their core — should be subordinated for the sake of something as comparatively trivial as party unity. Our people believe, rightly, that their conception of America is transcendent. It's more important than who is in power. Government does not consume them, and they won't be active unless they are persuaded that a candidate will protect and nurture that conception — not necessarily on every issue, but on the whole.
In 2004, President Bush got the most votes of anyone who ever ran for president in the history of the United States. But Senator Kerry got the second most, and both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are more attractive candidates than Kerry. If social conservatives are not inspired to come out in force in 2008, we lose. It would be madness to tell them that taxpayer funding of abortions, which is a very simple issue of right and wrong, is something they need to move beyond for the good of the team.
Bravo Mr. McCarthy (if you're reading this) You've captured the issue at it's heart. I hope the GOP hears and understands what your saying.
Explains the issue to a T.
Great post.
Their vision of America is under assault every day, and they know they have to bring it every day just to stay even.
I think this pretty much describes everyone I know who is engaged in politics from the right.
And it gets tiring.
I hope so, too...social conservatives, the Religiou Right feel neglected (deservedly so) by the RNC leaders, they are needed to win and can’t be taken for granted as they are now.
Wow, that sums it all up in a neat package with a bow on top!
Yes!
What a battle. This guy sure is down for the fight.
I know its a holiday weekend, but everyone on FR needs to read this post.
Its definitely important and exactly what we have been trying to say.
Wow.
Very insightful little piece.
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No one on our side, including Rudy, can win without giving social conservatives a reason to believe it's important that he or she wins. Period. They are the thrum that makes this thing go. They'll be steadfast if your disagreements with them are few, principled and coherent; but you can never suggest to them that their issues — which are ingrained to their core — should be subordinated for the sake of something as comparatively trivial as party unity. Our people believe, rightly, that their conception of America is transcendent. It's more important than who is in power. Government does not consume them, and they won't be active unless they are persuaded that a candidate will protect and nurture that conception — not necessarily on every issue, but on the whole.
In 2004, President Bush got the most votes of anyone who ever ran for president in the history of the United States. But Senator Kerry got the second most, and both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are more attractive candidates than Kerry. If social conservatives are not inspired to come out in force in 2008, we lose. It would be madness to tell them that taxpayer funding of abortions, which is a very simple issue of right and wrong, is something they need to move beyond for the good of the team.
Wow - to quote My Cousin Vinny, "Dead On Balls Accurate". McCarthy just went up about 10 notches in respect. I'm not that familiar with him, so I may need to read up.
I can't believe there is a member of the conservative media out there who actually gets it. I was really starting to wonder.
Many of his NRO cohorts (KJL - Romney, Ramesh - McCain, Podhoretz - Rudy) apparently do not.
In fact, I read it a couple more times.
Only problem is that it’s not just one issue with Rudy. It’s not just about abortion. There is lot’s of reasons not to like Rudy. And the biggest one is that he can’t win in November.
“you can never suggest to them that their issues — which are ingrained to their core — should be subordinated for the sake of something as comparatively trivial as party unity. Our people believe, rightly, that their conception of America is transcendent. It’s more important than who is in power. Government does not consume them, and they won’t be active unless they are persuaded that a candidate will protect and nurture that conception — not necessarily on every issue, but on the whole.”
Amen.
Times change and the religious right needs to move over. Giuliani represents a new and changed 21st century GOP.
We need to put the compassionate conservative to rest permanently. It was a bad idea. It is like beginning a speech assuring everyone that you are a nice guy. I want a conservative that can articulate without flinching a conservative message on fiscal and social issues. I don’t want another George Bush who starts out accepting the false premises of the left that somehow that typical conservatives are heartless and uncultured. It has got him nothing in the end even the respect he justly deserves on tax cuts and appointing conservative justices.
bttt
...
Our people believe, rightly, that their conception of America is transcendent. It's more important than who is in power.
...
If social conservatives are not inspired to come out in force in 2008, we lose.
Amen to all that!
I just found this Jimrob quote, and it serves well as a bump to this thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1785129/posts?page=156#156
Well, with as many of you guys feverishly pushing for a liberal to be nominated as the Republican nominee, you’ve got to admit that I have a reason to worry. C’mon, the guy’s a gun grabber. Since when do we as conservatives go to bat for gun grabbers? He’s an abortionist! He supports partial birth abortion! I am totally flabbergasted that he gets even the measly 15% of support from the FReepers that he does:
http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=170;results=1
And even more flabbergasted by the very vocal group of Rudy supporters that are blasting our members daily and hammering them over the head with their defenses of his totally indefensible liberal positions. Abortion. Partial birth abortion. Gay unions. Gay rights. Gun control. Illegal immigration. Liberal appointees.
When conservatives argue so forcefully for this liberal bilge water, you’ve got to wonder when did some members of FR make a left turn into la la land.
Yeah, it’s an open market and we definitely have free elections. We’ll wait and see what happens.
May the best conservative win.
But I hope and pray we don’t go with the liberal superstar. I’d like to think we’re smarter and more capable than that... and that we learn from recent mistakes. Hello Arnie.
156 posted on 02/15/2007 12:41:15 AM PST by Jim Robinson (”Electable” gave us Gerald Ford and Bob Dole. Voting for the right-wing kook gave us Reagan. ~ A.C.)
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Times change and the religious right needs to move over. Giuliani represents a new and changed 21st century GOP.
Welcome to the 40% GOP, where they have to keep moving left in order to keep up with the Democrats.
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