Posted on 10/19/2009 4:04:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
Given the public disenchantment with voter-ignoring, big-government-loving Democrats in Congress and The White House, next year’s elections could do much to restore some measure of fiscal sanity and common sense to Washington. But that will happen only if Republican leaders and grassroots Tea Party activists work together effectively. How – and whether – the two reconcile their different priorities and views will have profound consequences for any effort to beat back the Democratic vision of an ever-expanding, ever-more-intrusive federal government.
In recent days, there have been news reports about growing tensions between the Tea Partiers and GOP leaders. That’s understandable, because their priorities and motivations differ. While Tea Partiers are passionate activists committed above all to smaller government and (often) traditional social values, GOP leaders’ primary commitment is to winning seats for the party. But for a partnership to work, both sides will have to grow up.
Let’s start with the party leaders. No doubt there are places where conservative Republicans simply cannot win – in many parts of the Northeast, for example. But occasionally, there’s a laziness problem. Party leaders fail to examine the available alternatives or think about new and exciting candidates. Often, they settle on the candidate with the highest office or the most name identification at an early stage in the process, ignoring lesser-knowns who might be able to ignite real enthusiasm among the electorate in an off-year election. For example, in a year like this one, where anti-government sentiment runs high, it was a real mistake for the NRSC prematurely to endorse Governor Charlie Crist in Florida’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, completely overlooking former Speaker Marco Rubio, who has taken the race by storm.
Nor should party leaders use candidate selection as a covert way to impose their own political preferences on the local electorate. Sometimes, GOP leaders are more moderate than the mass of Republican voters in their area. Seeing newly-minted activists through the more “sophisticated” eyes of political pros, they are occasionally suspicious of, or even appalled by, their rawness and undiluted conservatism. Some are even ashamed of them.
It’s worth asking whether that dynamic was at work in upstate New York, where GOP elders in a conservative-leaning district selected as their congressional candidate a person with pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, pro-stimulus views, who favored making it easier for unions to organize as a Republican congressional candidate. (She has subsequently been endorsed by the NRCC.) Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, one of the local party chairmen involved in the decision dismissively characterized the other, more conservative potential candidate as “unelectable” because he “uniformly stands for all the conservative values of the far right.”
No doubt there are times and places when the official’s assessment (however inartfully phrased) could be true. But surely there are more respectful and responsive ways to handle those delicate situations – especially in a district that’s been 60%+ Republican over the last decade. And there’s a world of difference between choosing an “electable” candidate and selecting one who is essentially a “slap in the face” to the party’s most hardworking, passionate constituency.
On the other hand, Tea Partiers need to be realistic, and understand the limitations of political passion and zeal. Plenty of congressional districts wouldn’t support even a second Ronald Reagan, simply because they are irremediably liberal. Rather than allowing the “best” to become the enemy of the “good enough,” activists could best further their cause by supporting the most conservative candidate who can win, rather than the most conservative candidate, period – when it means that candidate will surely lose.
Those who oppose such a course are prone to claim that insufficiently conservative Republicans are the functional equivalent of Democrats. But they are wrong, for one fundamental reason. Compared to the status quo, every Republican – of whatever stripe – who heads to Washington next year will ultimately empower the most fiscally-responsible wing of the party. After all, it wasn’t the election of far-left liberals, like Charlie Rangel in the House or Ted Kennedy in the Senate, who brought Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to power. Rangel and Kennedy had been in Washington forever. Rather, it was the Democratic “moderates” from battleground districts and states in 2006 and 2008 – people like Congressman Heath Shuler (D-NC) and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) – who ultimately handed the far-left Democratic congressional leadership the majorities needed to enact its agenda.
Let’s have no illusions. It’s predictable that, on occasion, Tea Partiers and Republican leaders will find themselves at odds. After all, they serve different functions and hold different priorities. But with good will and a commitment to fairness that builds trust on both sides, most disagreements can be resolved. That’s especially true when both sides remember that there is so much more that unites than divides them – above all, a commitment to returning government to its rightful place in American life, where it serves citizens rather than vice-versa.
Political power without principles is worthless. But principles alone – devoid of any political power to defend or enact them – don’t achieve much, either. If Tea Partiers and GOP leaders find a way to work together – with respect on both sides and without fear or suspicion on either – that will be the best test of whether a commitment to principle, rather than just petulance or the quest for pure power, is each side’s driving force.
I hope the ron-bots who handed the election to the TOTUS-reading socialist are reading.
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
The people at the top better wake up before they force the Republican party on to the ash-heap of history.
especially the part where principles alone don’t achieve anything
sarc
What republican party!!!!
Have to read the whole thing later after work. But I reject that premise. "Tea Party People," whatever that is suppose to mean, want to win elections too! They want to see those seats filled with the right people!! So, it's not like "Tea Party People" is just this dumb group of folks banging on pots and pans,, too dumb to understand elections matter! Too dumb to realize winning seats in an election makes a difference!
Also,, the GOP's primary purpose, I am sorry, should not be to win seats! Maybe I am off here! I understand the importance of winning seats! We're no good if we lose seats, but a party has to stand for something! If your primary goal in life is to just win seats, then lets just dissolve the two party system, join the Democrats and we'll win seats every freakin election!! The first goal and purpose of a party should be to push an agenda. To push your principles and values. Then you plan your strategies around that! If your first purpose is to just win seats, you will sell your principles down the drain the first opportunity you get just so you can win that seat! And what good is that seat if the person filling it sides with the enemy!! That is the problem right now with the GOP!9/12March
More often than not, when the phrase “you need to grow up” is used on any person other than a child, what the phrase really means is that you should just bend over and stop resisting other people’s attempts to screw you over. Were the American Revolutionaries being babies when they fought the British?
The GOP style of "winning" elections doesn't win elections, witness 2006 and 2008, not to mention the squeaker in 2000 and a not great showing in 2004.
I will vote conservative and hopefully some will run in 2012. The only people who need to grow up are the GOP leaders who need to realize that they only way they will EVER win another election is to run conservative candidates.
If they want to keep their base they had better wake up and grow up.
Is that like reaching across the aisle to "my friends"? No more Juan Mccains!
Republicans acting like Democrats lite is why the last two elections went Democrat. They totally turned off conservatives and why vote for a wannabe when you can vote for the real thing.
The country is going bankrupt quickly. The return of Democrat lite will not save the day or the country.
Either we change course substantially or we go down with the ship.
both sides will have to grow up.
It assumes the writer's superiority to the rest of the "rabble" and is very off putting.
Carol Platt Liebau, you seem to miss the point all together. When both parties fail to serve the people it is time to get rid on them both.
There is going to be hell to pay in the future and I see no way of avoiding it.
Where was the GOP when our men and women in Iraq were being accused of murdering and terrorizing innocent civilians? Where was the GOP when we kept phoning and writing about the out of control spending? Where was the GOP when liars, criminals and tax evaders were populating this administration?
Where was the GOP when political ammunition was being handed them on a silver platter and they stood by and DID NOTHING? I’ll tell you where they were, they were busy “reaching across the aisle” and appeasing instead of standing for what is right and best for the country and representing their constituents instead of DOING NOTHING. SILENCE.
Now our men are being chopped up in Afghanistan and they DO NOTHING when they should be shouting from the rooftops about reenforcements and a PLAN FOR VICTORY. Hey, these are OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS (husbands, wives, friends, extended family, etc.) over there dammit, while this POS “leader” sits on his hands DOING NOTHING but flitting around the country and WORLD aggrandizing himself. Meeting one time with the general in charge in 70 DAYS and the country averts its eyes, disgraceful and inexcusable. There will be an accounting of these cowards by the parents and loved ones of those stepping up to the plate putting their very lives on the line for their country, it will take some time but we will do it. You don’t have to have an overwhelming majority to do what’s right but you do have to DO SOMETHING.
I’m not part of the GOP anymore.
Some good points, however; I don’t think that the GOP is interested in the small town conservative. As is pointed out they want to win seats. I personally don’t care of the GOP ever wins another seat if it is not a conservative seat. I wont vote for expedience - the guy or gal running MUST be conservative. And the tag line says the rest
All great change in America begins at the dinner table. - Ronald Reagan
Yeah, just like Arlen Specter and Jim Jeffords!
We get this, and Carol completely misunderstands the angst of the Tea Party movement if you think there's a “partnership” to simply work out. Keep thinking that way and you'll soon understand. We're more than willing to concede a few battles to win the war and that RNC and NRCC supported candidate in NY will soon find out.
Before I get labeled a "Ron-bot", I did not support him and do not support him. That said, of the R's, he's certainly one of the better ones!
Sorry. The people are growing up! See,, this is a subtle insult to the people of this nation that are waking up and getting involved! Some for the very first time in their lives! What is the root of this story???!! The root?! It is the same old message!! The GOP and the "Tea Party People" need to get it together and just "win seats!" In other words,, you Tea Party People need to shut up and work with the GOP cause they are the ones focusing on winning seats! 9/12March
Wrong. Compromise and "electable" candidates are what got us into the current mess we find ourselves in.
And what are those great points? Tell us....
Is this the best response that the GOP has for supporting Scozzafava and Crist? Sure, blame their own stupidity on the Tea Party... I was not born yesterday.
This is the first battle in a long war for the heart and soul of the GOP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.