Don't Let Christie Whitman Destroy the GOP

Human Events ^ | May 12, 2006 | Robert B. Bluey

[no dems]

Former New Jersey governor Christie Whitman wants to destroy the Republican Party. You think I’m exaggerating? Think again.

The liberal media’s favorite Republican is up to her old tricks. Whitman, writing on her new “blog” at MyPartyToo.com, says little of substance, but implies a great deal. Frustrated by the lack of progress on immigration reform and the budget, she wants everyone to kiss and make up.

But what Whitman really wants is for conservatives to stop putting up a fight for the bedrock principles voters sent them to Washington to uphold—an enforcement-first immigration bill and a budget bill that doesn’t bust the budget. Whitman’s complaints about a lack of compromise suggest that she’d rather have Republicans cave in than put up a fight. Given her own record, that’s not very surprising.

Here’s a synopsis of what Whitman had to say in one particularly pathetic paragraph:

In the last few weeks we have seen the preeminent policy issues of the day remain unresolved – and not even properly debated – because partisanship takes precedence over responsible policy making. Opposing parties are not speaking to each other, and even the moderate and conservative wings of the Republican Party remained locked in ideological disagreement. In short, there is no real dialogue occurring. There is no doubt that some people are working diligently to find compromises in both of these situations, but unfortunately, other forces have prevailed – forces that do not necessarily put our nation’s best interest first.

Unfortunately for her readers, Whitman fails to identify these “other forces.” She also makes no mention of what she seems as a good solution on either immigration or the budget stalemate.

Perhaps that’s the problem, though. Whitman has no principles. She’d rather stick her finger in the air and see how the wind is blowing that day. And when the wind isn’t blowing, she’s ready to sell out to Democrats.

Christie Whitman is no Republican role model. Her ideas would spell doom for the GOP, and if you want proof, just look at how demoralized Republicans are today.

The Associated Press, writing about Whitman’s new website, quotes conservative PR strategist Greg Mueller on the GOP’s troubles:

''They are not fulfilling the conservative mainstream agenda they promised,'' said Mueller, based in Alexandria, Va. ''The party has moved to the center left on spending, immigration and big government, the reasons for our low level of support.''

Mueller has it right. Whitman has it wrong. Conservatives can only hope President Bush is tuning in to the right message and tuning out the wrong one.

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[no dems]

A couple of observations here:

First of all, is he addressing this to The President? He certainly gave US no guidelines what WE can do to keep her from "destroying" the GOP.

Secondly, I don't think the GOP needs any help from Ms. Whitman, they're pretty well destroying the Republican Party all by themselves. As far as her ideas spelling "doom for the GOP"; Duh!!! The ideas they currently espouse have pretty much done that already.

I dunno......turn out the lights.....the party's over.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

Phooey on Bluey, comes to mind...

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

If Whitman is the face of the Republican party then I'm not a Republican.

[Question_Assumptions]

On fiscal issues, the Republican Party in DC is already following the New Jersey GOP model -- spend money like drunken sailors and hope that the Democrat that gets elected after you leave office will have to make the hard choices about raising taxes or cutting spending when the economy contracts.

[frankiep]

Don't you know? The falling apart of the GOP is the fault of those who want to hold them accountable to conservative issues, not the fault of the GOP policy makers who have forgotten why they were put into office in the first place.

Blame the voters, blame the moonbat conservatives, blame the people who are sick and tired of RINOS...but under no circumstances blame the ones who are actually doing the damage.

[Question_Assumptions]

I voted for Whitman the first time but the second time, I voted Libertarian. When the Libertarian candidate is far to the right of the Republican on social issues, it's time for me to vote Libertarian.

[linda_22003]

Quoting Whitman:

"In the last few weeks we have seen the preeminent policy issues of the day remain unresolved – and not even properly debated – because partisanship takes precedence over responsible policy making. Opposing parties are not speaking to each other, and even the moderate and conservative wings of the Republican Party remained locked in ideological disagreement. In short, there is no real dialogue occurring."

This is the gist of what former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyoming) said yesterday at the National Press Club. Will he be called a "RINO in Retrospect"? :)

[PeterFinn]

Agreed. The GOP is killing itself without any help from anyone else.

Anyone up for making Free Republic a political party?

[xrp]

I don't think the GOP needs any help from Ms. Whitman, they're pretty well destroying the Republican Party all by themselves.

+1

[trashcanbred]

You know... I don't agree with every single thing on the Republican party agenda... but I find myself much more aligned with Republicans than I do Democrats on any given day of the week. I know immigration among other things is a very hot topic; I too, am very much disturbed by how porous our borders have become.

However I am appalled at just how quick we are to eat our own.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Sounds like a smart move.

[cripplecreek]

The Free Republican party sounds nice.

[spikeytx86]

Whitman is A face of the party. She is the face of the once mighty now almost nill Rockefeller wing of the party.

[paulcissa]

She's just another Dem masquerading as a Republican. The Party is chock full of them. She showed her colors when she was at Drumthwacket. She's a card-carrying demoncrat.

[trashcanbred]

Elizabeth Macron actually did a decent job during the senate mid-term election debates in 2002. I was tempted to vote for her. What a farcical election that was....

[tfecw]

"Anyone up for making Free Republic a political party?"

I wouldn't mind picking between varying degrees of conservatism as opposed to varying degrees of socialism for a change.

[spikeytx86]

If we evict the moderate wing of our party like the Dem's did with there moderates and conservatives then we shall wonder the wilderness just as the democrats have now for over a decade.

Don't get me wrong we should stay a party of conservative principles and we should seek to consolidate and strengthen them, however if we seek to become the truly natural governing party we need to support the moderate/pragmatic wing of the party. If we did that you could pick off Minnesota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and maybe even New Jersey and Oregon from the blue camp. However we need to make sure with the "moderates" we support are just that moderates and not RINO's. Whitman has been a dedicated republican, I don't agree with her on a lot but a chafee she is not.

[Xenalyte]

Don't Let Christie Whitman Destory the GOP

Heaven knows we're already short on stories as it is.