Republicans Back on the Offensive

RealClearPolitics ^ | October 11, 2006 | Robert Tracinski

[RWR8189]

The only good thing about North Korea's nuclear test--aside from the fact that it may have been a dud--is the fact that it has broken the spell of the past two weeks' 1990s re-enactment.

I enjoy a good "Seinfeld" episode as much as the next guy, but in hindsight, the famous "show about nothing"--"Seinfeld" always obsessed over the minutiae of life--was a benign symptom of the more ominous underlying affliction of its era: the refusal to face up to the big issues of world events and to take the difficult and unpopular actions necessary to head off looming threats. The Clinton administration was the ultimate "show about nothing," particularly during its seedy final phase, when the nation was so transfixed by the ugly details of the president's personal life that most people failed to notice the nation was at war.

That's the real news of the Foley scandal: it is our political culture's first full-blown relapse into a 1990s mindset.

Two weeks ago, President Bush had successfully focused the mid-term elections around the most important issue of the day: the War on Terrorism and the need to stay and fight in Iraq. Then the Foley story hit, and every issue of actual national importance was driven from the headlines as we once again contemplated the sordid details of a politician's sex life. And this is not even a politician who is currently in office or running for re-election; Mark Foley resigned and quit politics the moment the scandal broke.

In 1998, we all ended up focusing on Clinton's personal life because neither his administration nor the Republican Congress gave us anything more important to talk about.

As I wrote in the October 1998 issue of TIA, "President Clinton's current troubles have inspired many comparisons to the recent film Wag the Dog, in which a desperate president attempts to distract public attention from a sex scandal by staging a war. Sadly, the real situation is the opposite. Clinton's sex scandal--and the Republicans' obsession with it--is distracting the nation's attention from the war Clinton isn't fighting."

And it wasn't just Clinton who was to blame. "In their eagerness to convict Clinton on this relatively narrow, minor offense," I complained at the time, "the Republicans are irresponsibly diverting attention from issues with far greater importance for the future of the nation"--including al-Qaeda's recent attack on US embassies in East Africa, the first salvo in Osama bin Laden's war against the United States.

But there is a difference this time. To their credit, the Republicans have given us real issues to focus on. For the most part, they have asked us to debate the real threats out in the world, especially the consequences of retreating from the war in Iraq. This time, it is the Democrats who are driving the effort to divert the public's attention from the real issues.

I argued recently that the Democrats deserve to be defeated in this fall's elections because they contribute nothing of value to the national debate. Boy, have they proven me right with the Foley scandal. The Republicans were doing well politically when the nation was focused on national security, but their poll numbers and electoral prospects dropped as soon as the Democrats exploited the Foley story. It is a measure of what the two parties have to offer that the one does well when the public focuses on the vital issues of the day--and the other does well when the public ignores vital issues in favor of trivial scandals.

This clearly indicates the best way out of this scandal for the Republicans. The only way out is to offer leadership on the real issues. Kim Jong-Il and his fissile fizzle have given them an excellent opportunity to do so. Congress and the Bush administration have four weeks left before the election, and they should fill those four weeks with a tough, comprehensive response to the nuclear threats posed by North Korea and Iran. Commentators on the right are offering some excellent suggestions. In today's New York Times, for example, former White House speechwriter David Frum outlines a plan to strengthen a military alliance led by South Korea and a newly nuclear-armed Japan--a development that would put enormous pressure on North Korea and, more importantly, on the regime whose support keeps Kim in power: China.

This is an opportunity to remind the American people that the Axis of Evil isn't Mark Foley and Dennis Hastert. It's Iran, the Iraqi insurgents, and North Korea.

The later Clinton years became bogged down in Clinton's personal life at the expense of the vital issues of the day because neither Clinton nor the Republicans gave us anything better to talk about. The Republicans can make up for that failure by giving us important policies and real issues to discuss over the next four weeks. If they do, they just might put the Democrats back on the defensive.

More important, they just might start to put the Axis of Evil back on the defensive, too.

Robert Tracinski writes daily commentary at TIADaily.com. He is the editor of The Intellectual Activist and TIADaily.com.

© 2000-2006 RealClearPolitics.com All Rights Reserved

[Darkwolf377]

This clearly indicates the best way out of this scandal for the Republicans. The only way out is to offer leadership on the real issues.

Yes, yes, YES.

Haster--STFU about the Foley matter.

Republicans--STFU about the Foley matter. Let W push the agenda--follow his lead.

Republicans should silently vow to stop talking about this CRAP and talk ONLY about these issues from now till election fday, and damn the polls:

North Korea

terrorism

UBL

9/11

TAXES

Illegal Immigration

Make this a Foley-free zone AND election starting now--if the Dems want to talk sex, let 'em!

[sageb1]

"Republicans Back on the Offensive"

No. We are not.

[jwh_Denver]

I think Republicans are pretty offensive these days.

[Irish Eyes]

I hope that the Republicans take this to heart. It is a great game plan.

[VanDeKoik]

Most of us are. Pessimistic doom and gloom drama queens are always on defense.

You will find plenty on this site. Most of them are DU trolls anyway.

[Jeff Chandler]

Haster--STFU about the Foley matter.

Republicans--STFU about the Foley matter. Let W push the agenda--follow his lead.

Bears repeating.

[paratrooper82]

Read the advice the Democrats were giving each other after their last defeat. This is dated 2005. Sound Familiar?

October 16, 2005
Democrats Told to Reach Out

If all you did was read newspaper headlines, you'd think the Democrats would be in clover. Day after day, Republicans seem to be taking a beating on all fronts. And yet, for some reason, it's the Republicans, not the Democrats, who keep winning elections.

Donald Lambro of the Washington Times discusses a new report by two long-time Democratic political strategists, William Galston and Elaine C. Kamarck, which warns the Democrats that they need to reposition themselves closer to the center if they want to be more successful. Democratic members of Congress are now being briefed on the report, which tries to dispel a series of "myths":

• "The myth of mobilization." Democrats are not going to be able to win with the old liberal orthodoxy by simply energizing the party's base and bringing voters "to the polls in record numbers." In an electorate "where conservatives outnumber liberals 3-2 ..., Democrats cannot win the game of 'base' ball."

• "The myth of demography." Democrats are fooling themselves if they think the population growth among major minorities such as Hispanics "will secure a Democratic majority for decades to come. Along with rising Hispanic voter rolls has been a dramatic increase in Hispanic incomes,...

• "The myth of prescription drugs is our shorthand for the proposition, which seems to bewitch Democratic political consultants, that Democrats can win present-day national elections by avoiding cultural issues, downplaying national security, and changing the subject to domestic issues such as health care, education and job security."

Galston and Kamarck blame the Democrats' weakness on security and cultural issues for a precipitous drop in support among Catholics and married women.

Here's a cheerful note: the authors wrote a similar report after the 1988 election. The Democrats didn't listen then; will they now? I doubt it. The Democratic Party has lost much of its influence to far-left grass roots groups like MoveOn.org, which are funded not primarily by the party's traditional constituencies, but by the far left, especially the far-left super-rich. The issues on which Galston and Kamarck urge the party to move toward the center--the war on terror, the American military generally, and social issues like gay marriage--are precisely the issues that motivate the most partisan Democrats. I'm not sure there are many Democrats left who are willing to compromise on those core issues, which is one reason I'm not as confident as most people that Hillary Clinton has the '08 nomination more or less wrapped up.

Over the last nine months, events have gone about as badly as they could for the Republicans. Maybe yesterday's election in Iraq was the beginning of a turnaround, and prospects will look brighter by next November. But even if the next year proves tough for the Republicans, they will still have their ace in the hole: they get to run against Democrats. Whether that will be enough remains to be seen.

Posted by John at 08:56 AM

[Coldwater Creek]

A voice of common sense!!!!!!!!

[spatso]

"Republicans--STFU about the Foley matter. Let W push the agenda--follow his lead."

The President said we are shocked, disappointed, disgusted. He separated himself from the mess in accepting the reality of the situation. The only answer to the fake outrage of Democrats was to be genuinely outraged, deal with it and move on.

Unfortunately, talk radio led by Limbaugh and Hannity set out to first prove it was the fault if the kids and when that failed they tried to prove it was a dirty trick. They only added fuel to the fire and increased the outrage of people on both sides of the issue. Even yesterday afternoon Hannity is still trying to prove the entire matter was a dirty trick and Bob Beckel representing the Dems just laughed at him. About a week ago I became terribly discouraged with the FR postings on this matter that first tried to trivialize the matter, then ignore the concerns of social conservatives, then blame the kids and, finally, blame the Dems. Jeff Chandler is right, we need to follow the President's lead, we all need to say we are shocked, disappointed and disgusted. We need to then STFU about Foley (especially Limbaugh and Hannity) and everyone needs to get back to discussing serious issues.

This is my last comment on the matter.

[Lazamataz]

GREAT article.

[Lazamataz]

GREAT article.

[veronica]

BTTT...

[YdontUleaveLibs]

It is time to lay low on the Foley matter. Investigate of course both to make sure no crimes against children were committed and to make sure that no one was withholding vital information that could have protected potential victims. However, let the Demonrats keep talking, because what it boils down to is they are outting gays. Demonrats have no business violating the privacy of anyone in our party.

[ShandaLear]

Excellent article. Thanks for posting it. We need to remember the adults are in charge here and it's time to give some kids a spanking.

[LadyNavyVet]

Great post. Foley resigned. Investigate the situation, fine, whatever, but TALK about the issues people care about, and that's not Foley. Security, security security and the economy, economy, economy are winning issues for the Republicans. Stop letting the MSM lead you around by the nose, Hastert!

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

When your opponent gets a cheap touchdown you get the ball back and march down the field. The Dems got a cheap score on the Foley matter. Okay. Now the Pubbies have to take the offense and get back on their game plan.

[SunkenCiv]

Wholeheartedly agree!

[SunkenCiv]

GOP Must Take The Offensive on Foley Now - "We Clean Our House, They Don't"
Chron Watch | 10 October 2006 | Rod D. Martin
Posted on 10/10/2006 2:30:29 PM EDT by Lando Lincoln
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1716971/posts

Republicans Say They Can Still Win
CBS News | Oct. 8, 2006 | CBS news
Posted on 10/08/2006 4:08:09 PM EDT by FairOpinion
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1715929/posts

Don't Fall For The Propaganda
davidlimbaugh.com | 10/09/06 | david limbaugh
Posted on 10/09/2006 8:32:10 PM EDT by lancer256
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1716546/posts

Ted Strickland's Shameful 1999 Vote on Adult-Child Sexual Abuse
Bizzyblog.com | 10/10/2006 | Bizzyblog
Posted on 10/10/2006 11:45:44 AM EDT by delapaz
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1716876/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Well put, VanDeKoik.