Posted on 02/12/2008 6:33:21 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Those who want to know why Republicans will lose in 2008 should ask Senator John McCain. McCain has demonstrated uncanny consistency changing the subject whenever someone asks a legitimate question on core social issues. This is the fatal shortcoming for both Senator McCain, and the G.O.P. as well.
An analysis of his speech given at the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) convention last week does not speak volumes indicating a Republican victory in 2008. [see http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24891]
The most remarkable aspect of his speech is the long list of core social kitchen-table issues important to mainstream America that are not even mentioned in his speech. The words marriage, illegitimacy, wedlock (and out-of-wedlock), gay marriage, same-sex marriage, single mother(hood), and domestic violence were missing entirely from his platform of promises.
The only word of interest — “reform” — occurs just once in his talk — albeit what he was referring to remains a mystery. Says McCain: ”I will fight for the line item veto, and I will not permit any expansion whatsoever of the entitlement programs that are bankrupting us. On the contrary, I intend to reform those programs so that government is no longer in that habit of making promises to Americans it does not have the means to keep”.
McCain has never weighed in on core social reform issues in the past. His complete lack of spine fighting the war on marriage, waged by our own federal government against its own people, is tantamount to pretending that the war on terror can be won by doing nothing more than promising to win it and then changing the subject to something more convenient.
Approximately half of Americans are trapped on the field of the war on marriage. Some demand more welfare than is economically possible, the rest are stripped to their skivvies and then locked up. It all starts with the American Bar Association, our $700-billion-per-year HHS budget, and making women think they can do better by marrying Uncle Sam instead of having a husband or marrying the father of their children.
McCain is wrong merely offering “free market solutions” as a response to Democrat’s call for socialized medicine. “Free market solutions” are essentially what we have now. The buyers who cannot afford health insurance are largely single-mothers. This structural problem must be reversed – by restoring a free marriage market. The only alternative is socialized health care. Republicans have one possible choice: take up “Marriage Values” and restore a “Marriage Economy”, or eventually give in to public opinion and Democrat demands. The fact is this: when federal government ends permanent entitlement of divorce and illegitimacy, three-quarters of our health care problems will abate naturally.
McCain is also wrong about appointing judges to the federal bench “who are intent on achieving political changes that the American people cannot be convinced to accept through the election of their representatives.” This is where Roe v. Wade came from. Activist courts are not the answer. In any event, activist courts could never undo the damage done to marriage by federal spending. It is ludicrous, and an abdication of legislative and executive constitutional responsibility, to believe that marriage would ever be put back together from the bench. In light of previous comments he has made about divorce at whistle stops, this certainly appears to be what Mr. McCain has in mind.
McCain did make a sage comment, perhaps precognizing his own loss next November: “Often elections in this country are fought within the margins of small differences.” The margin of difference between Democrats and Republicans is about as wide and deep as the Cooley dam. The abysmal lack of solutions that Republicans have offered puts them in a tremendous one-down position.
As we have seen over the past decade, Republicans will continue losing seats in Congress. The party of so-called “compassionate conservatives” without a message that actually brings about restoration of the American family – giving most everyone what they want and need – simply does not register with even the most uniformed voters. There are, however, a lot of voters who will give in to expansionist socialist cries about the poverty and health problems of children and single mothers, crime, domestic violence, violence against women, and child support arrearages. Obama’s message is honed and prepared to slice and dice any candidate the Republicans put up against him.
Social conservatives and mainstreamers brought about the “family values” landslide of 1994 by nationwide hard work of the grassroots. In 2008, the landslide is going the other way: the G.O.P. is dumping dirt on anyone who cares about “Marriage Values” and restoring a competitive “Marriage Economy” in America.
For those who still do not understand the keystone importance of establishing a “marriage economy”, let me describe it very simply. Cuba and China have strong family values. Both China and Cuba socialized business many years ago, and became very poor countries. China de-socialized business with the end of Maoism, and is now taking us to the cleaners in world markets. We are losing our competitiveness sinking under the weight of social expenditures that do little but create more social problems, taxes, and a comparatively weak work force. The key to American economic success in the 21st century depends decisively on the establishment of a “Marriage Economy”.
Political scientists and pundits who think I am incorrect about this should recognize that this article will still be here after the elections. It is better to warn them now so they have the opportunity to change course before next November. Obviously, such an awakening is quite unlikely to happen this late in the election cycle.
Perhaps after the elections, when the G.O.P. learns that it cannot win on “business as usual” they will be falling all over themselves to find out what “Marriage Values” and the “Marriage Economy” are all about. We will be ready to work with them when they are really ready to “Change America”.
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David R. Usher is Senior Policy Analyst for the True Equality Network, and President of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, Missouri Coalition
I am tired of the open border....
Until something is actually accomplished, I won’t vote for Republicans at all.
Prop. 187 in California gave Republicans control of the California legislature. 1994 put Republicans in power and illegal immigration was one of the biggest reasons.
The rope-a-dope on illegal immigration is losing elections.
I think the GOP Establishment wrote off 2008. Pretty tough for any party to win the WH 3 times in a row. Also really tough given how bad the outlook is in turnout, money and organization. I think McCain is their Hail Mary play in an election they are all ready prepared to lose.
This election will be close.
McCain fought against Arizonas Prop. 200. He opposes border security every chance he gets. He will not get my vote.
David Usher is right.
Are you high?
no it wont. You have a candidate with a rock star following vs. a candidate that not only has a base that is disillusioned with their own party but also do not like the clearly liberal candidate.
No I do not think this is going to be a close election at all. We have been losing this election since Bush took his 90% approval rating and clear mandate and pissed it away working with Kennedy, Vicente Fox, UAE and the port deals etc.
Now that McCain (is almost offically the winner): I am officially going to vote Constitution Party (for President only) in 2008.
No, I think the GOP Establishment overplayed their hand (they thought 2008 would be the perfect opportunity to purge Conservative positions as the GOP Platform): LOOK FOR IT TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY FOR ‘08!!! <-LEFTWARD.
Bush kicked us to the curb and McCain will wash us down the drain. Their allegiance lies with mexico.
Voting for McCain here.
Hulloooooooooooooooo? and what do you think Obama Che Guevera will do for you? GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
Sir Francis and Ron in Acreage are right. The ONLY issue that matters to many of us is Border security and getting rid of as many of the 40 million illegals as we can. Currently, 5,000 to 10,000 illegals are breaking into the U.S. every day. THIS is impeachable, in my opinion. Bush has NOT “protected” us from invasion.
Put the blame on the Democrat Party.
The country is going down either way.
The illegal immigration problem is part of a much larger one.
The federal government has spent the last 100 years killing states rights and claiming authority over every aspect of our lives.
But now we see that the feds can not, or will not, satisfactorily perform many of the duties over which they claim authority.
So we are seeing an awakening at the state level that if something is to be done, they will have to do it themselves.
Control of illegal immigration is a prime case in point - look at how Arizona is taking the lead in their state to restrict employment of illegals.
As far as I am concerned, any movement on the part of the states to reclaim their constitutional responsibility and authority from the overbearing sameness of the nanny-state federal government is a good thing.
We can’t count on the federal government to meet even the limited responsibilities enumerated in the constitution, not to mention those they have usurped from the states.
And the situation at the federal level gets worse, not better.
Just look at the crop of second rate bureaucrats running for president - there isn't a top notch leader among them in either party.
.
Independents seem to be are driving this nomination for McCain and they may bolt for Obama unless Hillary wins the nomination.
GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
No.
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