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"If Republicans are going to gain power again, and more importantly, remain in power, we must recognize the value of centrism—instead of turning to extreme right-wing members of the party like Rush Limbaugh..." —Meghan McCain, 2009-04-07
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Posted on 04/07/2009 11:56:43 AM PDT by lewisglad
The mistakes liberals like Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are making can teach Republicans how to regain power—and how to hold onto it.
In recent weeks, I’ve been critical of some of the most hard-core ideological elements of the GOP. As a consequence, some have requested I leave the party altogether, and say that I am now an unwelcome member. Let me be clear: No one wants the Republican Party to succeed more than I do. I spent nearly two years on the road during my father’s presidential campaign, in my early twenties, surrounded by hygienically deficient, middle-aged political strategists traveling on a bus whose bathroom was almost always clogged. I did everything I could possibly think of to help get my father elected president. During that time, I admittedly realized conservatives’ failure to communicate effectively with my generation. But I also completely fell in love with the party, and started to understand why its core ideals better defined me than those of the Democrats. Any criticism I give of the Republican Party is out of love, and as someone who feels knowledgeable and experienced enough to give constructive criticism.
But as harsh as I’ve been about some elements of the GOP, I find aspects of the Democratic Party infinitely worse. Just as I fear the far right would undermine a conservative resurgence, the far left of Obama’s party threatens to do the exact same thing to him and his administration.
It is no secret that the Republican Party, for all its faults, consistently displays party unity. But Democratic leaders seem more concerned with their own personal agendas than supporting President Obama and the future of their party.
It is no secret that the Republican Party, for all its faults, consistently displays party unity. For all the criticism that the Bush administration came in for, risks were taken (like supporting the Iraq troop surge) that wound up benefiting the GOP in the long run. But Democratic leaders such as Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid seem more concerned with their own personal agendas than supporting President Obama and the future of their party. In fact, shortly after Barack Obama was elected president, Senator Reid went so far as to say, “I don’t work for him.” Even after the Democrats’ huge victories in 2006 and 2008, party unity still seems to be in disarray.
Take Afghanistan, for example. Republican leaders, including my father and Bill Kristol, support Obama’s new plan—and moreover, have expressed concern that the liberal House and Senate leadership are so stuck on being antiwar and standing up for leftist values that they are failing to properly inform voters of the issues at hand. Worse, congressional Democrats are threatening Obama’s ability to do his job as president appropriately, and protect the American people. It is all the more ironic that Republicans are supporting Obama and his bipartisan approach while his own party remains wary and doubtful.
I always have believed that in order for our government to successfully function and move forward, it is important for both parties to embrace centrism. Of course, many people voted for Barack Obama because they were hoping he would be an extremely liberal president. Personally, I think he and his advisers are smart enough to understand there’s much to be done in the political center by listening to both sides and learning to compromise. But Obama will not be able to continue this course if his party leaders don’t support him. Just last month, John Avlon made this very point on The Daily Beast in his article, “The Coming Democratic Civil War”: Liberal Democrats threaten to undo Obama’s presidency because of their embrace of partisanship.
Look at Obama’s stimulus bill—as soon as he handed it over to the House, Democrats loaded it with so many appropriations they made it impossible to pass. In his article “Why the Democrats Can’t Govern” in this week's New Republic, Jonathan Chait writes that “the stimulus served as a mere precursor to the major battle over Obama's budget.” (He goes on to cite Sen. Kent Conrad’s endorsement of farm payments and Democrats' opposition to Obama’s plan to limit tax deductions for the rich.) Now, I may not agree with Obama either, but if such a left-leaning magazine so blatantly recognizes the writing on the wall when it comes to extreme members of the Democratic Party hijacking message and power, then it is obviously a major concern.
This is less about Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi than about party infighting. If Republicans are going to gain power again, and more importantly, remain in power, we must recognize the value of centrism—instead of turning to extreme right-wing members of the party like Rush Limbaugh (which I have made clear I think is a dangerous thing for the party to do). That the Democrats find themselves with the same problem while they’re in power only highlights my point. We must get the right people in power to win the next election cycle, and the one after that. If the Democrats don’t figure it out, they will inevitably find themselves in the minority again. The question remains: Can politics ever become truly centrist and bipartisan?
Meghan McCain is originally from Phoenix. She graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She previously wrote for Newsweek magazine
“...the value of centrism...” Yeah, honey. That worked out real well for daddy, didn’t it. Betray and ridicule conservatives and bend over deeply, hoping leftists will support you. SHREWD!!
Just like her daddy! Insult your own kind, then let them brew it it for a bit, then insult the other side to win your own kind back.
Hey Meagan! You are not in control of my principles. Piss off!
I want to thank everyone here on behalf of ‘the daily beast’ for generating so much traffic and revenue for them by paying attention to this absurd cow.
So you ride on the bus with a losing candidate and we should listen to your advice?
I will say this, whatever publicist Daddy hired for Meagan is certainly earning her pay. This “deep thinker” is everywhere.
I hate to pull age on her, but I’ve been following politics longer than she has been alive. Republicans rarely win when they play down the middle, unless the Democrats run a real donkey. And with the onslaught of radical socialist ideas pushed by Obama and his party, now is NOT the time to start compromising!
The winning strategy is lower taxes, smaller government and more freedom.
Centrism - Huh...
partisanship is like two sailors at the helm of the Titanic, one wanting to swerve port to avoid an iceberg, one wanting to swerve to starboard away from it, constantly arguing while doing nothing. It's wrong!
centrism is like having the captain hearing the bickering and declaring "To heck with your arguing - I am taking the helm. You say port. The other says starboard. I am splitting the difference. WE GO STRAIGHT AHEAD."
... I'd like to know what principles are wrapped up in 'centrism' other than splitting the difference between good and bad and getting mush. Is 'centrism' now 1/2 of a $2 trillion deficit? 1/2 the number of abortions? Where do we compromise?
Headline makes sense since obviously her father didn’t have much to teach her.
Retort: Rush Limbaugh is a centrist.
She insulted the people working to get her dad elected too. Pretty tacky. Hey Meghan, maybe your old man should have shelled out the dough for a better bus and toilet facilities. I sure his campaign workers would have appreciated it.
and just who anointed ms mccain the voice of anything? She’s a limelight seeker, nothing more, nothing less. Like her father, she’s all over the map, and another apologist. she needs to go out and earn some props on her own, and not leech off daddys name.
And were supposed to believe that Meghan's porky ass was not a major contributor to the turd volcano in the crapper?
and just who anointed ms mccain the voice of anything? She’s a limelight seeker, nothing more, nothing less. Like her father, she’s all over the map, and another apologist. she needs to go out and earn some props on her own, and not leech off daddys name.
The family is loaded. Her grandpa owned a big Budweiser distributorship in phoenix. I wonder if they also resold Corona aka why Juan McCain is for amnesty.
Shut up fat spoiled Meghan. I guess that Columbia journalism degreee will help at Burger King when all the newspapers are dead.
There was talk about boycotting RINO propaganda. What happened here?
Yes dear, the Republicans always have party unity!! That's why so many of them keep rolling over for the RATS - kind of the way your dad does.
The RATS, on the other hand could have one of their own commit some of the lowest deeds, and that, in turn, qualifies them for elevation in the democrat party.
What makes you think that you go to bed one night and dream that the 'tooth fairy' waved her wand and you woke up so intelligent that we give a damn what you think??
Two-plus-two doesn't equals five. You like what Harry and Nancy down at the other end of the political spectrum bring, then I say go hitch wagons with that bunch.
Get a clue, Harry and Nancy don't want to get along with you or your dad. There is a country to be saved, and you are more interested in going around apologizing and making peace with the enemies of this country, just like Obama. You failed the first time around, and you failed now.
FTW, shut your pie-hole and get lost.
Yes, I had the same thought. Way to keep it classy, Meghan. Nice slap at some other people who worked their you-know-what off trying to get your father elected. Funny to see her proclamations about party unity when she, like her father, doesn’t hesitate to slam the party when it serves her agenda.
Because one-party rule is what we all desire. /s
Sheesh! Can this girl be any more ideologically vacuous? She is a danger to the Republic.
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"If Republicans are going to gain power again, and more importantly, remain in power, we must recognize the value of centrism—instead of turning to extreme right-wing members of the party like Rush Limbaugh..." —Meghan McCain, 2009-04-07
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