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GOP voters placing premium on knowledge, skills
washingtonexaminer ^ | 11/24/2011 | Philip Klein

Posted on 11/24/2011 5:09:06 PM PST by TBBT

Critics have accused the Republican electorate in recent years of putting a higher premium on ideological fervor than on policy knowledge.

But the success of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the current presidential primary fight undercuts this charge.

Conservative political figures such as former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and 2010 U.S. Senate candidates Sharron Angle of Nevada and Christine O'Donnell of Delaware attracted passionate followers.

This fan base came to their defense whenever they were criticized for inarticulate statements or moments that suggested they didn't have a strong grasp of the issues.

In return, liberals and moderate Republicans such as David Frum responded by making a broader charge that conservatism, fueled by talk radio and Fox News, was becoming anti-intellectual and was driven by pure political id.

But the current Republican primary tells a much different story. It's a story of an electorate that is placing a high premium on candidates' ability to appear knowledgeable and articulate on the issues, giving these factors an even higher level of importance than ideological consistency.

In her column endorsing Romney, Coulter argued, "Romney will be the first Republican presidential nominee since Ronald Reagan who can talk."

(Excerpt) Read more at campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopprimary; newt; romney
Empty suit's with thick tongues need not apply?
1 posted on 11/24/2011 5:09:11 PM PST by TBBT
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To: TBBT

Slick Willard and Naughty Newt... the fail is epic.


2 posted on 11/24/2011 5:15:09 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Rick Perry has more red flags than a May Day Parade)
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To: TBBT

If Romney or Newt loses to Obama, wonder what the next excuse will be!


3 posted on 11/24/2011 5:15:43 PM PST by federal__reserve (Only Herman Cain could break up the 95% black voting block down to 75-80%.)
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To: TBBT

Romney will never win a general election.


4 posted on 11/24/2011 5:16:05 PM PST by jessduntno ("They say the world has become too complex for simple answers... they are wrong." - RR)
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To: federal__reserve

You mean WHEN they lose to Obama? I’m sure the RINOs will blame the tea party for not grovelling hard enough.


5 posted on 11/24/2011 5:27:02 PM PST by bigdirty
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To: TBBT

I heard Victor David Hanson the other night on the radio, very elightening. No one can ever accuse him of being a Rino.


6 posted on 11/24/2011 5:27:23 PM PST by Perdogg
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To: TBBT

I disagree in a sense with one assertion. Only Romney is seen as the Establishment’s champion. All others are vying for the Not Romney slot and by default the Anti-Establishment position. This is true even if some of the others can also be considered somewhat establishment. If Romney fails, it will be seen as an Establishment defeat.


7 posted on 11/24/2011 5:28:43 PM PST by TBBT
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To: bigdirty

who would be the best candidate against 0bama?


8 posted on 11/24/2011 5:29:50 PM PST by Perdogg
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To: Perdogg
" who would be the best candidate against 0bama?"

Whoever the MSM hates the most, of course.

9 posted on 11/24/2011 6:02:31 PM PST by ArchAngel1983 (Arch Angel- on guard / The democrat party "Can Go Straight To Hell".)
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To: TBBT
Well. That leaves amnesty newt out, that slug is only long on the bovine waste and running that mouth in double overdrive.
10 posted on 11/24/2011 6:19:29 PM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Perry and his fellow demorats.)
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To: org.whodat

THE REAL NEWT GINGRICH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPz1Qdq1uI&feature=share


11 posted on 11/24/2011 6:42:38 PM PST by Dick Bachert (Obozo deserves another term: IN LEAVENWORTH. 25 to life sounds about right!)
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To: TBBT

as opposed to having two mouths?


12 posted on 11/24/2011 6:52:32 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (bloodwashed not whitewashed)
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To: TBBT

White hood much?


13 posted on 11/24/2011 7:17:10 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Do you have a point to make?


14 posted on 11/24/2011 7:25:10 PM PST by TBBT
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To: TBBT

The latest line from the GOP elite.

Issue positions don’t matter anymore, glib talkers and “moderated” issue position candidates are supposedly in this election season.

I really doubt this propaganda given the influence of the Tea-Party and no matter how often you say it, don’t make it true!


15 posted on 11/24/2011 7:31:52 PM PST by SoConPubbie
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To: bigdirty

Who would be the best candidate against 0bama?


16 posted on 11/24/2011 10:21:09 PM PST by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common anymore.)
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