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 ...
Slick Willard and Naughty Newt... the fail is epic.
If Romney or Newt loses to Obama, wonder what the next excuse will be!
Romney will never win a general election.
You mean WHEN they lose to Obama? I’m sure the RINOs will blame the tea party for not grovelling hard enough.
I heard Victor David Hanson the other night on the radio, very elightening. No one can ever accuse him of being a Rino.
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.
who would be the best candidate against 0bama?
Whoever the MSM hates the most, of course.
THE REAL NEWT GINGRICH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWPz1Qdq1uI&feature=share
as opposed to having two mouths?
White hood much?
Do you have a point to make?
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!
Who would be the best candidate against 0bama?
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