Posted on 11/24/2008 1:50:19 PM PST by lewisglad
"We've gone so far to the social right, particularly in caucus attendees, that unless you meet certain litmus tests you have a very difficult time competing in Iowa," said Doug Gross, the party's 2002 gubernatorial nominee. "I think you'll have some candidates who won't compete here unless they perceive that's somehow changed."
David Roederer, who headed John McCain's Iowa campaign, agreed.
"I would not encourage a moderate to come right now and participate in the caucuses," Roederer said. "It is a danger for the party, and it is a danger for the future of the caucuses."
Or as conservative state Rep. Christopher Rants put it: "Huckabee won the caucuses, but he couldn't go the distance. Maybe some people will bypass Iowa."
Of course, candidates who meet the standard laid down by social conservatives seem eager to swoop into the state. Later this week, 2008 caucus winner Mike Huckabee will hold events in the state as part of a book tour, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has planned appearances a couple of days later.
Both are targeting those social conservatives, a competition that's intensified with the emergence of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Palin was little known in Iowa until last summer, when she was named presidential candidate John McCain's running mate. She drew big crowds at events in several Iowa cities in the last six weeks of the campaign.
"She connected with a lot of people," Roederer said. "The person who has to be the most concerned is Huckabee. He was the only social conservative back then."
In a telephone interview, Huckabee played down speculation that he was starting early in Iowa due to conservative pressure from Palin.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
The AP publishes another ant-Palin story.
Whatta shock. /sarc
mclame people complaining about conservatives ruining the party???? Bwahahahahaha thats rich.
Caucuses are too open to manipulation by rich CINOs like Romney. I would much rather see them as closed primaries.
“The person who has to be the most concerned is Huckabee. He was the only social conservative back then.”
Pure and utter hogwash. There was Tancredo, Hunter,Brownback,F. Thompson, and so on.
ALL of which are social conservatives, along with being Defense,fiscal,and Constitutionalist conservatives. Huckster wasn’t any of those, though. He sure waved the Bible well, though.Had to, to hide the liberal underpinnings.
I find it very interesting that everything you read about the GOP is trying to push it farther left. “They” can call it moderate or left of center but it is still left. Why is it necessary to have both national parties pointing left? Makes socialism easier to swallow by everyone? Is the GOP covertly supporting liberalism and disguising it as a shift to the middle? What is going on? We didn’t have this problem in the past with the GOP being the conservative party. Now “someone” has divided us into 3 factions. Who’s idea was that? I’d really like to know what the devil is going on!!
The party's FAILED 2002 gubernatorial nominee... as well as one of the chunks at the top of the IA GOP septic tank who did/does/will not like icky "lunchbox" Republicans.
Easy there! I live here again. Iowa was all about Huckabee for the values voters. He was just meant to block Romney from winning, and give cover for McCain. Say what you want, but Romney is way more conservative and a team player than McCain has ever been and would have been a much better candidate. With him at the top, and Palin as VP, I bet they would have won.
To win elections, we need to stress conservative principles in governing and lead by example, and do a little less preaching. I absolutely think our faith should guide us, but campaigning on it turns a lot of moderates off.
Or how about just rename the Republican Party the Christian Conservative Party?
That's what you want, right?
At least be honest.
How about the first GOP caucus or primary be a state the GOP carried in 2008. Not Iowa, not New Hampshire, but South Carolina..............
Fine, as long as the party pays the expenses. But if the primary is going to use taxpayer-funded resources without recompense by the party, then the primary should be open.
Oh, by all means, take the advice of McCrazy’s campaign guy.
I can’t get the image of Huckabee banging away on his bass guitar, looking like a complete dork. Only democrats can get away with that!
Another “Republicans are too conservative” story. We heard the same thing this entire election, we got a candidate that was not conservative, and what happened? I want the most conservative candidate possible, and one that will clearly communicate his ideas and positions, and will fight as hard as possible to win.
Yes, I would have to agree with your take on this. Iowa is a lost cause for conservatives at this point. It’s a solid blue state. I hope things change there, but I don’t see that happening any time soon.
farm subsidies is the real problem. you can’t be a fiscal conservative and expect to win Iowa.
“Dump the caucuses!”
No, dump the RINO’s.....
I want Conservative Republicans, not RINO turds. And if all we can be is Dem. lite then the effort is wasted.
Real conservative party or a different party.
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