Posted by
Kenneth G. Davenport on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:14:44 PM
The results from Michigan are in and I'm concerned. Actually, I'm downright worried. We know already, of course, that the Republican party has lost its way. Even in the aftermath of the devastating loss in the 2006 midterm elections, the party has failed to find a unifying purpose for itself -- a raison d'etre. It used to be that the party stood for certain principles -- limited government, lower taxes, individual liberty. Today, those concepts seem like a distant memory.
The loss of direction can be seen clearly in the election results we've seen so far. In the three major state primary/caucuses thus far we've had three different winners: Mike Huckabee in Iowa, John McCain in New Hampshire and now Mitt Romney in Michigan. These three winners represent three distinct constituencies in the disjointed Republican party of 2008: The "evangelicals", the "national security" conservatives and the "economic" conservatives, respectively. Each of these wings of the Republican party have something of a proprietary interest in their candidate. For the evangelical conservatives, Huckabee represents a candidate of profound convictions that reflect strict Christian values. Likewise for McCain and those concerned principally with the war on terrorism, or Romney for those who see the prospect of recession the most significant issue that we face. In this way the Republican party has become a triumvirate -- a coalition of interests that require multiple leaders to adequately represent.
This coalition might work well in a parliamentary system -- but it is poory suited to the presidential system that we have in the United States. The effect of a multi-constituency system as found in the Republican party today is a division that ensures that no faction reaches a critical mass. In other words, no one wins to unite the party.
That's what we're facing now and it is absolutely maddening to me. We're choosing principal over the pragmatism that is required to effectively win the election in November. The issues that mobilize Republicans -- abortion, terrorism, fiscal restraint -- are the very issues that now divide them. The risk is that they will conquer the party as well. I've heard many conservatives say that if McCain (or Giuliani, for that matter) is nominated they will stay home on election day to prove a point. That's a position that I just can't fathom. It may be that we will have to choose the lesser among evils, but a McCain or a Giuliani winning the presidency is a far better result than handing the prize to Clinton or Obama in November.
Here's the pragmatic reality that is needed now: Huckabee can't win the general election. Neither can Romney. As true as they may be to certain values that many Republicans hold dear, they cannot appeal to the nation as a whole enough to defeat either Hillary or Obama. Only McCain can create the cross-over dynamic that can beat the Democrats.
So, as maddening as McCain may be to many conservatives, he's the date who will get them to the dance.
It's that simple.