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Further evolution of GOP into even worse condition

In previous columns, I suggested that the Republican Party had thrown away many of its historical bases and, for the sake of transitory political gain, had disintegrated into a Party which had sold its soul. The modern Party, since the 1960’s, has become a Party of racists and bigots and exclusionary zealots. This is not to suggest that there are not well-meaning and thoughtful members of the modern GOP, for ensample, John McCain comes to mind, but they have been considered on the fringe of Party leaders. The organizers of the recent presidential campaign were incapable of producing an advertisement that did not attack the opponent. Not for them an advertisement or commercial that stated what their plans were. Rather were manifestations of Willie Horton, Swift Boat, fear mongering, and allegations of Barack Obama’s foreign birth, repeated use of the Democrat’s middle name, association with terrorists, Moslems, evil preachers, and so forth. The naked hate was evidence of a lack of intellectualism. But the purpose of the GOP/Karl Rove/Fox News doctrine was to divide and then scare.

 

How did it come to this?

 

In my earlier article, [http://www.examiner.com/x-900-Tampa-Bay-Politics-Examiner~y2008m12d4-The-disintegration-of-a-Grand-Old-Party] I discussed the purging of the moderate wing of The Republican Party, the leaders of which were Nelson Rockefeller, Prescott Bush, Tom Dewey and Dwight Eisenhower. In its place, an extremist faction took over, based almost entirely on racial bigotry.

 

The Republican Party that emerged from the culture wars is made up of discrete groups, but they are all contrary to the ideals of the traditional GOP. Within each faction, moreover, are contradictions that allow them to be manipulated. To a greater or lesser extent, many of the sub-groups have been used, cynically, by Party leaders who gave not a whit as to the groups’ wishes; they were trotted out at election time and then generally ignored – with some significant exceptions.

 

To a substantial degree, the Republicans, after purging its ranks of anyone evidencing weakness towards the moderate-liberal-progressive groups, manage to consolidate different sub-factions within its own party, taking the worst. Perhaps the most vocal of the factions are the social conservatives,

 

 

First among equals is the Religious Right, also known as the Social Conservatives. They profess to be focused on the moral issues: opposition to all abortions, disapproval of stem cell federally funded research, distrust of the Federal government (it’s not the solution; it’s the problem), an almost child-like acceptance that, if Government touches something, that “something” will be forever ruined.

 

Although the Social Republicans abhor government interference with their lives and their beliefs, they are very willing to have interference with mine! Thus the same people, who insist on the freedom to speak and assemble, are perfectly willing to throw rocks at and torment women entering a clinic where abortions are safely and legally performed.

 

Whereas the basis of their faith is love, peace and understanding, it must be on their terms. If two adults find love in a committed relationship, gay or straight, it ought to be cherished and admired.

Another sub-group within the GOP is the traditional fiscal conservatives, despising an unbalanced budget, preaching fiscal responsibility, “living within one’s means”, and hating all taxes unreservedly. They have presided over an administration that started with a budget surplus under Bill Clinton and have ended the Bush presidency with the largest cumulative deficit in our country’s history. The fiscal conservatives, such as Ronald Reagan, an opportunity to shrink social programs by starvation; cut off the funds and the programs will wither. The problem is that our public wants the services, just as long as someone else pays for them. The programs that were cut during the Bush years were those benefiting industry and not “Joe the Plumber”.

 

Regulation of Wall Street, inspection of imported goods, safety of bridges, watching out for the environment, air safety – all fell by the wayside. Our air has become dirtier; our water less drinkable, but what was important was that taxes would not be imposed. Read the newspapers and everyone now can see that it has not worked out well!

 

Over everything was a pride in being against the intellectual. Tapes by Richard Nixon, released this past week, quote him as declaring, “Professors are the enemy”. We have the GOP wanting to teach, along with or in lieu of evolution, the idea that the Earth was created in six days, about 6,000 years ago, by a God who “planted” fossils apparently to befuddle us. We have responsible members of the Clergy stating that hurricanes, earthquakes, disease are all manifestations of God’s disapproval of homosexuality. Last month, the far Right may have been repudiated. It is hard to discern whether the public’s distaste was directed at the negativity of the Republicans generally, their bigotry, and their refusal to compromise or more personally against George Bush.

 

I have, admittedly, painted a view of the modern Republican Party that was not flattering. From a grand and relevant guardians of principles, many of which I took issue but still respected, the GOP has been hijacked by truly ignoble people, running vicious and untrue negative campaigns, promoting bigotry, albeit with “code words” , reveling in being without knowledge and so on and so forth. Now with the repudiation of either George Bush or the Party generally, a few voices have been raised looking forward.

 

One of my favorite Examiners is Brian Trent, who has written two excellent articles on these subjects. These are cited below. Rather than paraphrase Mr. Trent, whose abilities with word-painting are the subject of my admiration, I urge thoughtful readers to go to his articles and enjoy them.

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-1051-Independent-Examiner~y2008m12d3-GOP-Attacks-Moderates-Seals-Fate 

 

 

He and I agree that it will be up to the moderates in the Republican Party, such as the “old” John McCain in the years before his reincarnation as a tool, to do the purge and recapture. The final article will explore the opportunities for redemption.

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Examiner Coverage: Elections 2008