For some reason we are on the RNC mailing list, and yesterday received a written PUSH “poll” asking us to express our sentiments on—bottom line—whether the “Republican” agenda should extol far right “values”.
As one Republican presidential candidate famously said: “Read my lips”:
In view of the dismal shape President Bush has left us in—budget surplus GONE, economic growth GONE, world image of America IN TATTERS, economy IN RECESSION—the RNC needs to move to the center to capture the White House, and to assure that yet another inexperienced presidential candidate (Barack Obama) does not do even more untold damage to our country.
Both President Bush and Senator Obama had and have the best of intentions—but therein lays the road to hell.
Moreover, the RNC needs to realize that in this election, at this time, the only Republican candidate with a chance of preventing the potential debacle (in a series of presidential debacles) presented by an Obama administration is for John McCain to affirm the reasons for his appeal, and not to pander to the far right of the Republican party.
Both Obama and McCain purport to be maverick, change the system candidates, who claim to eschew partisan politics in favor of the common good.
Only one candidate, John McCain, has any significant track record of doing just that.
To be sure, Obama has other—more superficial but nevertheless highly effective--advantages over McCain, including his ability to move a crowd, give a speech, and to appeal to something inside most Americans that makes us feel good about the idea of electing a black president, but John McCain is the only nominee to have lived his principles, and politics be damned.
Obama is too far to the left to credibly move to the center, but John McCain is already a moderate Republican, who could easily capture the center of American politics (and the 50% of the Democratic electorate who supports Senator Clinton) with just a few assurances. If McCain made it clear that, despite his personal views, he would take no action as president (including but not limited to the appointment of Supreme Court Judges) undermining a woman’s right to chose, he would have this election sewn up. McCain already has 50% of Americans on his side, announcing his pledge to not interfere with a woman's right to chose would bring into his fold Hillary Clinton's core constituency: Woman over 30.
The most important issues affecting Americans in a real way are our quality of life, as reflected in the condition of the economy and our environment, and our national security.
The least impactful issues relate to social conservatism: Fussing about how OTHERS conduct themselves in terms of their lifestyle choices.
The RNC has to decide, at least this year, what is more important: Electing John McCain president, eliminating the death tax, not increasing the 28% capital gains tax, keeping other taxes low and reducing spending (in aid of a balanced budget)—or making a philosophical point about telling other people how to live their lives.
Too much is at stake in this election for the Republicans—and John McCain—to do anything but capture the political center of this country. Make no mistake, Obama could very well win this election unless the RNC gets pragmatic this presidential season, and allows its cantidate to move to the center on lifesytle issues--including abortion.
As one Republican presidential candidate famously said: “Read my lips”:
In view of the dismal shape President Bush has left us in—budget surplus GONE, economic growth GONE, world image of America IN TATTERS, economy IN RECESSION—the RNC needs to move to the center to capture the White House, and to assure that yet another inexperienced presidential candidate (Barack Obama) does not do even more untold damage to our country.
Both President Bush and Senator Obama had and have the best of intentions—but therein lays the road to hell.
Moreover, the RNC needs to realize that in this election, at this time, the only Republican candidate with a chance of preventing the potential debacle (in a series of presidential debacles) presented by an Obama administration is for John McCain to affirm the reasons for his appeal, and not to pander to the far right of the Republican party.
Both Obama and McCain purport to be maverick, change the system candidates, who claim to eschew partisan politics in favor of the common good.
Only one candidate, John McCain, has any significant track record of doing just that.
To be sure, Obama has other—more superficial but nevertheless highly effective--advantages over McCain, including his ability to move a crowd, give a speech, and to appeal to something inside most Americans that makes us feel good about the idea of electing a black president, but John McCain is the only nominee to have lived his principles, and politics be damned.
Obama is too far to the left to credibly move to the center, but John McCain is already a moderate Republican, who could easily capture the center of American politics (and the 50% of the Democratic electorate who supports Senator Clinton) with just a few assurances. If McCain made it clear that, despite his personal views, he would take no action as president (including but not limited to the appointment of Supreme Court Judges) undermining a woman’s right to chose, he would have this election sewn up. McCain already has 50% of Americans on his side, announcing his pledge to not interfere with a woman's right to chose would bring into his fold Hillary Clinton's core constituency: Woman over 30.
The most important issues affecting Americans in a real way are our quality of life, as reflected in the condition of the economy and our environment, and our national security.
The least impactful issues relate to social conservatism: Fussing about how OTHERS conduct themselves in terms of their lifestyle choices.
The RNC has to decide, at least this year, what is more important: Electing John McCain president, eliminating the death tax, not increasing the 28% capital gains tax, keeping other taxes low and reducing spending (in aid of a balanced budget)—or making a philosophical point about telling other people how to live their lives.
Too much is at stake in this election for the Republicans—and John McCain—to do anything but capture the political center of this country. Make no mistake, Obama could very well win this election unless the RNC gets pragmatic this presidential season, and allows its cantidate to move to the center on lifesytle issues--including abortion.
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