Why Republicans Don’t Get It

Americans Go To The Polls To Elect The Next U.S. PresidentA new poll this week shows 2012 presidential nominee and 2008 primary candidate Mitt Romney leading the field of potential 2016 Republican candidates. According to ABC News/Washington Post, 21 percent of Republican voters would vote for Romney in the primaries; Jeb Bush and Mike Huckabee tie at 10 percent, followed by Rand Paul, Chris Christie and Paul Ryan. Altogether, some 44 percent of Republican primary voters want an “establishment” candidate — by which we mean a candidate for whom social issues are secondary, immigration reform is primary and economics dominates.

The establishment donors on the coasts see this poll and believe that a consolidated funding effort mobilized behind the Chosen One (Romney, Bush, Christie or Ryan) could avoid a messy primary and keep the powder dry for a 2016 showdown with Hillary.

The conservative base knows this, and they groan.

That’s because the conservative base understands that what motivates them is not the marginal tax rate — nobody in the country knows, offhand, his or her effective tax rate — but values. And none of the top priorities for Republican donors match the fire-in-the-belly issues that motivate the folks who knock on doors, phone bank and provide the under-$50 donations that could power a Republican to victory.

The divide between the establishment and the base represents a divide between the wallet and the working man, the penthouse and the pews, the Ivy Leagues and the homeschools. Which is why Republican leadership quietly assures its top donors that should Republicans win the Senate, their first legislative push will encompass corporate tax reform and immigration reform.

They will not push primarily for border security, or for protection of religious freedom, or for repeal of Common Core. They will not use their opportunity to govern as an opportunity to draw contrast between conservatism and leftism. Instead, they will seek “common ground” in a vain attempt to show the American people that efficiency deserves re-election.

And the American people will go to sleep, conservatives will vomit in their mouths, and leftists will demonize Republicans all the same.

Conservatives understand that politics simply reflect underlying values. That’s why they are passionate. They don’t vote their pocketbooks. They vote their guts, and their guts tell them that leftism is immoral on the most basic level.

Republicans, on the other hand, believe that politics are just business by other means. That means that Republicans think Americans, left and right, share the same underlying values. That’s a lie, and it’s a self-defeating lie at that.

Until Republicans begin to appreciate the moral conflict between right and left, they will dishearten the right and provide easy targets for the left. The nominee won’t matter; elections won’t matter. And the alienation of the American conservative will deepen and broaden, until, one day, it bursts forth with a renewed fire that consumes the Republican Party whole.

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  • kevinstroup

    Half the Republican Party believes in socialism, too. They just think they can run it better. That is why the GOP “doesn’t get it”. Look at how the GOP has a plan to “run the economy”. Funny, I do not see that anywhere in the Constitution llisted as a duty of government. Since when are we a centrally planned economy? Too many GOPers are dependent on the government for jobs or clients. Either way, it is why the party is rotted and weak.

    • Michael Durham

      The answer is:

      There is no “GOP” or “Republican Party” anymore. There probably hasn’t been a GOP for at least 20 years. The GOP has been hopelessly compromised and infiltrated by Bolshevik DemonRATs, or otherwise bribed and blackmailed.

      The DemonRATs today are outright Communists. The “Republicans” are simply what the DemonRATs were back around 2002. This is how it works.

      It’s not that “Republicans don’t ‘get it’”.

      • johnnywood

        Democraps are demonic and Republicraps are just stupid.I see no hope for America unless these fools are all sent to the unemployment line.

      • MLCBLOG

        I watched as an adolescent as the Commies got set to take over the Democratic party as it was the one most open to their ideas.

        As far as conservatives pulling off that kind of a coup, I don’t think we work that way. We are better out front and very clear about things which is why the washed up old Repubs need to get out of the way. They are just mucking things up. But before that we conservs need to get a serious spine or two.

        • Michael Durham

          It’s far too late for that. Game over.

          And that’s being optimistic.

  • Sheik Yerbouti

    Right on the money. And I do mean money. That seems to be the only motivation in the GOP these days. I expect it from some, and I expect it from leftists as well (even though they lament “rich” people openly). When was the last time we saw a republican who seemed to understand the problems of MOST Americans?

    Instead they arte easily distracted by the same old wedge issues the left props up for every election. There was a time when a republican earned votes by selecting a specific target and going after them throughout the entire campaign. The wedge issues were cast aside to drive singular focus.

    All we have now are lap dogs who do tricks for the gold handlers. What if the people of this planet suddenly decided that gold was not worth the problems it creates? Where would the gold handlers be then? On par with the lead handlers maybe. What use is gold for the rest of us when so few want to keep it all for themselves? Sure, they “earned” it. But really, what happens when they remove the last ounce from circulation? Same scenario perhaps.

    I realize this could easily be spun into a leftist rant about the haves and have-nots. But what’s the point, in this age of technology and information, of letting any aspect of humanity slide backwards? And if employees don’t get a raise every year, it’s exactly equal to a pay cut. But that too can spiral out of control.

    We have to do something with all the factory workers and people who are still training to become factory workers in the US. And look at how many IT “colleges” are sucking the middle class economy. While the elected leaders scream for more H1B exceptions to fill IT jobs because there is such a death of them locally. Too many lies are ripening and the GOP should take the lead.

    Instead, they’ll take the leash, again. So the left can once again “make history” at the expense of our future.

  • steve b

    I’VE VOTED STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN IN EVERY ELECTION BEGINNING IN 1980. IN 2012 I VOTED FOR EVERY DEMOCRAT AND WILL DO IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. UNTIL THE REPUBLICANS STOP BEING “DEMOCRAT LITE’, I WILL JOIN THE 50% OF AMERICANS WHO WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE MONEY FROM SOMEONE ELSE AND GIVE IT TO ME. THAT’S THE NEW AMERICA AND I’M GETTING ON BOARD.

    • Genevieve St-Germain

      You’re no Conservative. You belong over at Daily Kob and Huffpig. Have a nice trip “on board”, adrift in an amoral party. Buh-Bye.

      • LiberalRedneck

        Oh Man. Not sure how I stumbled onto this web-site and comment section, but sure am glad I did. This is some funnyass whining, backed up but huge dosage of self important blustering about the far Reichs self-percieved moral supeirority, yet repeatedly returning to despair, desparattion and hoplessness because, sniff, American’s just don’t get you conservatives at all and refuse to follow your backward ways.
        Like I said Too Funny. Thanks for the laugh guys and gals. You may return to your daily teeth-knashing and conspiracy fueled hatefest Buh Bye!

        • Genevieve St-Germain

          don’t know how you got her either. But please do run along. I’m sure you’ve got some border fences to tear down or perhaps you’re carpooling little girls to Planned Parenthood for their long overdue abortions this week. Then maybe you can rustle up some absentee ballots to fill in or something noble for King Obola’s court. What wonderful work you libtards do. Lean Forward, Ass-Holio! No despair here, we’re gonna take back the Senate, redneck! LOL! Have a Nice Day !!!

    • Sheree

      Oh- so you’re on food stamps, Obama-Care & living in your mother’s basement … WAY to GO!!!! Some future you & your children have.

  • DowntotheBone

    Well said, Mr. Shapiro.

  • cree

    It was the conservative base that won the House in 2010. It goes over RINO’s heads. The vast conservative base is ignored by the ruling elites. They haven’t gotten the message 2012 revealed. Amazing idiocy.

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  • Rybbe

    As always Ben, you hit a home run with this article. Put all of our feelings, thoughts and impressions into a smart, well thought out piece. Thank you for doing the work our Repub “intelligencia” won’t do.

  • notanobamaliar

    The establishment Republicans are spreading the same old crap again. Only Romney (Bush, Christie, Ryan, Rubio or insert your other favorite RINO loser here) can win in 2016 (just like they said in 2012). If they would fight as hard in winning the election as they do trying to win the primary they would win in 2016. If they don’t run a true conservative, many people will leave the GOP and become independents in future elections.

  • sendtheclunkerbacktochicago

    Dr. Ben Carson and Congressman Trey Gowdy would be the Republican’s best Presidential candidates. Dr. Carson is a quiet, intelligent and well rounded man. He will kill them with kindness via is intellectual wit. Gowdy is a mad man when it comes to seeking the truth from witnesses. Both these men would destroy any Democrat who they end up debating.

    • johnnywood

      I like you choices but I like West and Cruz even better.

      • Sheree

        West doesn’t have the intellect needed….CRUZ would make a better Attorney General the first time around…love the man .. but he needs to be groomed for Pres up the road-

        • Sister_In_Christ

          Nothing beats a governor. They have dirt under their nails having run a state. I love Ted Cruz regardless. Trey Gowdy would be a great AG (Michele Bachmann too), Ben Carson, the director of the CDC or the Surgeon General. Great man but lacks the political chops for POTUS.

        • johnnywood

          West is a career field grade command officer and he is intellectual enough for PODUS. We could use some real leadership for a change.

  • dynbrake

    Right you are, Ben. But I still do not like the term, “values.” It needs to be something so much deeper, something so much stronger, than that. As people change, the things that they value can change also. It needs to be bedrock, immoveable, and strong.

    • MLCBLOG

      Like the rock our country was built on. The indomitable America spirit.

  • Sister_In_Christ

    Someone needs to wake up the religious Right and tell them that there’s a spiritual war with Islam going on.

    • Sheree

      You nailed it! I am part of the Religious Right only a Canadian who can’t vote but my husband is a 25 yr USAF vet and he CAN vote. Evangelicals sat home on their sofas wouldn’t vote for a Mormon … so a Muslim hi-jacked the White House. Flaky Christians.

      • Sister_In_Christ

        Right on. We can’t afford to let perfection be the enemy of good. Any Conservative is better than any Liberal right now.

  • timpottorff

    Sooner or later there WILL be a third party….maybe even a fourth.

    • MLCBLOG

      one can hope

    • Erudite Mavin

      The great wish of the Democrats.

  • howmanyamericans

    Thank you, Ben. Recently Obama is pushing for more illegal immigration to swamp America. GOP does nothing. zeroimmigration.com suggests action for population growth and shows that Multicultural Nation is an oxymoron.

  • Erudite Mavin

    As Sarah Palin said last night on FOX, she would vote for the worst Republican
    than a Democrat.
    Absolutely!

    • MLCBLOG

      Sarah is faithful. A woman of character.

  • bob smith

    Why republicans don’t get it, AND never will. They have no platform, no ideas, no unity, zip, zero.

    Only until a ‘ukip’ type party is in place to challenge both rinos and demonrats will The Republic stand a chance.

    Until then, all that changes is which slime bucket feeds at the government trough.

    • MLCBLOG

      The Repubs are flaccid.

  • James_IIa

    I see no reason why the establishment Republicans would choose Bush, Christie, or Ryan. They should stick with someone with a proven track record: Romney!

    • MLCBLOG

      Are you joking? I ask this seriously.

      • James_IIa

        Congratulations for suspecting that.

  • Genevieve St-Germain

    Oh. Right. That’s the Spirit!!! Let the Demonrats win. Great Idea! wOw!!! What a freaking Genius you are, will. No ‘will’ power, eh? Just roll over and play dead. That”s showin em!

  • DTM

    Ben Shapirom, you nailed it. The RNC will be trotting out a Romney 2 in 2016. And lose again. The RNC hasn’t a clue.

  • NJK

    God, I would never vote for any of those mentioned. The GOP are Democrats. Ted Cruz or Dr. Ben Carson will get me out to vote.

  • Sheree

    Will – it’s people like you with no critical thinking that allowed Obama to hi-jack your White House! Even as a Canadian grandmother that is very plain to see. Grow up.

  • lizwagner2

    I appreciate what Shapiro is saying, but the fact remains, if Republicans want to take the White House in 2016, it’s going to require getting a bunch of Democrats to cross party lines and vote for the GOP candidate. That means recognizing the need for compromise, somewhere. Sometimes Conservatives remind me of “Progressives,” in that both groups demand support for the whole package of ideas and positions they’re promoting.

  • MLCBLOG

    Depressing but somehow it helps to have the plain truth written here.

  • barrycooper

    If anybody from the RNC calls me, I tell them to go sit on a pole and rotate. They will not get a CENT from me, not one damn penny, until they start acting like they believe something. Rightly or wrongly, I donate to Freedomworks, Campaign for Liberty, and the NRA.

  • Surak1

    Cruz/West 2016 – right for America!