Vote GOP Because…

2006-10-03
By

 By Vincent Fiore

 

     While most of us who call ourselves conservatives struggle for an answer to that question, a look back as to why the question is posed at all might be helpful.

 

     In 1994, the electorate sees a motivated and impassioned GOP come out of the political wilderness and take control of the House of Representatives from a thoroughly scandal-scarred and idea-bereft Democratic Party.

 

     What follows is a slow but steady ideal and ethical erosion of policy that may finally have caught up with the Republican Party.  In this, the two major parties in Washington claim a distinction, but may fundamentally lack a difference.

 

     Once upon a time, Republicans had a field day pointing out the inability of one President Bill Clinton and by extension the Democratic Party from stumbling into one scandal after another.

 

     So now, the present-day GOP, led by President George W. Bush, have lately been rocked by illegality, scandal, charges of racism, and anything else that the Democrats and their happy helpers, the mainstream media, can pin on them.

 

     Witness the bizarre yet mammoth troubles of House member Mark Foley, (R-Fla.) who, besides resigning his seat last week immediately after reports that he sent sexually inappropriate e-mails to underage male congressional interns, may now possibly face criminal charges, maybe even a charge of pedophilia.

 

     Preceding Foley’s complete lack of moral judgment and his “thinking with my–ahem–little head” behavior were the over-publicized yet real troubles of former House majority Leader Tom DeLay and his dealings with K-Street’s top super lobbyist and now convicted felon, Jack Abramoff.

 

     Though DeLay was essentially found innocent of any wrong doing in relation to Abramoff, just the association with him was enough to end his political career.  But then, the facts never got in the way of a good story when it came to election politics.

 

     Like grass within the cracks of concrete, other political scandals started cropping up.  In March of this year, California Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham gets eight-plus years in prison for taking bribes from defense contractors.

 

     Ohio Representative and GOP leader Bob Ney pleads guilty to corruption charges in connection with Jack Abramoff and withdraws from his reelection campaign, and further resigns from the House of Representatives.

 

     Even tenuous circumstances–and outright fabrications–like the troubles that now dog Senator George Allen, (R-Va.) over the supposed use of racial epithet to describe blacks seem to take on a new meaning when lumped together with all else that ails the GOP.

 

     And the record for the GOP to run on?  Well, it can’t be all terrorism, all the time, can it?  If your President Bush, the obvious answer is a resounding “Heck yes, it’s all we got!”  Four weeks out from Election Day, it certainly seems as much.

 

     Though the economy is the best that it’s been since the late nineties, it still remains the most underreported story of the last five years.  Low unemployment (4.7%)?  Budget deficit lower than expected (111 billion less)?  Non-threatening core inflation rates? 

 

     Who cares?  We have the GOP congressman possibly engaged in serious “criminal behavior” with minors.  Gas prices plunging nationwide (down 17%)?  Hah!

Democrats and the media are too busy happily proclaiming that they were right all along last year when the designated the GOP as being wed to a “Culture of Corruption.”

 

     And right now, as disgraced Congressman Mark Foley packs up the contents of his House office, who can, with unvarnished conviction, argue with them?

 

     During the last two election cycles, Republicans bucked the odds and added seats to both houses of Congress.  Thanks largely to the commitment of President Bush to fight terrorism at home and abroad and keep America safe, the GOP managed to stay out of trouble just long enough to get past those elections.

 

     But what will stop a complete slide into minority-status for the GOP now?  Don’t count too largely upon Bush, whose popularity and poll numbers resemble college football scores than anything worth shouting about.  If the Democrats can manage to actually use these GOP missteps smartly, a change in majority may come to pass next month.

 

     However, that’s a very big “if” when one considers just who comprises the Democratic Party.  It is the party that has consistently overplayed its hate against the Republican Party.  From the theatrics at the Paul Wellstone memorial, the outspokenness of former Presidents Carter and Clinton, to the made-for-TV assassination of President Bush, the party of FDR can’t seem to roll a rock downhill.

 

     For the GOP though, the nightmare will continue, at least for a few more weeks, anyway.  Expect Democrats and the media to sensationalize everything from Mark Foley’s incredible lack of judgment, to Vice President Dick Cheney “menacing scowl” at a New York Times reporter.

 

     But in the end, Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.  As this campaign season now goes from bad to worse, the GOP might soon be running campaign ads that will basically say:

 

     “Vote GOP, because the alternative is even worse than we are.”

 

       Vincent Fiore is a freelance political writer who lives in New York City.  His work can be seen throughout the Internet, including the American Conservative Union, GOPUSA, Human Events, and theconservativevoice.  Vincent is a staff writer for the New Media Alliance and a contributing writer for NewsBusters.org.  He receives e-mail at: polyscivin101@aol.com

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  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Vincent Fiore wrote:
    “But in the end, Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.”

    I can accept that several Republicans have themselves to blame, namely those who tangled with Jack Abramoff, Virginia Senator Allen’s gaffes, and of course Foley’s sexual pecadillos. But those are individuals. Certainly, you can’t assign blame to the whole party for the actions of these few. The public can, of course, but as a columnist with supposed insight why do you?

    I blame the GOP as a party for forsaking its own principles. The stem cell debate, for one. The GOP leadership broke with the conservative caucus in both houses, seeking not just to fund embryonic stem cell research but also the destruction of NEW embryos. There already were generations of stem cells once derived from live embryos that have continued to flourish without the need for more embryos being destroyed; plus stem cells can be derived from adult bone marrow and umbilical cords (saving lives both of embryos, i.e. human beings, and born human beings as well). The GOP leadership broke from the President, knowing defeat via veto was certain, and staged a political stunt designed to garner favor with the media and lovers of centrism. But they weren’t behaving like conservatives, that’s for sure. And what have the GOP leadership gained from this break with conservatism? Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is now thinking he’s a presidential contender, having sold out his base on funding embryonic destruction and still thinking he’s going to survive the primaries. He may not be leading any GOP majority to speak of, come 2007; but what the hell, he’s always got a shot at the White House, so screw the party. Right?

    The GOP is valuable for two specific reasons. The Supreme Court is one, and the party held together for that battle. Two new conservatives are on the court (justices Roberts and Alito), although only one non-conservative was replaced (Sandra Day O’Connor, a moderate, is now replaced by conservative Sam Alito). That means a net conservative gain of only one justice. And the public is supposed to settle for that? I suspect the next retirement on the court will come from the left, perhaps liberal justice John Paul Stevens. Imagine a Senate chaired by Democrats, ensuring the next nominee is at least as liberal as they are. Imagine no further gains on the Supreme Court for conservatives who only seek to subject laws to the constitution, rather than liberals who want to effect laws despite the constitution. Do you really want that?

    The second reason why the GOP is valuable is because it hasn’t raised your taxes. A Congress chaired in both houses by Democrats will almost certainly raise taxes (either by letting current tax breaks expire, or by adjusting income brackets, or by outright increases “on the wealthy”). The economy is humming along, and if Democrats take Congress it won’t be long before their tendency to raise taxes takes center stage and all these Republican scandals are only a pre-election memory. To coin a tired rhetorical flourish used by liberals themselves, do we really want to “step backward” when it comes to tax policy? Do we really want to return to the tax-and-spend days of pre-1994?

    You might think the GOP has had a spending spree over the last few years, with all the stories about earmarks and pork barrel spending. But keep in mind that increased spending has been as a result of entitlements (which the GOP can’t control, unless they reform entitlements themselves). Money that the GOP can control (known as discretionary spending) has gone down, when you factor out the costs of funding the war.

    Vote for the GOP as a policy choice. You’ll get a more tolerable tax burden vis-a-vis the Democrats, you’ll get more confirmations of Supreme Court justices that respect the constitution far more than they respect liberal ideology, you’ll get reduced discretionary spending, and of course you’ll get the benefits to national security that the GOP is known for.

    Scandals? Who’s going to remember those in 2007? And even if you do remember them, why should the entire party be blamed for the actions of only a few? It’s the policies that matter when choosing a party. Hopefully Americans will remember this when they make their choice between the two parties this November.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Vincent Fiore wrote:
    “But in the end, Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.”

    I can accept that several Republicans have themselves to blame, namely those who tangled with Jack Abramoff, Virginia Senator Allen’s gaffes, and of course Foley’s sexual pecadillos. But those are individuals. Certainly, you can’t assign blame to the whole party for the actions of these few. The public can, of course, but as a columnist with supposed insight why do you?

    I blame the GOP as a party for forsaking its own principles. The stem cell debate, for one. The GOP leadership broke with the conservative caucus in both houses, seeking not just to fund embryonic stem cell research but also the destruction of NEW embryos. There already were generations of stem cells once derived from live embryos that have continued to flourish without the need for more embryos being destroyed; plus stem cells can be derived from adult bone marrow and umbilical cords (saving lives both of embryos, i.e. human beings, and born human beings as well). The GOP leadership broke from the President, knowing defeat via veto was certain, and staged a political stunt designed to garner favor with the media and lovers of centrism. But they weren’t behaving like conservatives, that’s for sure. And what have the GOP leadership gained from this break with conservatism? Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is now thinking he’s a presidential contender, having sold out his base on funding embryonic destruction and still thinking he’s going to survive the primaries. He may not be leading any GOP majority to speak of, come 2007; but what the hell, he’s always got a shot at the White House, so screw the party. Right?

    The GOP is valuable for two specific reasons. The Supreme Court is one, and the party held together for that battle. Two new conservatives are on the court (justices Roberts and Alito), although only one non-conservative was replaced (Sandra Day O’Connor, a moderate, is now replaced by conservative Sam Alito). That means a net conservative gain of only one justice. And the public is supposed to settle for that? I suspect the next retirement on the court will come from the left, perhaps liberal justice John Paul Stevens. Imagine a Senate chaired by Democrats, ensuring the next nominee is at least as liberal as they are. Imagine no further gains on the Supreme Court for conservatives who only seek to subject laws to the constitution, rather than liberals who want to effect laws despite the constitution. Do you really want that?

    The second reason why the GOP is valuable is because it hasn’t raised your taxes. A Congress chaired in both houses by Democrats will almost certainly raise taxes (either by letting current tax breaks expire, or by adjusting income brackets, or by outright increases “on the wealthy”). The economy is humming along, and if Democrats take Congress it won’t be long before their tendency to raise taxes takes center stage and all these Republican scandals are only a pre-election memory. To coin a tired rhetorical flourish used by liberals themselves, do we really want to “step backward” when it comes to tax policy? Do we really want to return to the tax-and-spend days of pre-1994?

    You might think the GOP has had a spending spree over the last few years, with all the stories about earmarks and pork barrel spending. But keep in mind that increased spending has been as a result of entitlements (which the GOP can’t control, unless they reform entitlements themselves). Money that the GOP can control (known as discretionary spending) has gone down, when you factor out the costs of funding the war.

    Vote for the GOP as a policy choice. You’ll get a more tolerable tax burden vis-a-vis the Democrats, you’ll get more confirmations of Supreme Court justices that respect the constitution far more than they respect liberal ideology, you’ll get reduced discretionary spending, and of course you’ll get the benefits to national security that the GOP is known for.

    Scandals? Who’s going to remember those in 2007? And even if you do remember them, why should the entire party be blamed for the actions of only a few? It’s the policies that matter when choosing a party. Hopefully Americans will remember this when they make their choice between the two parties this November.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Vincent Fiore wrote:
    “But in the end, Republicans have no one to blame but themselves.”

    I can accept that several Republicans have themselves to blame, namely those who tangled with Jack Abramoff, Virginia Senator Allen’s gaffes, and of course Foley’s sexual pecadillos. But those are individuals. Certainly, you can’t assign blame to the whole party for the actions of these few. The public can, of course, but as a columnist with supposed insight why do you?

    I blame the GOP as a party for forsaking its own principles. The stem cell debate, for one. The GOP leadership broke with the conservative caucus in both houses, seeking not just to fund embryonic stem cell research but also the destruction of NEW embryos. There already were generations of stem cells once derived from live embryos that have continued to flourish without the need for more embryos being destroyed; plus stem cells can be derived from adult bone marrow and umbilical cords (saving lives both of embryos, i.e. human beings, and born human beings as well). The GOP leadership broke from the President, knowing defeat via veto was certain, and staged a political stunt designed to garner favor with the media and lovers of centrism. But they weren’t behaving like conservatives, that’s for sure. And what have the GOP leadership gained from this break with conservatism? Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is now thinking he’s a presidential contender, having sold out his base on funding embryonic destruction and still thinking he’s going to survive the primaries. He may not be leading any GOP majority to speak of, come 2007; but what the hell, he’s always got a shot at the White House, so screw the party. Right?

    The GOP is valuable for two specific reasons. The Supreme Court is one, and the party held together for that battle. Two new conservatives are on the court (justices Roberts and Alito), although only one non-conservative was replaced (Sandra Day O’Connor, a moderate, is now replaced by conservative Sam Alito). That means a net conservative gain of only one justice. And the public is supposed to settle for that? I suspect the next retirement on the court will come from the left, perhaps liberal justice John Paul Stevens. Imagine a Senate chaired by Democrats, ensuring the next nominee is at least as liberal as they are. Imagine no further gains on the Supreme Court for conservatives who only seek to subject laws to the constitution, rather than liberals who want to effect laws despite the constitution. Do you really want that?

    The second reason why the GOP is valuable is because it hasn’t raised your taxes. A Congress chaired in both houses by Democrats will almost certainly raise taxes (either by letting current tax breaks expire, or by adjusting income brackets, or by outright increases “on the wealthy”). The economy is humming along, and if Democrats take Congress it won’t be long before their tendency to raise taxes takes center stage and all these Republican scandals are only a pre-election memory. To coin a tired rhetorical flourish used by liberals themselves, do we really want to “step backward” when it comes to tax policy? Do we really want to return to the tax-and-spend days of pre-1994?

    You might think the GOP has had a spending spree over the last few years, with all the stories about earmarks and pork barrel spending. But keep in mind that increased spending has been as a result of entitlements (which the GOP can’t control, unless they reform entitlements themselves). Money that the GOP can control (known as discretionary spending) has gone down, when you factor out the costs of funding the war.

    Vote for the GOP as a policy choice. You’ll get a more tolerable tax burden vis-a-vis the Democrats, you’ll get more confirmations of Supreme Court justices that respect the constitution far more than they respect liberal ideology, you’ll get reduced discretionary spending, and of course you’ll get the benefits to national security that the GOP is known for.

    Scandals? Who’s going to remember those in 2007? And even if you do remember them, why should the entire party be blamed for the actions of only a few? It’s the policies that matter when choosing a party. Hopefully Americans will remember this when they make their choice between the two parties this November.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Just received the Evans & Novak political report, which handicaps political races around the country. Despite the Foley thing, Republicans are doing far better than expected and several seats once written off as Democratic takeovers are now predicted Republican retentions. If the GOP can contain the Foley scandal to just those involved, they are likely to retain Congress.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Just received the Evans & Novak political report, which handicaps political races around the country. Despite the Foley thing, Republicans are doing far better than expected and several seats once written off as Democratic takeovers are now predicted Republican retentions. If the GOP can contain the Foley scandal to just those involved, they are likely to retain Congress.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Just received the Evans & Novak political report, which handicaps political races around the country. Despite the Foley thing, Republicans are doing far better than expected and several seats once written off as Democratic takeovers are now predicted Republican retentions. If the GOP can contain the Foley scandal to just those involved, they are likely to retain Congress.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com

  • http://www.dontmakehermad.com/ dontmakehermad

    Just received the Evans & Novak political report, which handicaps political races around the country. Despite the Foley thing, Republicans are doing far better than expected and several seats once written off as Democratic takeovers are now predicted Republican retentions. If the GOP can contain the Foley scandal to just those involved, they are likely to retain Congress.

    John Dias
    Founder, DontMakeHerMad.com






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