Posted on 11/18/2008 7:24:10 PM PST by Wegotsarah.com
As Republicans sort out the reasons for their defeat, they likely will overlook or dismiss the gorilla in the pulpit.
Three little letters, great big problem: G-O-D.
I'm bathing in holy water as I type.
To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn't soon cometh.
Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth -- as long as we're setting ourselves free -- is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that.
The choir has become absurdly off-key, and many Republicans know it.
But they need those votes!
So it has been for the Grand Old Party since the 1980s or so, as it has become increasingly beholden to an element that used to be relegated to wooden crates on street corners.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
WOW!!! I DONT REALLY AGREE WITH MOST OF Ms. PARKER’S STUFF BUT SHE DOES HAVE SOME POINTS. FOR REFLECTION AS TO WHY WE GOT THUMPED AND WILL GET THUMPED AGAIN.
Chasing “conspiracy birth certificates” and manufacturing “commie fears” wont get us back into power.
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To be more specific, the evangelical, right-wing, oogedy-boogedy branch of the GOP is what ails the erstwhile conservative party and will continue to afflict and marginalize its constituents if reckoning doesn’t soon cometh. Simply put: Armband religion is killing the Republican Party. And, the truth — as long as we’re setting ourselves free — is that if one were to eavesdrop on private conversations among the party intelligentsia, one would hear precisely that. The choir has become absurdly off-key, and many Republicans know it.
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Which is to say, the GOP has surrendered its high ground to its lowest brows. In the process, the party has alienated its non-base constituents, including other people of faith (those who prefer a more private approach to worship), as well as secularists and conservative-leaning Democrats who otherwise might be tempted to cross the aisle.
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Here’s the deal, ‘pubbies: Howard Dean was right. It isn’t that culture doesn’t matter. It does. But preaching to the choir produces no converts. And shifting demographics suggest that the Republican Party — and conservatism with it — eventually will die out unless religion is returned to the privacy of one’s heart where it belongs.
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Religious conservatives become defensive at any suggestion that they’ve had something to do with the GOP’s erosion. And, though the recent Democratic sweep can be attributed in large part to a referendum on Bush and the failing economy, three long-term trends identified by Emory University’s Alan Abramowitz have been devastating to the Republican Party: increasing racial diversity, declining marriage rates and changes in religious beliefs.
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Suffice it to say, the Republican Party is largely comprised of white, married Christians. Anyone watching the two conventions last summer can’t have missed the stark differences: One party was brimming with energy, youth and diversity; the other felt like an annual Depends sales meeting.
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But, like it or not, we are a diverse nation, no longer predominantly white and Christian. The change Barack Obama promised has already occurred, which is why he won.
Among Jewish voters, 78 percent went for Obama. Sixty-six percent of under-30 voters did likewise. Forty-five percent of voters ages 18-29 are Democrats compared to just 26 percent Republican; in 2000, party affiliation was split almost evenly.
The young will get older, of course. Most eventually will marry, and some will become their parents. But nonwhites won’t get whiter. And the nonreligious won’t get religion through external conversion. It doesn’t work that way.
Given those facts, the future of the GOP looks dim and dimmer if it stays the present course. Either the Republican Party needs a new base — or the nation may need a new party.
Kathleen Parker’s e-mail address is kparker@kparker.com.
The GoP needs to go back to the roots. The real ones.
Trying to be the “Negative Party” or “Obstructionist Party” or “Smear Party” or “Conspiracy Party” or “Hate Obama Party” or “Hate none-whites Party” or “Hate seculars Party” or “Hate Environment Party” or “Hate none-uniform views Party” or “Hate following the Laws Party” wont get us back to power.
This was the most important messgae that Ms. Palin delivered last week at the Governors meeting in Florida.
Trying to be the ANTI-PARTY will not take us back to power.
We need to be in the solutions business. Ms. Palin and Mr. Jindal said it best.
Either we reform to a “SOLUTIONS PARTY” or we stay in oppo forever.
As far as the PR war, the GOP will never win. What percentage of the media, Journalism professors, students etc... are for/understand limited government and the sanctity of human life? The answer is not to become like “them” but to be above “them”, maintaining your principles. The solutions are already built in but the people crave "free stuff". So your answer is to give the people "free stuff" by appeasing them? Come on.
Today’s world has so many problems. And they require different solutions for different situations. Conservatism should demand that solutions (that may or may not draw from our principles) be used to solve the problems.
PRAGMATISM is a serious virtue of core CONSERVATISM values. That is undertsanding that we have to solve problems.
Standing in a crowd shouting principles while people go hungry, go homeless, go jobless, etc does not work anymore.
SOLUTIONS my friend. Go read the output of the FL meeting.
The solution is for government to create the atmosphere of success, not be the provider. That means shrinking government programs, lowering debt, taxing people at a lower rate, taxing less, saying no to the whiners you want appeased, explaining to “the people” the concepts of self control, self government and liberty etc...
Apparently you value your chains instead of liberty.
Now thats a start. If we can follow Ms. Palin, Mr. Jindal and Mr. Pawlenty words of “solutions” for everyday america that have a conservative shade, we would be heading somewhere.
Not wasting time with frivilous birth-certificates and school certifcates and appointments of Mr. O.
Unless we want to be permanently in opposition.
Talk about getting into someone’s head and revealing their deepest thoughts.
Excellent analysis - are you a doctor or something?
I like and appreciate all those on FreeRepublic who chase conspiracy theories.
Stop and think for just a moment...
how incredibly nice it would be for anyone in a position of power (say Justice Thomas) to rise up and cite the constitution to our new pres-elect.
To hold him to the ultimate standard and impose the only penalty allowed by law when Barack Hussein Obama fails to prove he is a Natural born citizen of the United States of America!!! When he is reviled and thrown out as an imposter!
“They also know not to shove it down other people’s throats. The same goes for civilized non-believers.”
I agree with this sentiment on principle, but we probably disagree with the application. I believe that the taking of any human life is wrong, including the unborn. I also believe that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision, not one based in constitutional law. Am I imposing my “religious” views on anyone by trying to elect people who will nominate justices who will overturn this law and return the making of laws of this kind back to the legislature?
Wrong.
The nomination of Sarah Palin for one.
I wasn’t talking about Abortion, I was talking about school prayer, “intelligent design”, and screaming about this being a “christian nation” as if we are a theocracy. THOSE are the people I am referencing. They are a very small minority in this country, but (like the militant atheists) they talk VERY LOUD.
The nomination of Sarah Palin for one.
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Anything else?
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