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GOP Base Rejects Calls to Moderate
politico.com ^ | April 26, 2009 | Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin

Posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:10 AM PDT by kellynla

A quick tour through the week’s headlines suggests the Republican Party is beginning to come to terms with the last election and that consensus is emerging among GOP elites that the party needs to move away from discordant social issues.

There was Sen. John McCain's daughter and his campaign manager who last week demanded that their fellow Republicans embrace same-sex marriage. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman – the most devoted modernizer among the party's 2012 hopefuls – won approving words from New York Times columnist Frank Rich for his call to downplay divisive values issues. The party’s top elected leaders in Congress, meanwhile, spooked by being attacked as the “party of no,” were recasting themselves as a constructive, respectful opposition to a popular president.

But outside Washington, the reality is very different. Rank-and-file Republicans remain, by all indications, staunchly conservative, and they appear to have no desire to moderate their views. GOP activists and operatives say they hear intense anger at the White House and at the party’s own leaders on familiar issues – taxes, homosexuality, and immigration. Within the party, conservative groups have grown stronger absent the emergence of any organized moderate faction.

There is little appetite for compromise on what many see as core issues, and the road to the presidential nomination lies – as always – through a series of states where the conservative base holds sway, and where the anger appears to be, if anything, particularly intense.

"There is a sense of rebellion brewing," said Katon Dawson, the outgoing South Carolina Republican Party chairman, who cited unexpectedly high attendance at anti-tax “tea parties” last week.

(Excerpt) Read more at dyn.politico.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 111th; atlasshrugged; bigtent; bigtpartyjuly4; buygoldnow; buygunsnow; conservatismnow; donttreadonme; educationnow; fairtax; freeamericanow; freethegop; givemeliberty; gop; gop2010; grassroots; jointhenra; libertarian; liberty; moderates; neolibertarian; palin2012; politicians; prosperity; rallythetroops; rinos; shortstocksnow; takebackamerica; time2partyagain; time4anotherparty; time4reagan; whatthehell; whoisjohngalt
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1 posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:10 AM PDT by kellynla
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To: kellynla

Haven’t the moderates already done enough to destroy the party???


2 posted on 04/26/2009 5:34:02 AM PDT by Always Right (Obama: more arrogant than Bill Clinton, more naive than Jimmy Carter, and more liberal than LBJ.)
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To: kellynla

The GOP’s fine with going to hell as long as they get to ride shotgun.


3 posted on 04/26/2009 5:35:10 AM PDT by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: kellynla

Dear Juan,

please ‘Jump Ship’.....we don’t mind. And take that vapid daughter along with ya.


4 posted on 04/26/2009 5:35:44 AM PDT by Vaquero ("an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: kellynla

Ah, yes, the “wise” D.C. Republicans versus the Elmer Gantrys at the grassroots who don’t know any better.

Too bad this narrative is the same one they used last time.

Republicans are a lot more complex coalition than this report makes things out to be. But it is a conservative party, and it will be going forward.

Be Seeing You,

Chris


5 posted on 04/26/2009 5:35:58 AM PDT by section9 (Major Motoko Kusanagi says, "Jesus is Coming. Everybody look busy...")
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To: section9

Moderate means LIBERAL.

Yes, rejected


6 posted on 04/26/2009 5:36:40 AM PDT by JaneNC (I)
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To: kellynla

If the GOP moves to the right and stands for grass roots fly-over-country concerns, it will strike a massive cord among the American people. Happy Sunday to you all!


7 posted on 04/26/2009 5:38:07 AM PDT by RoadTest (" -strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it)
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To: kellynla

Goes to show how out of touch the GOP elitists in DC are.


8 posted on 04/26/2009 5:40:08 AM PDT by JohnLongIsland
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To: kellynla

Frank Rich gave “approving nods”????

Well we better listen then....

/s


9 posted on 04/26/2009 5:41:24 AM PDT by Adder (Proudly ignoring Zero's political stylings since 1-20-09!)
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To: JaneNC
Rejected Pictures, Images and Photos
10 posted on 04/26/2009 5:41:57 AM PDT by CommieCutter (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/programs/ht/qt/3013_08.html)
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To: kellynla

Why don’t people like Mc Cains daughter just become Democrats? Then they will feel comfortable with the people who think like them.


11 posted on 04/26/2009 5:42:03 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: kellynla
When has the left ever moderated from communism?

This is the same old game that progressives have played for a 100 years. Socialism and socialism lite that your choices.

NOPE, socialism or liberty and the Constitution, that's my choice.

12 posted on 04/26/2009 5:42:12 AM PDT by Tarpon (You abolish your responsibilities, your surrender your rights.)
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To: JaneNC

Bear in mind that the GOP needs to win in the northeast. Conservatism can sell there. Our candidates up there can win on a conservative, pro-life platform (I believe Carcieri did that, in of all places, Rhode Island, the most D state in the Union). But they have to have the guts to run on real reform and real change, not the faux change Obama offered.

They have to want to give real power back to the people.

That said, the Republican Party is a coalition. There are going to be pro-choice Republicans in this party. They are going to run for office. I’d rather have them in the tent pission out than outside the tent pissing in.

Be Seeing You,

Chris


13 posted on 04/26/2009 5:42:55 AM PDT by section9 (Major Motoko Kusanagi says, "Jesus is Coming. Everybody look busy...")
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To: kellynla
I don't care a RAT's rear end about "moderating" or "re-casting image" or avoiding being seen as the "party of no." As conservatives, we either hold fast to our principles (i.e., the Constitution & Judeo-Christian culture) or we give the nation over to the barbarians. Now is the time for principle over pragmatism.

If leadership in the pubbie clan do not see this and heed it, they will lose until they do. In the meantime, I am totally open to possibly fruitless third party politics - at least it would stand for something. I no longer have the time of day for compromisers and career politicians.
14 posted on 04/26/2009 5:43:19 AM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Actually, it all started back in Mayberry. Helen Crump was a traveler and Floyd, well, you know...)
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To: kellynla
"GOP Rejects calls to Moderate"

GOP Rejects calls to Disinergrate

Fixed it!
15 posted on 04/26/2009 5:43:28 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 ("Hello friend, welcome to Earth zone 4 - quadrant 7- sector 9”)
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To: kellynla

Wake up boys and girls!
When it comes to the ELECTION............
The conservatives WIN.
The “moderate” RINOs LOSE.

What’s complicated about that?


16 posted on 04/26/2009 5:43:50 AM PDT by Flintlock
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To: John 3_19-21

Disinergrate = Disintegrate


17 posted on 04/26/2009 5:45:19 AM PDT by John 3_19-21 ("Hello friend, welcome to Earth zone 4 - quadrant 7- sector 9”)
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To: kellynla

These Republican elite need to be replaced, how do we go about replacing them?

Last time I looked, most people support the GOP on these discordant issues, the issue is they don’t vote for these issues as a priority. You have to give them something to chew on like Obama-maniac.


18 posted on 04/26/2009 5:45:29 AM PDT by dila813
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To: kellynla

Anyone have a big “FAIL” sign?


19 posted on 04/26/2009 5:45:58 AM PDT by exit82 (The Obama Cabinet: There was more brainpower on Gilligan's Island.)
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To: kellynla; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

20 posted on 04/26/2009 5:46:19 AM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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