Posted on 04/29/2009 9:35:48 PM PDT by GoldStandard
Meghan McCain writes that she was disappointed in Arlen Specters decision to bolt the GOP. No matter what some Republicans say, hes exactly what the party needs.
The frenzy over Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to switch parties has only just begun. As usual whenever there is major political news, my email inbox exploded with reader reactions. One in particular stood out: You are not a new face for the Republican Party. You are the problem with the Republican Party. If you'd like to be a feel-good liberal, there's a party for you. Do like Specter and stop wrecking the GOP. Your 15 minutes are about up. (This was from Shawn in Oceanside, California.)
Its one thing to say that about me, but its another to attack Sen. Specterthe longest-serving U.S. senator from Pennsylvania (he has been in office since 1980), and a man who has stood for some of the best elements of the Republican Party for decades. Granted, he has at times been a very vocal critic of conservative leaders and policies. But Specter has never shied away from putting the needs of his constituents first, nor has he ever been deterred from ruffling the feathers of some of the GOP's elite in order to do so.
For the record, less than 20 percent of my emails are negative in nature. But messages like the one I received from Shawn illustrate why Sen. Specter may have felt there was no more room for him in today's Republican Party. I certainly know the feeling. Being in the spotlight these last few months has been enlightening in so many ways. And I regularly hear from thousands of amazingly encouraging supporters, from 40-year-old mothers to 79-year-old retired Marine Corps veterans. But then there are the Shawns of the world. I dont blame him personally for his opinion. Its the unfortunate, still-unraveling mess left in the wake of strategic decisions made by conservative leaders over the last decade.
Which brings me back to the Specter incident, how it illustrates whats wrong with the party, and why I so strongly believe that what people like me are saying matters.
Let me be clear: I have a lot of respect for Sen. Specter. But I also can't help but feel like he's let us down. I'm sure this was a long, hard decision. The polls were looking very bleak in his primary contest. His probable opponent was nearly 20 points ahead in many polls. And I understand how hes been made to feel like an outcast by a small, vocal group. Still, this was an opportunity for Specter to hold his ground and set an example for progressive-minded Republicans trying to overcome one of their biggest obstacles: winning the party primaries.
Of course, this speaks to much larger problem in the GOP. We need to attract more centrist and progressive conservative voters at the primary level, so that level-headed candidates stand a chance. We need courageous Republicans more than ever. And this week, Sen. Specter turned his back. But he wasnt the only one.
Shortly after the senator's announcement, RNC Chairman Michael Steele released the following statement:
"Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not. Lets be honestSenator Specter didnt leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record. Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats dont do it first."
At its core, there is not much different about what the chairman said and what Ive written here. Specter's decision was most likely motivated by political reasons. But that's where the similarities end. What's left is the same, tired rhetoric conservatives simply cannot seem to get past. Even someone like Mr. Steelewho was elected to be a more inclusive, open voice for Republicanscant escape it.
His statement speaks volumes about the kind of party the GOP has become. Sen. Specter's voting record may not please many Republicans all the time. But you cant avoid the fact that he's been re-elected four timeshis votes clearly mean something to the people of Pennsylvania. Steele also ignored the real opportunity Specter's decision presented. The chairman could have dealt with the real issues plaguing the GOP, perhaps by saying something like this:
"It is unfortunate Senator Specter has decided to leave the Republican Party he has called home for decades. It's also unfortunate that he most likely did so for political purposes. But we will use this as an opportunity to acknowledge today's GOP has its work cut out for it. We clearly need to work on defining who we are, not just by our words, but by our actions. This is how we will reverse the shrinking of our ranks and invite old and new members to the table so that Republicans core goals can help lead America once again."
I guess that type of statement would have been too "off-message" for the RNC to release. It's too bad, because the party needs brave, articulate leaders who can balance a strong stance for core Republican beliefs with an inclusive message aimed at the electorate. Both Specter and Steele failed this week: One didn't stand up and fight for the soul of this party, and the other shrank to appeal to one of its most destructive characteristics.
A recent survey suggests less then 25 percent of Americans are willing to label themselves as a Republican. What kind of message do we send by continuing to applaud the exodus of people like Arlen Specter or calling for the departure of 24-year-old women like myself? I, for one, hope we get back to solving problems. I promise to do my part by continuing the discussion both in funny and serious ways. I hope you all do, too. Even those 20 percent of readers who think I'm a Democrat. I'm sorry to disappoint you, I'm still a Republican.
Isn’t Meghan a genius? /s
Sorry, but I have a hard time believing an airhead like Meghan wrote this, even if it is a regurgitation of all the RINO talking points. The left must be furnishing her with hacks.
The Republican Party doesn’t have time for “progressives” right now, and Specter is proof of that. There is no future in liberalizing conservatism, not for the Republican Party and not for America. The conservatives Meghan hates are not a small voice in the Republican Party. They are the majority of the Republican Party, and it would do no one but a few weak-minded politicians any good if the Republican majority loses its voice to a few RINOs. Democrat-lite doesn’t win for the Republican Party, even when they win. Small minded people like Meghan are convinced that Republican is just a political label that can mean whatever Republican politicians want it to mean, but if that is the case, the Republican Party loses the passion of its majority. Many will still vote, but the results will be what Meghan’s daddy experienced.
A RINO is someone who pretends to be a Republican while criticizing conservatives, but never criticizing Democrats. How could they criticize Democrats, except to suggest that they need to slow down, and be more incrementally minded? A RINO’s objections to leftist policies is with how fast America ceases to be historic America, not with the substance of Socialism and cultural relativism. The RINO appeal has always been that it is a slower alternative to the inevitable, and that may have been politically significant, but the inevitable has happened, and Democrat-lite is now completely pointless. By the time Americans figure out what they’ve bought into, they won’t be interested in getting what Democrat-lite offers. Americans are going to want a reversal of their mistake. So keep peddling your pop horse-crap Meghan, but don’t fool yourself into believing you are doing anything but hurting the Republican Party, just like Specter was.
Megan McCain, you are a mouthy brat. Go home and grow up!
Where are all the FISCAL conservatives? The real battle in the coming years is the destruction of the country FISCALLY.
For all the yelling about Abortion, it isn’t likely to change anytime soon regardless of elections. But there might not be a Republic to argue about abortion IN at the rate we are going.
The socially liberal Republicans, by extrapolation, should be FISCAL conservatives.....otherwise why are you in the GOP to begin with? And given the current situation we are in, you can only support Obama or change parties if you are a FAR left liberal.
Of course there is a far sadder possibility. A lot of the politicians are only in the party that gives them power. If we are truly in a sea change to Euro Socialism, then the interpreted path to power is through Obamanomics.
The key questions are this:
Is there an Economic Conservative that can sell/brand smaller government and power to the states successfully? The only candidates REMOTELY capable of this from a political point of view are Palin, Jindal and Huckabee (yes Huckabee..he is the only one I have heard that can sell it. Jindal knows it but can he sell it? Palin? wild card)
Is the population math impossible to overcome? If VA NC Ohio and FL have truly shifted to the Dems and more rust belt liberals move south....?
What do Jenna and Barbara Bush have to say about this.
This girl is just following in her father’s footsteps of trashing traditional Republicans.
Why are we, here, even listening to her?
Was her dad President?
Who is it exactly that is making her random thoughts into news?
Can’t we just ignore her?
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Translation. Specter left because he knew he would get crushed in the primary and he wants to stay in the Senate, but that is the GOP's fault for being too conservative.
This whole piece is so conflicted and contradictory that it makes me believe she didn't stop to read what her fingers were typing. I think it would receive a failing grade in most college courses.
“...progressive conservative voters...”
Yeah, what the heck is a “progressive” conservative? She’s a moron.
And you could put that right in front of her and she’d have no clue of the contradiction...
“And I understand how hes been made to feel like an outcast by a small, vocal group. “
Mainstream conservative Republicans?
Meg McLame is truly clueless.
Just ignore her; she'll go away eventually.
Why don’t you follow him, Meghan, and take your father with you.
They are making money off of your clicks.
Huh? If your down 20 pts. then your critics are by definition not a small group.
thanks for the heads up. old and new to the PC world, I have a lot to learn, no more clicks for her!! damn, the last thing I want to do is generate any income for that tub or her rino father!
No, he switched parties not in 1980 but in 1965, when he was joining the “John Lindsay Republican Party”. Lindsay left the GOP, his original “home” in 1971.
Looks to me like RINO Steele doesn't get it...the left-wing stuff WAS what passes for Specter's "principles".
There needed to be an expulsion far, far, far earlier ... let us never forget Specter's backstabbing of Robert Bork...and Ronald Reagan.
One type of true Conservative,God fearing,Right -to-life,2nd Amendment loving (not hyphenated)American.
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