Posted on 05/30/2011 8:48:45 AM PDT by LouAvul
WASHINGTON (AP) - In the first presidential election since the tea party's emergence, Republican candidates are drifting rightward on a range of issues, even though more centrist stands might play well in the 2012 general election.
On energy, taxes, health care and other topics, the top candidates hold positions that are more conservative than those they espoused a few years ago.
The shifts reflect the evolving views of conservative voters, who will play a major role in choosing the Republican nominee. In that sense, the candidates' repositioning seems savvy or even essential.
But the eventual nominee will face President Barack Obama in the 2012 general election, when independent voters appear likely to be decisive players once again. Those independents may be far less enamored of hard-right positions than are the GOP activists who will wield power in the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary and other nominating contests.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktul.com ...
Romney, who leads in most polls, has rejected his earlier stands supporting abortion rights, gun control and gay rights. He says his 2006 law requiring Massachusetts residents to obtain health insurance was right for his state at the time, but he has condemned the Obama-backed mandate that would cover all Americans.
Once past the lips, forever in someone’s history. No thanks, I’ll take a candidate that doesn’t have his history.
I don’t have any place for so called contenders who are trying to move right after governing as a liberal.
reagan was pro-choice....until he saw the results....millions of babies aborted...
They’d better do a lot more than merely drift right if they want my vote.
In other words, they will pretend to be whatever they think we want them to be.
Exactly, this whole premise is ludicrous.
My thoughts exactly.
What’s this drifting crap? Anybody who drifts is a drifter. Either you are anchored in the constitution, a republic, individual liberty, or you are not.
To “drift” implies a lack of foundation or anchors...well that says a lot I guess...
Freeper, I knew and and worked for Ronald Reagan, and Mitt Romney is no Ronald Reagan. Reagan's conversion was sincere and long-standing. Romney's many conversions last only until the next polling cycle, and the only issue he sincerely cares for is amassing personal power. Romney will not get my vote even if he is the nominee, because he cannot be trusted to dismantle ObamaCare or any of the other massively wasteful programs created by Pelosi and by the communist in our White House.
To the right of what?
Exactly, this whole premise is ludicrous.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
We need to shift the debate from Right and Left, Republican and Democrat, or even Liberal and Conservative, to simply Right and Wrong.
Under current thinking, The Left is allowed to point their finger at what THEY define as the Right (eg, George Bush), and say “Look at the hole we are in because of the Right”. Well, on spending, George Bush was Wrong. All the RINOs (or as the left paints them, the “Reich Wing”) were/are Wrong.
We are the Right. The Right is in the Center.
Lower taxes are Right. Higher taxes are Wrong.
Less government is Right. More government is Wrong.
Secure borders are Right. Illegal immigration is Wrong.
School choice is Right. Government school monopolies are Wrong.
Life is Right. Abortion is Wrong.
Free markets are Right. Socialism / Marxism / Communism is Wrong.
Etc. You get the idea.
” Republican candidates are drifting rightward on a range of issues, even though more centrist stands might play well in the 2012 general election.”
Says who?
There’s a big difference between being something and simply pandering. Just for some these clueless MSM libs, someone who is socially liberal their entire political career and sees the “light” a week before he/she runs in an election isn’t drifting.
And what about that “centrist” point of view? Seems like a moving target to me; maybe it’s somewhere between wishy and washy. Wishy-washy got us into this mess, and I seriously doubt it can get us out.
This is news? Historically, Republican “Politicians” go right for the primaries and back towards the middle and left for the general election. Reagan stayed put, which is why he cleaned the Dems clock both times. Now, which “contender” can follow this example with the least amount of “effort”. IMO, its Gov. Palin.
IMHO, there is NO comparison between Reagan and Romney. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.
Just anther leftist praying for a spineless John McCain reprise so that Obama can cruise to victory again. Only a principled conservative that is not afraid to stand up for the American ideal and against Zero’s socialist internationlism has a chance to change the dynamic of the electorate.
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