While many conservatives celebrated Sen. Arlen Specter’s switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party as a good thing for “party purity,” is a purge of moderates really a good thing for the Republican Party? I’d argue – and I know I’m not alone – that a continued purge of moderates from the ranks of the Republican Party will only serve to further minimize the GOP for the foreseeable future.
Megan McCain, daughter of 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain, has her own concerns about the standing of moderates within the Republican Party:
“I just wish that moderates like myself — more moderate Republicans and more socially liberal Republicans — weren’t looked at as, ‘Get rid of the dirty moderates. Get rid of them,’” the 24-year-old told CNN affiliate KTAR radio in a joint interview with her father.
“We need to be an inclusive party. We need to be an umbrella party. We need to inspire 20-somethings, which is something the Obama campaign did very well,” she said on the “Mac & Gaydos” show.
To be honest, I’d love to see the Republican Party veer as far to the right as possible, because in doing so, they’ll cede the middle of the political spectrum to the Democratic Party, and they’ll ensure their status as a minority party for the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, our political system is at its best when there are two strong parties providing opposing viewpoints from which a moderate consens….ah, who am I kidding? When’s the last time Democrats and Republicans worked together on anything substantive that benefited a majority of Americans?
The timing of this post couldn’t be better for me. I can’t say I agree with Megan McCain on every issue but regarding this issue she does have a good point. I know it’s fun for you and other liberals to watch Republicans eat their own but it’s really not funny. We live in one country and it is sad to me it is so divided. It’s depressing and I don’t think it will ever get better.
Anon, you’re right about how divided our country is, and the Republican Party becoming more ideologically pure and less of a “big tent” is only going to make that worse.
“It’s depressing….”
Yes, very much so. I feel like up is down and down is up.
I even took a few days off of blogging.
I feel homeless. aka like a RINO to one side and a Repug to the other.
Yes, “…really not funny.”
Rich, I don’t view you as a “Repug” or a “RINO,” for what it’s worth. Some of your beliefs may fall to the right of mine on the political spectrum, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve respect. To be honest, I think you’d find I’m not nearly as liberal as it would seem…
Great. Just what I need for my rep…kind words from a commie…
lol, just kiddin 😛
Rich, I’d prefer if you got the term right….I’m a pinko commie.
“I feel homeless. aka like a RINO to one side and a Repug to the other.”
Rich…I can so relate to that! I don’t fit in with either side and I suppose that is okay. I rather not fit in if fitting in means I have to sell my soul to the devil (so to speak).