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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
With a unified base, Bush is moving to the center, while Gore continues to alienate his base with the selection of Sen. Joe Lieberman as his running mate.
Aug 7, 2000 | The Republican convention has redefined the Republican Party as the party of the American majority. For the first time since the end of the Cold War, it is a party infused with a vision, committed to a cause and united behind a leader who is not afraid to lead.
In Philadelphia, the Bush campaign repositioned the Republican Party as a party of diversity, inclusion and opportunity -- the party of American ideals. For four nights, the Bush message was this: We are committed to reuniting our nation by treating everyone according to his or her merit, by tearing down our internal walls between rich and poor, black and white, and all minority groups, by extending opportunity to everyone. We will reach out to every willing heart and leave no child behind.
This is the framework of an American governing party. If Republicans stay the course and remain faithful to these goals, they will win. Already, Bush's compassionate conservative message has helped him cut into Gore's Democratic base, a base that will not exactly be energized by the selection of moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman as Gore's running mate.
In the aftermath of Philadelphia, the Democrats and their allies in the press are crying, "It's not fair. They're pretending to be Democrats. They're for diversity? Who are they kidding? Only Democrats and caring human beings can be for diversity. Real Republicans can't want that. Inclusion? Only Democrats have a social conscience. Republicans can't want inclusion. Republicans are mean-spirited and reactionary and intolerant. They're anti-minority. They're Klansmen without the sheets."
First, if you really can't tell the difference between Democrats and the Republicans in Philadelphia, try recalling when you last saw a Democratic convention that devoted a whole night to praise of the military and the call for a greater national defense. For that, you'd have to go back to John F. Kennedy (in truth, a Reagan Democrat). And that's only one issue among many that define the profound differences between Democrats and the new Republicans.
Second, BINGO!!! Yes, the Republicans in Philadelphia looked like caring and inclusive Americans. And that's why Democrats and press liberals are hysterical. They're going nuts because Republicans have taken away their target! If Republicans don't look like the demons they're often portrayed as, who are Democrats going to attack?
Even though they once were the party of FDR, today, to paraphrase Bush's acceptance speech, "The only thing they have to offer is fear itself." If Republicans look like Democrats (you know, compassionate, caring, no horns or tails) then independents, swing voters and even centrists in their own party will be more ready to listen to what Republicans have to say, and more likely to vote Republican in November. (Bush was up 17 points among independent voters as of the close of the convention.)
