I’ll be among the first to say it’s important, as the Progressive Republican movement grows, that we not directly antagonize and/or alienate the socially conservative wing. Despite our disagreements on the direction the Party has taken, we are all still Republicans, committed to reducing the size and cost of government, while maintaining a strong national defense.
It’s clear, though that many on the social conservative side do not agree with that. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, an announced candidate for leadership of the RNC has felt it necessary to distance himself from the Republican Leadership Council, The RLC is an organization much like ours. It supports fiscally conservative Republicans with a diverse set of social values. The RLC is led by former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman and former Missiouri Senator John Danforth.
You read that correctly. Christine Todd Whitman and John Danforth. Not Jeremiah Wright. Not Bill Ayers. Heck, not even Bill Clinton. The former REPUBLICAN Governor of New Jersey and the man who pretty much shepherded Clarence Thomas through the Supreme Court nomination process. It’s now necessary for a person to distance himself from these longtime bastions of the GOP in order to rise in the Party’s ranks?
What rational person can see the benefit of allowing the Party to continue this way? It’s time for Progressive Republicans to stand and with one loud voice say ENOUGH. If loyal Republicans like Whitman and Danforth don’t pass the orthodoxy test, what hope do we ever have of becoming the majority party again?
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Frankly this news upsets me. I always admired Sen. Danforth and Gov Whitman and Lt. Governor Steele for taking a stand to actively support canidates who support fiscal discipline, a clean environment, and a strong defense.
The candidate Lt. Gov. supports these ideas but to get further along in the party he know wants to distance himself from any moderate label.
The Lt. Governor to me was a strong pro-life moderate who incorporated many of the catholic churches social justice teachings into his positions. However, he is now turning his back on those views in order to further his own politicl future.
Now all of the other youung catholic progressive republicans like me have to look for another role model.