GOP Not Get It
by Chip Hanlon
Issue 138 - August 26, 2009

You can give him credit for answering the question directly, I suppose, but that's about it. Here's what I'm talking about.

I just came from a small meeting this afternoon with a very senior member of the GOP Congressional leadership, and I can tell you with certainty something which should dismay the rank-and-file Republican voter: they do not have a clue why they lost the majority in 2006. Here's how it went down.

In response to another attendee's question about where the GOP would head, this official flatly confirmed rumors I have been hearing for months, that Congressional GOP Leadership believes that the only reason they lost the majority in both houses was due to an unpopular war (Iraq) and an unpopular President (W). The ONLY reason.

Thus, I asked a follow-up to the other person's question, which led to a sharp, brief exchange that I'll do my best to capture the flavor of next.

Hanlon: "Elected Official, you said something in your last reply which troubled me. I hear from various sources that the House and Senate GOP Leadership have taken essentially no lessons away from the '06 and '08 elections, that they believe they've done nothing wrong and that the only reason they lost was due to the unpopularity of George W. Bush.

That Iraq war certainly energized the Left and lost us independent votes, but I'd respectfully submit that does not explain the thing which troubles so many of us within our party, and that is our failure on spending. Don't you worry about how to re-energize your base on this topic?"

Elected Official: "I understand there has been a lot of griping from some Republicans out there about spending, but if you take away the Iraq War, which was funded by debt, we did a pretty good job on spending. And I will tell you this: every pollster out there will tell you that the only issue which moved voters was Iraq. You may be concerned with what you perceive to be our 'failings' on spending, but it was Iraq, and Iraq alone, which put us into the minority."

Hanlon: "Again with respect, Elected Official, then how do you explain the surging popularity of a fringe personality like Ron Paul? Don't you think that the bulk of his newfound support has to have come from frustrated Republicans who see in his fiscal message something that's missing from today's GOP?"

Elected Official: "Well, that might explain some of his support, sure, but..." and on again he went into the yada-yada of those polls he cited the first time.

"Griping." That is a direct quote.

And let me tell you: the tone of his reply was, 'listen kid, let me straighten you out here.' It was terse and it was unaccepting.

If he had looked up from his soup after replying, he would have seen the many looks in my direction from others in attendance around the table: a couple were giving me the 'atta boy' look while a half dozen others were literally shaking their heads at his reply. One openly mouthed, "unbelievable" to me.

That's the reaction from this group of Orange County GOP hitters, but I'm the one who's out of touch.

The understanding in his mind is clear: us silly little fiscal conservatives out here aren't going anywhere. So, I guess if you expect the NRSC to stop endorsing extreme moderates in GOP primaries or are hoping the House GOP will hear our pleas on spending restraint and abusive earmarks, you are going to be very disappointed.

And Obama's current unpopularity is only fueling this elected official's confusion; he kept referring to the generic ballot poll, the question which simply asks, "if the election were held today, would you vote for a Democrat or a Republican?" Apparently, that deficit was 12% a year ago versus dead even today.

Thus, this member of Leadership sees that poll as evidence he's on the right track. I see it and think, 'imagine where our party could already be if voters trusted that the GOP would return to its senses on fiscal restraint!'

Well, it turns out voters are right not to trust our party's elected leadership, if this person was any indication. It is plainly obvious that if Republicans were magically handed the majority tomorrow, it would be business as usual on spending. No lessons learned.

"At least we don't spend as much as the Democrats," that was his message, which he actually stated at another point. Inspiring.

Like I said at the top of this article: give this elected official some credit for answering the question directly rather than dancing around it with some nonsense meant to placate me. Unfortunately, what he openly admitted is that Republican Leadership still has no idea why it finds itself in a deep minority.

It was one of the most disheartening meetings I've ever attended.

Chip Hanlon blogs at Red Country, where this first appeared.

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