Posted by
Rich on Saturday, February 09, 2008 6:58:53 AM
We have been reading the editorials about the meaning of super Tuesday,
the withdrawal of Mitt Romney from the race, the near certainty of a
McCain win, and the virtual tie in delegates between Clinton and Obama.
What
has struck us about all the pundit comments, predictions and analysis
is that one party is internally arguing major issues and the other is
fighting among themselves along race, class and gender lines.
On
the Democratic party side the discussion is about what segment of
Democratic voters each candidate won. As E.J. Dionne points out, "Hillary Clinton and Barack
Obama fought to a near draw in a series of Democratic primaries that
revealed a sharp gender gap, a generation gap at least as deep as the
age divide that was so widely advertised in the 1960s, and differences
across lines of ethnicity, race and class."
Democrats are
fighting over liberal voting blocks within the party. They are pitting black
against Hispanic and white, old against young, rich against poor. They
seem to be dividers within themselves. A long primary is expected,
which most agree will hurt the Democrats. Are we seeing Democrats
self-destructing before our very eyes?
What is not being
discussed by Democrats is their stands on issues that are truly
important to most Americans, especially independents. Does this mean
that the Democrats don't need to because the far left of the party is
in total agreement? What about appealing to the broader voting public -
moderates, independents? The longer the primary fight goes on for
Democrats the less time to re-adjust their message to bring in the
great American center.
On the Republican side, John McCain is
the winner. His challenge according to Michael Barone is, "the McCain
aircraft can expect some turbulence before it gets its wheels down.
Vocal conservatives, led by talk show hosts Rush Limbaugh and Sean
Hannity, insist that McCain isn't a proper conservative."
Republicans
are arguing issues important to conservative voters. Senator McCain has
the Independent vote and moderate Democratic vote locked. He now must
assure the Republican party's conservative base that he will govern as
a conservative. He began that process with his speech at the
Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C this week.
Conservatives
are arguing over the soul of the party. They are having a family feud
over major policy issues such as immigration, taxes, nomination of
strict constructionist judges, the War on Terror and global warming.
This is good for any political party. A re-affirmation of basic
conservative principles has been why voters have put Republicans in the
White House in seven of the past ten Presidential elections.
As
Michael Barone points out John McCain must, "argue that he is like a
United States Marine -- no better friend, no worse enemy -- and in the
years ahead he is determined there will be no better friend for the
causes they hold dearest."
Senator McCain will unite the party
under his leadership. What pundits are not talking about yet are the
real issues voters care about - where each party and their candidates
stand. That is what wins Presidential elections - strong clear stands
on key issues.
On this I give the Republicans a big lead and expect that lead to grow.