McManus' column "The GOP looks inward" defines the bitter Republican divide following the 2012 between better
outreach or better policy. The only issue, and thus the only person, who
divided the party was Romney himself. He did not want to be President, yet he
felt obligated to run. He did not support ObamaCare, but he neither explained nor
justified its blue-print, RomneyCare, until the last minute. He wanted to reach
out to minorities, but he ended up rebuffing them with “self-deportation.” He
embraced “gay rights” without expounding his pro-life views. He wanted to
represent everyone, but he misrepresented nearly half-of them with his “47%”
remark. Romney the man presented a Wall Street archetype divorced from the
concerns of Middle America; a distant New England Moderate from a conservative
party born of President Richard Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”.
outreach or better policy. The only issue, and thus the only person, who
divided the party was Romney himself. He did not want to be President, yet he
felt obligated to run. He did not support ObamaCare, but he neither explained nor
justified its blue-print, RomneyCare, until the last minute. He wanted to reach
out to minorities, but he ended up rebuffing them with “self-deportation.” He
embraced “gay rights” without expounding his pro-life views. He wanted to
represent everyone, but he misrepresented nearly half-of them with his “47%”
remark. Romney the man presented a Wall Street archetype divorced from the
concerns of Middle America; a distant New England Moderate from a conservative
party born of President Richard Nixon’s “Southern Strategy”.
The Republican brand is fine. The party just needs a broader
outreach, fewer debates, a quicker primary season, and willing, whole-hearted
contenders.
outreach, fewer debates, a quicker primary season, and willing, whole-hearted
contenders.