The Fight for 2016

As I watch Donald Trump in the news, this modern-day incarnation of Narcissus travels the country seemingly trying to derail his own campaign with one ridiculous statement after another.  And indicative of an age of runaway Ritalin prescriptions, some angry and misguided people are popping Mr. Trump’s missives like pills.  From a political party that can call its own the likes of Lincoln and Reagan, this vaudeville barker is muddling the message of real conservatives who could make a serious and honorable run for the Oval Office. 

A good friend, and a very intelligent one, refers to Mr. Trump as revolutionary.  I disagree.  There is nothing revolutionary, new or extraordinary about the businessman-turned-demagogue.  History is replete with fringe characters (some good, others not) aspiring for the White House – Aaron Burr in 1800, Hugh White in 1836, Henry Wallace in 1948, George Wallace in 1968 and Ross Perot in 1992.  Beyond U.S. history, a string of such people have sought power and had their supporters and popularity.  Mr. Trump does not represent anything new but he is a new incarnation of an old idea.  Appealing to our baser instincts elevates nothing and will ultimately produce nothing but more acrimony. 

For all the talk from Democrats regarding the homogeneity of conservatism, there are some varied and powerful ideas coming from the candidates who, sadly, are not being heard or so we thought.  In the last few weeks, some of the Republican candidates are making progress in the polls.  For the most part, they are also seen as outsiders without the toxic, ad hominem nature of the front runner.  As we are still nearly a half a year out of Iowa, it is hoped that some of these candidates will be able to dispatch Mr. Trump and allow him to return to whatever he was doing a year ago.

Recently surging in the polls is retired surgeon Ben Carson.  In debates and in conversations, he has shown a serious, quietly humorous and mature voice on the campaign trail.  As the head of the Republican National Convention said, I’m not sure about one who has no political experience gaining the nomination but he stands as a respectful and thoughtful voice.  His measured and articulate position on why the Affordable Care Act is not workable and his support for a guest worker program has earned him some attention.

Carly Fiorina is another polished and thoughtful voice in the Republican race.  The former CEO of Hewlett Packard earned rave reviews after her appearance in the matinee debate a few weeks back.  There is a bevy of videos that show Ms. Fiorina being harangued by one reporter after another on various issues but she has shown poise, what the French call sangfroid.  Her position on a simplified tax code has drawn some interest as well as her criticism of President Obama’s net neutrality policy. 

He is not an outsider but I’ve been a fan of Florida Senator Marco Rubio for a while now.  As a junior senator, he has shown a great deal of political courage for putting out on record his plan to deal with issues such as immigration and budgetary concerns.  Given his background as the son of Cuban refugees, it is not surprising Senator Rubio has steadfastly opposed the president’s moves to normalize relations with Cuba.  It might have been a losing position but his willingness to put himself out there and support his constituents is admirable.  He is young, passionate and articulate.  He represents the potential future of the conservative movement.

There is so much substance among some of the candidates in this Republican preliminary fight that it makes it all the more puzzling that Mr. Trump continues to dominate the political scene.  Some pundits believe that there is no way he will still be around come January but they are likely the same bunch who said the same things months before.  In some ways, Mr. Trump is the realization of the worst fears of cultural critics.  In other ways, he is simply the latest in a long line of societal agitators.  Let us hope that another can appeal to the “better angels of our nature.”

Republicans and Women

In the last general election, women voted primarily for President Barack Obama, though the percentage of women voting for the incumbent dropped from 2008.  Throughout the two political party nominating conventions, two different images were presented.  In North Carolina, the Democrats harped on the idea that the Republicans were waging a “war on women.”  Meanwhile, in Florida, the Republicans were highlighting their up-and-coming female stars who dot the political landscape, from the state legislatures to the federal one.  Recently, the fight to label the Republicans as anti-women has taken on a fever pitch in various states, most notably Texas, on the issue of abortion. 

One of the more puzzling things about the abortion fight in Texas, one that has already been addressed in North Carolina and Wisconsin, was the content of the pro-abortion argument.  State Senator Wendy Davis of Texas drew a great deal of attention to herself and her cause with a filibuster of an abortion bill.  Now, given the attention she received, given how often her supporters mentioned back-alley coat hanger abortions, one would be forgiven for thinking that Texas was considering abolishing abortion altogether.  No, what the bill was suggesting is that there should be a law against abortions beyond 20 weeks – that is five months and well into the second trimester.  We are entering into late-term abortions territory here.  Is that what Sen. Davis “bravely and courageously” fought for?  Did she fight for the right to abort babies that are into their final stages of development?  Is that what her “oh-so-cool” pink sneakers are about? 

The news media made a great deal about the amount of people swarming the Texas capitol but a couple of things need to be understood.  One, Austin is a bit of an odd duck in Texas as it is easily the most liberal city in the state.  Therefore, the fact that a horde of late-term abortion advocates could descend upon the legislature is not surprising.  Second, the majority of Texans and of Americans are against abortions beyond twenty weeks.  Once surveys ask about late-term abortions, the numbers of those opposed are even higher.  However, the media has painted a narrative that the proposed state laws are unconstitutionally restrictive and the opposition to the laws is increasingly large.  There is a discontinuity between the facts of the situation and the reality.  Is it possible that the same gap exists when speaking about Republicans and women?

According to Gallup, women’s support of President Obama dropped 3% in 2012 compared to 2008.  One might think this is rather paltry but given that women, traditionally, have always been keen towards the Democrat Party, the number is nevertheless surprising.  Additionally, given the “war on women” perpetrated by the Republicans, this statistic seems particularly perplexing.  While numbers of women are small in Congress as a whole, there are a sizeable minority of Republican women serving in Washington, as well as governors throughout the country.  When one considers that thirty of the country’s fifty states are governed by Republicans, the idea that women are rejecting the conservative message also rings hollow.  By the way, four of those thirty states are governed by women (Jan Brewer in Arizona, Susana Martinez in New Mexico, Mary Fallin in Oklahoma and Nikki Haley in South Carolina).  In comparison, there is only one female Democrat governor (Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire).   

Historically, there has been significant female support for Republicans and conservatism.  The philosophy’s message has a great deal that appeal to women.  Political pundits often attempt to pigeon hole various groups and in doing so, minimize the minority within that group and in their own way, prevent its growth.  The fact is that with every major demographic group that has traditionally voted Democrat, there is a growing number voting Republican and representing or trying to represent the Republican Party.  It is interesting that most of the pundits on television who claim to have the answer for the Republicans in future elections are Democrats.  Call me Jewish but I doubt their sincerity.  The best way to win future elections is not to forego conservative principles.  It is the philosophy that most empowers women and the rest of us too.