Many times, I’ve heard Rush Limbaugh complain about political consultants and how they all parrot the same thing about having to go after the independent voter. A few quotes from Limbaugh:
Rasmussen and, everybody knows, the independents in terms of political consultants, these people that hire themselves out, the supposed expertise to get candidates elected, independents is where they go to work every day, the so-called undecideds, the moderates, independents, whatever you want to call them, the 20%, basically that are not ideologically tied to either the Republican or the Democrat Party… Read more…
I’ve always found it strange that the independents — say if John Boehner were to be critical of Obama — would say, “Okay! That’s it! We knew it! We’ve had it with you Republicans. To hell with you! We’re going back to the Democrats,” where we’re treated daily with the rackets of people like Barney Frank and Maxine Waters who tell us to go to hell and worse. I, frankly, have never bought it, but our side has. Read more…
I guess you didn’t notice that the independents abandoned Obama as far back as November 2010 in the midterm elections? Obama hasn’t had these independents for onto a year now, and nothing he’s doing is going to get them back. He’s in danger of losing his base. That’s why he has to assume positions and speak the rhetoric that he truly believes. Read more…
I am apparently the black sheep of political consultants as I never advise my clients to go after the independents but rather I parrot Rush Limbaugh with “Conservatism works every time it’s tried.”
For more than 20 years now we have tried comparing Republican candidates to Ronald Reagan and most candidates have tried likening themselves to Ronald Reagan. Reagan wasn’t the standard, Reagan was the exception and many of us have long desired to find someone to match his character, his commonsense approach to fiscal issues, and his socially conservative values. But, if Ronald Reagan was running today, could he win? Could he overcome the desire to “just beat Obama” by going after the so-called Independents?
I truly don’t know where the notion has come from that in order to capture the independent vote and beat Obama, we must have a Republican Nominee who is not too socially conservative. My guess is that this has been dreamed up by the left and perpetuated through the mainstream media and has saturated our culture to the point that those on our side have forgotten history and have actually bought into this notion.
At this same point in Jimmy Carter’s Presidency, Carter had a 54% approval rating. George HW Bush was at 50% at the end 1991 then lost to Clinton in 1992. Obama is currently sitting at 43%. Going back nearly a century, no president with an approval rating below 50% at the end of their third year has won re-election. Carter was actually the exception in that he had a rating over 50% and actually lost. Not only did Carter lose, but Ronald Reagan won in a landslide with a 44 state victory.
Now, who carried Ronald Reagan to victory? The Religious Right (defined as Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies) was “blamed” for his victory by the mainstream media. AND, as an added bonus in that election, the Republicans captured the Senate for the first time since 1952 (how ironic that we also need to take the Senate in 2012).
Please compare and contrast Ronald Reagan with a Moderate Republican like John McCain, who was well known for “reaching across the aisle.” Even compare and contrast him with both George Bush’s (and Bob Dole) who were not known for being social conservatives. What happens when we move to the middle to get the so-called Independents? The Religious Right sits home and does not vote, as they did with John McCain. Have we forgotten the narrow Bush victory over Gore?
With 75% of Americans identifying themselves as Christian, does it not make sense we should appeal to them, even if all we desire is to simply beat Obama? I believe the real reason there were large numbers of “Reagan Democrats” was because the people held to their religious convictions much closer than they held to their political ideals. We must step up and support the candidate who will inspire conservatives to turn out and vote. That candidate is Senator Rick Santorum.
Kerry Wood
SC State Director
Rick Santorum for President
Amen, Kerry. Well said!