The Wisdom of the Republican Party Elite

Early in 2007, as many in the Republican Party elites were picking sides in the 2008 Presidential race; some sided with Mitt Romney because...

1) Romney was considered an alternative to the more socailly liberal Mayor from NYC, Rudy Giuliani. Romney would make a good alternative to Giuliani in winning the Republican nomination.

2) With Romney's wealth, he would have the financial means to subsidize his own campaign. With Republican's struggling to raise money, Romney's wealth would reduce the fundraising burden of his supporters. Unlike Democrats, Republicans don't traditionally like raising money ten dollars at a time.

3) For the elites, Romney is a comfortable candidate. His Mormon faith would give him appeal to the Main Street social conservatives while his investment banking experience would appeal to the Wall Street Republicans.

4) During the 2006 Campaign season, Romney's PAC financially supported hundreds of candidates (and local parties) in key states, while the Governor himself spent days and days campaigning for many of these same candidates.

With the Iowa caucuses just days away - we are beginning to see the wisdom in their reasoning because Romney is able to use his wealth to pay for creative (half truth) attack ads against Mike Huckabee. (I don't know how lying is justified by his faith but that's another posting)

1) Giuliani is not even in the running in Iowa and the early primary states. (btw - neither is Fred Thompson)

2) Romney has invested over $20 million dollars of his own money in his campaign. As he's lost ground in the polls to Mike Huckabee, he's been able to use much of his campaign wealth for attack ads claiming Mike Huckabee is really a liberal. Huckabee, with limited resources is under pressure to respond.

3) If not for Mike Huckabee, Romney would be the socially conservative candidate. The faith community, desparate for a pro-life, pro-family candidate would forgive Romney the inconsistencies in his record. Because of his financial position many social conservatives "have" forgiven him. (Bob Jones III, Paul Weyrick, Gary Bauer) For "Wall Street Support" Romney is splitting the vote with former NY City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Except for Pat Robertson, Giuliani would tend to have the support of those Republicans that are fiscal conservatives but don't care for the social conservative wing of the party.

4) This blogger contends that Romney is still buying support. Why would Tom Tancredo, the anti-immigration champion, endorse Romney after dropping from the race. After all, Romney had illegals mowing his yard and "was for" the McCain-Kennedy amnesty plan before he was "against it". (Must be something in the water in MA.) Could Tancredo, who is considering a run for U.S.Senate for Colorado, be influenced by future fundraising promises? How much money could the Romney family contribute to such a race? Or the how much money could be raised by the Mormon church? Worst case, Tancredo could end up with a cabinet position in a Romney administration.

So caucus goers, primary voters, and Huckabee supporters are thinking, "what's my point?"

To make my point, readers need to understand two things:

1) Our conservative ideals and Republican Party doesn't belong to an elite few; but to all of us. (This is validated by the grassroots effort to right our party after the 2006 election results. a.k.a. The McCain Kennedy Amnesty revolt)

2) The elites have forgotten (or don't want us to realize) that elections are won not by bank account totals but by counting votes on election night. Republicans win when they are consistently conversative and defend these values by winning over actual voters. One on one grassroots campaigning is still the best way to win over voters. Any one of us has more credibility with our friends and neighbors than a TV talking head, a TV ad, or a negative direct mail piece. But, we need to be willing to put "it" on the line to be successful. We need to engage in the conversations. Remember, people are more swayed by the depth of conviction than the heighth of logic. (How else can one explain the Ron Paul effect?) To be successful, you need to be equipped with the real facts - not Romney's, Thompson's, Club for Growth, or Ron Paul's version. Research the issues and Huckabee's positions on the issues. Equip yourself to defend the Governor against the negative attacks. (Separate blog coming on special interests and professional political consultants) Volunteer to make phone calls, phone banks are up and running all over the place. Write letters to the editor. E-mail your friends and neighbors. Remind them that the upcoming caucuses and primaries are important. It's time we change directions in this country and we can do that through participation - remember 90% of Americans don't vote in primaries and 60% don't vote in general elections. Apathy is our biggest challenge.

In closing, everyone needs to get involved. Contact your friends and family and talk about the Governor's optimistic campaign for America. Contribute financially to the Governor's campaign.

P.S. - I heard a funny rumor tonight. The local Romney campaign leadership is suggesting that a Romney/Huckabee ticket will be coming out of the Republican Convention this summer. Why would they be saying this to Huckabee supporters three days before the caucuses and only weeks before the SC Primary? If you believe what Romney is saying in his ads - Huckabee would be a liability to his adminstration. Of course, I've heard that Huckabee is the VP favorite of McCain supporters and even Ron Paul supporters. What I don't understand is how the other candidates "hate" Huckabee in the primaries but would be happy with him as their VP in the general election. Then again, in the case of Romney; maybe they are conceding defeat in saying Romney will be happy to be VP on Huckabee's ticket.