Purging and Hushing Internal Critics Will Not Rebuild the Republican Party

One thing is clear after the election defeat of John McCain: The Republican Party must assess, rebuild, and better communicate in the future. However, the assessment stage is taking an unacceptable turn which hears calls for purging the party and conservative movement of those considered to be RINOs and purify the ideology. Purging and purification will only make the party smaller and not persuade independent ad moderates to join us.

RINO, a term I intensely dislike is thrown around at anyone that finds disagreement or is unorthodox with their approach, a practice that does not help. Republicans need to remember how Ronald Reagan brought the Republican Party together and attracted some crossover conservative Democrats. They also need to observe and learn to marry the internet and community organizing rather than purging the party and purifying it. We need Republicans of all stripes to help in rebuilding the party.



Then there is the harsh and impolite way that we have been dealing with internal critics. The internal critics: Kathleen Parker, Michael Smirconish, Christopher Buckley, and Sen. Jim DeMint; need to have their view points considered. It was uncalled for that DeMint’s Senate colleague Richard Shelby said that DeMint should just shut up with his concerns once he is outside the caucus room. DeMint dared to criticize the policy direction of the party over the last few years.

He Said:

We have to be honest, and there’s a lot of blame to go around, but I have to mention George Bush, and I have to mention Ted Stevens, and I’m afraid I even have to mention John McCain. McCain, who is a proponent of campaign finance reform that weakened party organizations and basically put (hedge fund billionaire and liberal philanthropist) George Soros in the driver’s seat. His proposal for amnesty for illegals. His support of global warming, cap-and-trade programs that will put another burden on our economy. And, of course, his embrace of the bailout right before the election was probably the nail in our coffin this last election. And he has been an opponent of drilling in ANWR, at a time when energy is so important. It really didn’t fit the label, but he was our package.

His criticisms are insightful and could lead to solutions if we wish to have them. The people need to hear from Mr. DeMint because otherwise we may not know what our GOP is doing.

Why do we always seem to circle the wagons, lick our wounds, and seem to expect that if we keep doing the same things we will get a different result? Isn’t that expectation the definition of insanity?

Our leadership needs to listen to internal critics because it is more effective to listen to those who are directly involved in order to rebuild and reform the party rather than simply reacting to what outsiders do and say. What we need is the message discipline and communication style of Reagan, the organizational resources of Obama, and spokes people that communicate warmth, knowledge, and common sense as well as conservative principles.