Op-Ed: Is Extremism Dooming The Republican Party?

With the recent defection of Arlen Specter to the Democratic Party, many Republicans are shaking their heads and wondering if the GOP is relegating itself to minority status because its views are too extremist.

Olympia Snowe, in a recent op-ed in the New York Times wrote: "Regrettably, we failed to learn the lessons of Jim Jeffords’s defection in 2001. To the contrary, we overreached in interpreting the results of the presidential election of 2004 as a mandate for the party. This resulted in the disastrous elections of 2006 and 2008, which combined for a total loss of 51 Republicans in the House and 13 in the Senate — with a corresponding shift of the Congressional majority and the White House to the Democrats. It was as though beginning with Senator Jeffords’s decision, Republicans turned a blind eye to the iceberg under the surface, failing to undertake the re-evaluation of our inclusiveness as a party that could have forestalled many of the losses we have suffered." Is she right? Have republicans suffered defeats and defections because they have failed to be more inclusive of a diversity of thought, especially when it comes to social issues such as abortion and gay marriage? Or is the exact opposite the case? Did Republicans lose members and elections because they have not held fast to the core principles upon which their very foundation rests? Democrats would have us believe that this nation is moving further and further to the left. The election of 2008 is proof positive that most Americans are willing to accept socialism over capitalism as an economic system, so they say. People want government controlled health care from cradle to grave. They are willing to put up with the redistribution of wealth in society, as long as everyone gets their fair share. Americans no longer value the sanctity of human life, believing that it is ok to terminate a pregnancy at even the latest stages if the mother decides she doesn't want the responsibility of parenting. And it's ok to use stem cells from aborted fetuses to develop cures for diseases according to the progressive view. Gay marriage? Why not, say the liberals. Let every form of debauchery rule the day. Americans don't really care if Tommy has two daddies or Sally has two mommies. Society has evolved, as has our Constitution, living, breathing and fluid. And Republicans, because they hold onto archaic values that oppose these modern ideas, are dooming themselves to the dustbin of history as America moves forward. The election of 2008 was proof positive that the Republican elephant is now a mastodon, say the liberals. On the other hand, an argument can be made that Republicans lost the elections of 2006 and 2008 because they abandoned their principles. They lost their way on every issue from fiscal conservatism to social values. They turned their backs on the very people who supported them, putting forth candidates such as John McCain, a RINO, souring the electorate to the point where they became so angry and frustrated that they either sat out the elections, or voted for 'hope and change' just to teach them a lesson. Whether or not America is heading left is yet to be determined. There is evidence that many of those who voted for Obama and the Democrats in the recent election are none too happy with the decisions that have been made with regards to the economic crisis. They see the stimulus package, which nobody read before it was signed into law, and the budget, which will bankrupt this nation and saddle our children and grandchildren with debt that will result in confiscatory tax rates, as obscene and irresponsible. Despite holding a very favorable rating personally among Americans, Obama and the Democrats are making huge missteps which will eventually catch up with him, as the sleeping giant that is mainstreet America wakes up. Dick Morris, in a recent column, addressed the issue of why Americans continue to be travelling with their heads in the fog of the unknown when it comes to Obama and his popularity. He wrote: "They are like the recently married bride who took her vows 100 days ago. It would be a disaster for her if she decides that she really doesn't like her husband. But she keeps noticing things about him that she can't stand. It will be a while before she walks out the door or even comes to terms with her own doubts, but it is probably inevitable that she will." If Morris is to be believed, it is only a matter of time before Americans turn their backs on Obama, and start heading for the hills of conservatism again. As for social issues, even the most liberal state of California recently voted to uphold the concept of marriage as being between one man and one woman. That should be encouraging to even the most disillusioned conservative. Rather then trying to become the party of the big tent, then, Republicans should instead stick to their core values. They should hold fast to their principles and find candidates that will reflect and represent those principles. Yes, in the short run it is going to be painful. Right now, Democrats are at the helm. But as the ship they are sailing enters stormy seas and rough waters ahead, people will realize that the ideas of personal responsibility and fiscal conservatism still matter to the heartland of America. And if these things, along with the sanctity of human life and traditional marriage make Republicans extremists which dooms them to extinction, so be it. Rather a party go extinct, than the core values that it stands for. Listen to America Talks Monday through Friday at 6 pm eastern time at blogtalkradio.com/americatalks. Visit our website at americatalks.com.