Are the Republicans Experiencing their 1960's?
Republican Disunity, Protest, Anger and the Whole World is Watching
Apr 21, 2009
We have seen this before. A political party in disarray as it attempts to re-identify itself so it can move into the future. In the 1960s and early 1970s the Democrats had to figure out what to do with a White conservative and racially divided South that was crying out for states’ rights and exemption from Civil Rights laws. Additional the party had to come to terms with a military policy that included a war that the country didn’t support, angry constituents that took to the streets in protest, and factions of the party that used the media to preach a message of revolt and possible violence. It sounds a lot like what Republicans are going through today.
Republicans find themselves in a party that must figure out how to neutralize the voice of a White aging anti-immigration, anti-gay, and conservative Christian South if they are to have any hope of reaching out to young voters and growing the party. Once again the cry of states’ rights can be heard in discourse about immigration, gay marriage, and taxes. The party has to come to terms with their military policy that includes a war that the country doesn’t support, angry constituents that are taking to the streets, and Party leaders and surrogates spreading a message of angry and possible revolt.
Meghan McCain and Other Republican Voices
Meghan McCain isn’t alone is trying to get the Republican to open up on issues. Michael Steele, head of the RNC, is a moderate voice trying to extend the party’s reach. A recent survey by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner reports that the majority young White evangelicals support some kind of civil union or marriage for same sex couples. This is good news to the president of the Log Cabin Republicans Patrick Sammon who believes there is a home in conservative circles for gay Republicans. McCain, Steele, and Sammon are not popular with conservatives from their own party. However Tom Hayden, Mario Savio, and Gloria Steinem were not popular with conservative Democrats in the 1960s.
On the government spending and anti-tax front we hear Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and Michael Savage speaking angrily and suggesting possible revolt. Fox News helped support and organize recent Tea party tax protests. As people took to the streets the word revolution was bantered around. Historically Limbaugh, Beck, and Savages can be compared to Abbie Hoffman, Bobby Seale, and Huey Newton. Sure Limbaugh, Beck, and Savage have a larger audience, but they are voices from the fringe. They may have some influence on the news and politics of today, but in time they will judged impertinent. More importantly Limbaugh, Beck, and Savage create an entertaining atmosphere that brings attention to their issues in a manner not unlike Hoffman.
The Republican Party Will Rise Again
The good news is that America survived the 1960’s and the consumerism, women rights, and Civil Rights fought for made America a better place. The 1960’s also allowed the Democrats to establish some lasting planks in the party about consumer protection, poverty, and the environment. Most importantly the Democrats shed themselves of many of the racial and religious constraints that kept the party from reaching out to an increasingly diverse America. Hopefully the struggle within the Republican Party will provide lasting benefits to the rest of America while allowing the party to establish principles for the future and eventually throw off the restraints that keeps the party form reaching out to an uber-diverse America? The only thing the Republicans appear to be missing at this point is a visionary on par with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Well not every revolution can have everything.
