"These are the people the GOP is losing. " - Granite Grok

“These are the people the GOP is losing. “

NHGOPElephantYeah, One Note Skip – as I told Steve on his Shaheen posts, I’m on a “post roll” – a post, followed by another one, by another on the same topic; yer on a roll!  And I believe, on a very important topic that is splitting the NH GOP apart – more this cycle than most other.  I ran across this post over at American Thinker by Sally Zelikovsky that says it well – why the Establishment Republicans are ticked that the grassroots aren’t going for the “Unity” schtick.  Why should they?  For well over a couple of years now, the Elites have been doing everything they can to make fun of their base, to denigrate their base, (and the phrase that keeps on giving) “Crush them” (thanks, Mitch!), and had the Establishment use tactics against members of their own party that formerly were used only by Democrats.

…Rove’s admonition [“Just give me more money!!!  -Skip] is a mere band-aid and not the cure for this malady.

…To glean the answer, all one needs is a finger on the pulse of the conservative grassroots — the actual donors and volunteers who will not precinct walk or phone bank and have withheld donations. I am not convinced that the GOP leadership is at all in touch with the grassroots. Fundraisers, book tours, speeches, luncheons, meetings, and conventions are important events that connect candidates and leadership with cash-rich constituents. But millions of supporters are foreclosed from participating in such events. Their only outlet is the occasional town hall, the rare publication of a “letter to the editor,” and, if they’re lucky, a once-in-a-lifetime 20-60 second comment on talk radio. These are the conservative voices lost in the wind.

For those with their ears to the ground who have been listening to persistent grumblings among the grassroots, there is no mystery here. Grassroots conservatives feel marginalized, underappreciated, mocked, and, all too often, denigrated by their own party. They do not feel they have a place

in the big tent. They do not have access to leadership, candidates, or their elected representatives unless they have deep pockets or connections. They worry they are being used — good enough to raise needed funds and do the scut work of walking, calling, canvassing, manning booths, and attending rallies, but not good enough to have their views and input respected or taken seriously. They sense that more moderate forces in the GOP regard them as extreme, radical, wacko, and unyielding, and that their principles — although in alignment with the great thinkers of conservatism — are outdated and offensive to the youth, single women, the impoverished, and Hispanics. They see a GOP that is willing to cultivate these new votes at the cost of antagonizing, if not killing off, the grassroots.

And that is the resentment that has been building up…

Just keep beating them – and oh yeah, they’ll just “behave” according to order from on high, eh?  The problem is, the conversation is just one way and with that faint whiff of “we know better than you Progressivism”.  How much money has been spent by the Establishment to beat non-Establishment Republicans this cycle? Yah think that some of that money might have been better saved for, you know, the fight against the Democrats?

Pshaw, what a rather silly idea! They seemingly have lost the clue given by the parable of the Sun and the Wind, too.  And of course, those lessons from kindergarten.  Why not – all the talk is always oriented towards “the moderate middle” that they damn know best is what wins elections.  Like in 2006, 2008, and 2012 (to keep it recent).  2010 was the exception – when the base plus a whole lot of new voters brought on board by the TEA Party / libertarian movement turned out in force and dragged the GOP over the finish line.

Some gratitude…and that piles back into the resentment…

Worst of all, they have an uneasy feeling that “the Party” knows what’s best for its constituents and not the other way around.  It is unclear how their small donations will be used — to support candidates or issues at odds with conservative principles?

Hmm, maybe looking the NH Senate Republican Majority PAC might be interesting…

They are reluctant to walk for candidates who are playing fast and loose with the party platform or say one thing to get elected and do another once in office — biting the very conservative hand that feeds them.  Deep down in their core, grassroots conservatives want desperately to participate because they understand the stakes. And they understand the game — turnout and dollars matter; vote for the most electable conservative Republican because he or she is better than any Democrat. But their reluctance is born of a lack of trust that has mounted over the years.

Trust?  Trust!  I’m not the only one that seems to believe that this word is actually important.  Sorry to say, but the Establishment doesn’t seem to be perceptive of the concept.  Why?  There is no little of it in politics nowadays.  Even those that have been in military leadership that supposedly learned that Trust upward only happens when Trust first goes downward – seem to toss that in the can once they enter politics, eh?

Enough have decided not to contribute their very precious time, energy, and money to the cause — enough that it warranted an article by Karl Rove. Take heed. Come November, most of them will vote for Republican candidates — even those they don’t support. But it might behoove the leadership, the mavens, and the entrenched Republican politicians, to offer some gratitude every once in a while instead of blaming the grassroots for defeats suffered because of their commitment to, of all things, conservatism.

Gratitude – another ill used word in politics.  Seriously, if someone smears me, I can’t TELL you how anxious I am to go work on his behalf!

In a word, they feel burned

I think that word is a bit under-nuanced; betrayed seems to fit better, a lot better, lately.

whether the powers that be agree with this or not is irrelevant. This is how a huge swath of conservatives feel and it can no longer be swept under the rug. They know their dollars and time are needed and they know why. Mavens and experts can write, sing, talk, jump up and down, and smash their fists on the table about it, but it won’t do any good — they no longer want to donate or volunteer. It is up to the establishment, GOP leaders, and elected officials to seek some kind of reconciliation to move forward in order to decimate the opposition.

But the problem is that their actions have made it clear – WE ARE the opposition.  Already here in NH, there are a lot of rumors that if this person and that person do not endorse the winners of the primaries they were  will be publicly shamed by the Establishment for losing their races in the General Election. Sorta like the what the Left does – disagree with us and it’s Scorched Earth for you!

Moderates, elites, and establishment Republicans might argue: We’ve been ruled too long by a small cadre of social conservatives imposing their moral views on the rest of us. We’ve had to hold our noses and vote for staunch conservatives whose ideas we didn’t agree with. We’ve put up with extreme conservatives who are out of touch with the culture and tolerated a parade of wacko Tea Party presidential primary candidates. It’s time for the GOP to evolve and become part of the changing face of America. The country is tacking towards the middle.  No one cares about G-d. Values are mutable. We will never get the young vote with antiquated principles; the female vote with a platform of life; or, the Hispanic vote without a path to citizenship. We are not our father’s GOP. You Moral Majority types have had your reign. You Tea Party types gave it a fair shot in 2010. Now, it’s time for the Moderates to take center stage.

In other words, we don’t want you – except when, of course, General (or special) Elections come around.  Cannon Fodder for the above (gee, can ya dig where I’m coming from?) – better act on cue, guys!

Admittedly, grassroots conservatives haven’t always been the easiest to get along with. Some can’t see the forest through the trees as they ride their principles over a cliff. But they function as the de facto conscience of the GOP.

Er, because many of us think that the Establishment has a one track blindered one: Win.  Nothing else matters.  And given what has happened lately when they do, it is clear that there is no conscience for what to do later.

  From social conservatives, to tea partiers, to traditional members of the base — grassroots conservatives have had their Todd Akin moments, insulted fellow Republicans with the “R” word (RINO), and, granted, some talk radio hosts stir the pot and gin up the crowds.  But the transgressions of the grassroots and those of the Republican establishment are not equal:  the base doesn’t have the power, the money, the access to media, or the influence to set the course. Nowhere is this more manifest than in the hostility and condescension leveled at the Tea Party by too many in the GOP.

Like not updating the NH GOP Platform Plank changes duly voted upon by the majority of the newly elected NH GOP Delegates two weeks ago at the Annual meeting.  Condescension?  Hostility?  Scorn?  Upset that their base would DARE put forward planks that mess with the public stances of their candidates?  Yeah, such a great example of retribution.

Which behooves the question – who should be driving the philosophy of the NH GOP (or GOP in general) – a candidate or its elected representatives?

Yet, tea partiers, social conservatives, libertarians, and the Republican base invariably vote for Republican candidates they often don’t approve of because they understand the long game. But these folks really don’t have a seat at the table, do they? And occasionally, when they do break through the glass ceiling of party politics, they are expected to toe the party line and are publicly shunned when they don’t. Consider Ted Cruz.

And I can name a number of folks here in NH that have run into the buzz saw and the base does not want to forget – and are no longer in a forgiving mood.

Disagreement is not anathema to conservatives and Republicans — it’s part of that Jeffersonian marketplace of ideas. But those disagreements should be kept behind closed doors. Democrats rarely, if ever, speak ill of one another. Has Nancy Pelosi ever called Joe Manchin a traitor on the environment? Has Manchin ever labeled her the extremist she is? In fact, they rally around each other no matter the lies, corruption, or cheating.

But when powerful Republicans use the same tactics as Democrats — intimating that fellow Republicans are “racists” because of their views on immigration; implying that they are “haters,” “intolerant,” or “homophobic” because of their views on abortion or marriage; calling them “radicals” or “wacko birds” when they stand on principle even if it is not the preferred middle ground of moderates or mavens — it breeds resentment, disaffection, and malaise.

And Sally is NOT wrong about that.  The problem here in NH is that the “reach out” is now only starting to happen from the Establishment as realization is starting to flicker: crap, this may be REAL close races AND THEY DON’T WANT TO HELP ANY MORE.  Why should the base do so.  You know what you are doing, once again??

Yeah – sending the same old message.  The problem is, regardless of what you say NOW, we know what happens on November 5th – we become invisible again.  The problem is, we no longer want to play the game by your rules.  We no longer see the Democrats as the “enemy” – you are and you have done it to yourselves.

This requires a change in attitude towards the grassroots by party elites, leaders, and power brokers. The grassroots will come through, but they have to have a seat at the table, and their candidates must be treated with respect.

But what Trust is there that the seat that might be offered is still there after Nov. 5th?  Let’s just say that path here in NH has been offered multiple times in the past; they’ve turned out to be very short indeed.  So why do it now – if the Establishment REALLY wants to reach across the chasm, it must be done in little steps.  And must be done over a period of time – to simply do it now is simply pandering (or, more honestly speaking: “can we fool the rubes again”?)

The conservative grassroots is comprised of Tea Party activists, social conservatives, some libertarians, some independents, and the Republican base. Traditionally, the Republican base supports GOP policies and candidates no matter what, but that has changed in the last 6-8 years primarily because (1) the Tea Party has demanded that candidates adhere more closely to conservative principles and the constitution; (2) the patent push for moderation — especially on social issues and immigration — has forced many party loyalists to speak out against leadership and candidates; and (3) party leadership at the national level, particularly in Congress, has disappointed the base by failing to promote, explain, and defend conservative principles and policies presumably out of fear of recriminations from the left. The base wants the leadership to be proudly conservative and not always seek the compromise position, which they believe has contributed to the mess we are in economically, militarily, and culturally.

Frankly, I believe that most of the base believes that the elected representatives fawn and cower: “What will the Left think of us”?  Instead, the base wants to see fangs out in defense of Principles – and making the Left cower instead.

These are the people the GOP is losing.

Indeed – why work for people who refuse to carry the fight?  And make no mistake, they are tired of all the talk, the “nuance”, and the politicalese – only to find out later that they got sold out (re: Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion).  But alas, the Establishment refuses to “get” it. One of two things may happen going forward – either the folks they have demonized for a while now WILL just stay home, sick and tired of wasting their time and the empty platitudes, or some part of the TEA Party will take heart from the TEA Party from across the pond – UKIP.  And the “Establishment” parties in England have and can only blame themselves.

…Conservative gains in 2010 were invigorating. The presidential loss in 2012 dispiriting. That is the ebb and flow of politics. Many took a hiatus after the Romney defeat.  For those who haven’t come back, it isn’t because of the 2012 hangover. What knocked the wind out of the sails of so many conservatives is the insistence on Republicanism-lite from the establishment and the concomitant antipathy towards social conservatives, Tea Partiers, and members of the Republican base who advocate for more, not less conservatism — the very people GOP leadership is asking to open their wallets and clear their calendars.

And here in NH, demanding votes.  While that might work for some, the real activists are balking, and the Establishment is escalating their demands.

The question is, what happens when the demands are ignored?

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