Arlen Specter’s move from the Republican to the Democratic Party seems to be about his personal political ambition. He calculated his Senatorial career would end if he tried to be re-elected as a Republican. But, the discussion it conjures up about whether the Republican Party is narrowing its acceptance of individuals with differing views reflects the debate that is sizzling in California Republican circles.
Specter noted in his announcement that 200,000 registered Republicans had recently abandoned the Pennsylvania Republican Party. As their leader, he decided to follow. In California, the Republican Party numbers are also shrinking. Only 31-percent of registered voters now consider themselves Republican.
On this site, Allan Hoffenblum noted the precipitous drop in Republican registration and that Republicans no longer claim a pure majority in registration in any legislative district. Tony Quinn went so far as to declare the Republican Party dead in California, although GOP Republican chairman Ron Nehring vehemently disagreed.
Many Republicans gleefully say good riddance to those who leave the state party. They expect unity on certain issues and those Republicans who don’t agree are quickly labeled RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). Recall efforts against Republican legislators for supporting tax increases or even for simply not advancing the ouster of a Republican legislative leader are making headlines.
Pundits generally agree that Arnold Schwarzenegger would not have captured the Republican nomination for governor had he not had the advantage of the recall.
But Schwarzenegger’s positioning raises the point that the great middle of the electorate often chooses the winning candidate. If a splintered Republican Party cannot appeal to the middle can they field winning candidates?
Holding on to principle over winning is important to many party loyalists. Indeed, they argue that embracing principle is the only way to win.
To be fair, the Democratic Party has been roiled by internal dissension from time to time. But this is the Republicans’ moment, and in California the concern is can the Republicans ever move out from minority status or will California go the way of Massachusetts, which has 19 Republican members out of 140 in the House of Representatives and five Republican Senators out of 40 in the Senate. No trouble getting a two-thirds vote for the Democrats there.
California Democrats are drooling over the possibility of capturing two-thirds of the legislative seats in the next election so they can control the votes over the budget and taxes. If Republicans continue to split into factions, they best hope California will turn to a parliamentary system if they ever expect to capture power again.
On the national level, the Republicans were in disarray until a resurgence lead by Ronald Reagan led them back. At the time, Reagan’s philosophy of offering a big tent and not speaking ill of other Republicans carried the day. Reagan remembered well when he ran for governor how some fellow Republicans belittled his candidacy.
Politics is cyclical and the Republicans should look for an upturn in their fortunes. They can turn the tide here, but it will not come without some fence mending and cooperation within the Republican ranks.