The Republicans in office still aren’t getting it. They seem to be worried that Limbaugh and Beck will “box them in” and cause them problems with the independent voter. They think that the extremism and loud right pundits will alienate middle voters. These guys are worried that they will be labeled the party of the “angry white man.”
Congressional leaders talk in private of being boxed in by commentators such as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh — figures who are wildly popular with the conservative base but wildly controversial among other parts of the electorate, and who have proven records of making life miserable for senators and House members critical of their views or influence.
Republicans and independents (by a large margain) are wanting leaders who are first and foremost CONSTITUTIONALISTS. We’re begging for that kind of leadership out of Washington. It’s not about Rush or Glenn – who’s been more than clear that he is NOT a Republican – who both appear, a lot of the time to a lot of people, as angry white men (as much as I like them both.) It’s not about them or other talk radio commentators, it’s about common sense and honoring their Constitutional oath.
“We need more voices,” said House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia, one of the party’s up-and-coming leaders. “Our party’s challenge has been that we need to be more inclusive — we need to attract the middle again. … When one party controls all the levers of power in Washington, they’re going to try and villainize whoever they can on our side. It gives us an opportunity now to try and harness the energy and point it in a positive direction, so that we can attract the middle of the country to the common-sense conservative views that we have been about as a party.”
Again, Mr. Cantor, if you want to attract the middle, FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION, PLEDGE TO DO SO, HONOR YOUR OATH OF OFFICE.
If you do those things and stop worrying about pitching the big tent while at the same time worry about being boxed in, you will attract the voters.
People are scared. We are scared of communism and we are afraid of losing our country. The only way we can rescue it is by returning to the exceptionalism that made our country great and will do so again. We are not going to vote based on what Rush or Glenn tell us. We’re smarter than that. We know what we want and what this country needs. We want leaders who are not giving lip service to get votes but who are ready to return to the Founding and the Constitution.
Now, stop the handwringing and start listening and paying attention to what we have been telling you for the last 7 months.
Trust the voters and be true to your oath, that’s all we want.
from Politico.com
Diary of a Mad Conservative 