Monday, October 18, 2004
GOP Candidate's Fumble Puts Senate In Play
DeMint Squanders His Lead
In the race to keep control of the Senate, the GOP had a seemingly easy task. The Dems had more seats up for election and many of these seats were in GOP leaning states. But that doesn't seem to stop the folks at the RNC from running things into the ground. Take for example South Carolina. Conservative Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings retirement opened up what should be an easy win for the GOP. But, candidate DeMint has let off a series of what can best be described as gaffes that have put the odds of this race at even. Among his well known gaffes are
saying gays and unmarried mothers should not teach in public schools, but he stopped short of retracting the statements. He further went on to say he supports a 23% sales tax and the complete elimination of all abortions.
That's a great platform for the red meat Republican crowd, but social issues aren't as cut a dried with the voters as politicians like to think. As a result, DeMint not only had to back away and apologize for his teacher remarks, he must work extra hard to get the majority he needs in what should have been a cake walk.
Elephant will state yet again that the more the republican's move from their core strengths of fiscal prudence, accountable government and social libertarianism, the harder their future prospects for maintaining a national majority will be. Maybe in 2004, maybe not, but under the leadership of President Bush, the party has set off on a new course that could undermine the very identity of the party.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40620-2004Oct17.html
In the race to keep control of the Senate, the GOP had a seemingly easy task. The Dems had more seats up for election and many of these seats were in GOP leaning states. But that doesn't seem to stop the folks at the RNC from running things into the ground. Take for example South Carolina. Conservative Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings retirement opened up what should be an easy win for the GOP. But, candidate DeMint has let off a series of what can best be described as gaffes that have put the odds of this race at even. Among his well known gaffes are
saying gays and unmarried mothers should not teach in public schools, but he stopped short of retracting the statements. He further went on to say he supports a 23% sales tax and the complete elimination of all abortions.
That's a great platform for the red meat Republican crowd, but social issues aren't as cut a dried with the voters as politicians like to think. As a result, DeMint not only had to back away and apologize for his teacher remarks, he must work extra hard to get the majority he needs in what should have been a cake walk.
Elephant will state yet again that the more the republican's move from their core strengths of fiscal prudence, accountable government and social libertarianism, the harder their future prospects for maintaining a national majority will be. Maybe in 2004, maybe not, but under the leadership of President Bush, the party has set off on a new course that could undermine the very identity of the party.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40620-2004Oct17.html
