Wouldn’t “not conservative” be what they want?
Byline: bob | Category: 2008 Presidential Election | Posted at: Thursday, 19 July 2007
One difference I’ve noted between certain elements of America’s two political parties is that Republicans tend to criticize Democratic primary candidates as being “too liberal,” while Democrats criticize the GOP’s potential offerings as not being conservative enough. (i.e., Fred Thompson’s past lobbying clients, Rudy Giuliani’s past marriages, and Mitt Romney’s present religion.)
One wonders if, come next fall, the Republican nominee will still be “not conservative enough” for his Democratic foes.
I’m guessing not.
July 20th, 2007 at 8:07 am
[...] Bob Krumm: One difference I’ve noted between certain elements of America’s two political parties is that Republicans tend to criticize Democratic primary candidates as being “too liberal,” while Democrats criticize the GOP’s potential offerings as not being conservative enough. [...]
July 20th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
The Republicans are commenting on the substance of the Democrat candidates, what their policies would be like.
The Democrats are trying to set up the least-electable opponent, by reminding the Republican base that they should reject these too-liberal candidates (that could win a general election) and instead go with the crustiest hard-right winger that they can.
July 20th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Well, it’s just smart campaigning. They speak to fellow Democrats about Democrats, and to Republicans about Republicans. The press seem to pass on, with little critical analysis, whatever the Democrat campaigns put out, and so “not conservative enough” becomes the press’s talking point about the Republican candidates. By the time the press tells us about those points, the “Democratic spokesperson Smith said of Thompson” part has been snipped away, and it’s presented as if the press had written it without help.
July 20th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
That’s because overall the American people are more conservative than politicians. In fact the only groups more liberal than the political class are intellectuals, Democratic activists and journalists.
July 21st, 2007 at 9:31 am
Aren’t the opponents of the Republicans chiding them for being hypocrites, rather than saying that they are too conservative??
July 21st, 2007 at 9:27 pm
by reminding the Republican base that they should reject these too-liberal candidates (that could win a general election)
I remember when Republican primary voters were all idiots for voting with their ideology instead of settling on the “electable candidate,” John McCain, in 2000. Democrats didn’t make that mistake in 2004, though, nominating the “electable” John Kerry. How about just voting for the best candidate and letting the general election take care of itself?
July 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
John H, absolutely they are.
July 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I don’t know how chiding Fred Thompson for wanting to be the first Lobbyist in Chief is saying he is not “Conservative” enough; frankly, I think that is Conservatism in the extreme.
Now, Democrats will point out that what the current candidates say doesn’t match their record, but thats just fun.