The conventional wisdom in the American political diaspora is that one must run to the "base" of their respective party in order to win primary battle for the right to run for president of the United States. Then immediately after securing the nomination, the new leader of the party, with his base firmly behind, moves to the center in order to secure votes from moderate and independent who are not rigid in their views and are not beholding to the political parties; and who by the way, decide who wins the presidency. So it has been the usual playbook in America's presidential contests in recent years. But this ain't your fathers republican party. The Republican base is currently controlled by politicians and, by extension, the electorate who hold similar views; particularly, the hate for liberals and their so-called progressive politics.
But above all else in this presidential election year, there is an incumbent whose very appearance is enough motivation for the GOP to get behind whoever has the slightest chance at defeating Barack Hussein Obama. Yet the GOP's heir apparent, Mitt Romney, is in a catch-22. Damned if he does pivot to the center by walking back on some primary positions, and damn if he does as the right-wing positions he was basically forced to take in order to win the nomination, will certainly alienate just about every voting group - with exception of white males and those making more than $100,000 per year.
Mitt Romney desperately need to ditch the extremists in his own party in order to win a plurality of the votes. He needs close to 40% of the Latino vote which, as a result of the anti-immigration rhetoric and the hard right positions he staked-out during the primaries, the Latino vote probably won't budge. Then there is the women's vote - the Republican party - at all levels, have been viewed as hostile to women's interests, particularly with respect to reproductive rights and health care. The elderly don't trust them with medicare and social security; and the Paul Ryan budget, supported on the record by Mitt Romney, is anti-education and takes a sharp knife to programs aimed at the poor and vulnerable. Including cuts to food stamps, head start, pell grants, and proposes phasing out medicare program by offering capped vouchers to seniors - with no safety net.
Romney must also find a way to act and talk like an evangelical Christian, instead of a Mormon. In my view, religion should not be a litmus test for serving in our government - however - GOP is mostly a party of Evangelicals. So Romney will either have to tow the party line and positions or risk them staying home on election day. But if he does act like a good right-wing Evangelical, it could spell a landslide victory for President Obama. The real battle in the hot political year - is within this Republican party.
But above all else in this presidential election year, there is an incumbent whose very appearance is enough motivation for the GOP to get behind whoever has the slightest chance at defeating Barack Hussein Obama. Yet the GOP's heir apparent, Mitt Romney, is in a catch-22. Damned if he does pivot to the center by walking back on some primary positions, and damn if he does as the right-wing positions he was basically forced to take in order to win the nomination, will certainly alienate just about every voting group - with exception of white males and those making more than $100,000 per year.
Mitt Romney desperately need to ditch the extremists in his own party in order to win a plurality of the votes. He needs close to 40% of the Latino vote which, as a result of the anti-immigration rhetoric and the hard right positions he staked-out during the primaries, the Latino vote probably won't budge. Then there is the women's vote - the Republican party - at all levels, have been viewed as hostile to women's interests, particularly with respect to reproductive rights and health care. The elderly don't trust them with medicare and social security; and the Paul Ryan budget, supported on the record by Mitt Romney, is anti-education and takes a sharp knife to programs aimed at the poor and vulnerable. Including cuts to food stamps, head start, pell grants, and proposes phasing out medicare program by offering capped vouchers to seniors - with no safety net.
Romney must also find a way to act and talk like an evangelical Christian, instead of a Mormon. In my view, religion should not be a litmus test for serving in our government - however - GOP is mostly a party of Evangelicals. So Romney will either have to tow the party line and positions or risk them staying home on election day. But if he does act like a good right-wing Evangelical, it could spell a landslide victory for President Obama. The real battle in the hot political year - is within this Republican party.