Enough Is Too Much

In a 1996 televised debate between the two contenders for the vacant seat of Oregon Senator Packwood who had just resigned over sexual misconduct charges, the Democratic candidate, Ron Wyden, stressed the threat of terrorism, a subject that had yet to receive much public attention. This wasn’t a partisan effort since President Clinton was from his party.  His opponent Gordon Smith said, in words that could have been from the handbook of the Republicans’ 1994 “Contract with America,” that the threat of terrorism was minuscule compared to our fiscal problems.

What’s remarkable is that a mere eight years later George W. Bush was reelected on the perception that terrorism was our greatest threat and that he was best able to protect is from it, the economy be damned. Of course he was helped in part by the Democrats clinging to an antiquated document known as the Constitution. What made this such a remarkable piece of political legerdemain was that the greatest act of domestic violence in our history had just taken place on his watch. This feat may be at least equaled if the current presumptive Republican nominee can convince enough voters that the economic policies that drove the economy into the ditch are just perfect for getting us out of it.   

Mitt Romney has been labeled a “flip flopper” correctly, but ad nauseum. His current stand on the issues by itself supplies plenty of fodder. But the flip flopping by the entire Republican Party is a phenomenon has gone unnoticed. In the sixteen years since the Oregon debate, which can be reduced to the eight years between 2001 and 2009, the party’s PR apparatus has shifted from the economy to security and back to the economy to suit the circumstances.

It seems to me that Republicans should stick to juggling these two balls. The wedge issues they’ve added are of questionable value today and figure to work badly in the not too long run. For instance adopting immigration policies ranging from harsh to draconian may be made to order for xenophobes. But these votes are already in their pocket. The immigrant votes, particularly of Hispanics, Florida Cubans excepted, are solidifying against them. Most important, this group is growing.  Homophobia appeals to the same crowd. But the public is becoming increasingly skeptical of the claim that same sex relationships, formal or otherwise, are a threat to traditional marriage. However one refers to the “war on women” it won’t take long for it to backfire, I’d say roughly six months.

Season this dish with a dash of the Ryan Budget and a pinch of NRA rants and you have a surefire recipe for a Republican disaster. All these ingredients appeal to the party’s base. But a citizen can only vote once. Even if 2012 isn’t the year these chickens come home to roost, we still shouldn’t have too long a wait long for our omelets.