Thoughts on the RNC…
If the Republicans could some how capture Wednesday night, package it and open it every day from now until the election, they would be in good shape. In addition to the energizing speeches from former presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani, Governor Sarah Palin delivered one of the most energizing speeches in political convention history, a moment watched by over 40 million Americans–that’s more people than watched John McCain or Barack Obama’s speeches and more people than watched the season finale of American Idol.
Palin seems to be exactly what the Republicans needed–a strong conservative voice with small town roots who provides a historic alternative to the Obama/Biden ticket. Yet, I’m reminded of Barack Obama’s 2004 Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention. John Kerry followed that speech the next night with a lackluster speech that spilled into the general and ultimately led to his demise. Democrats recognized Obama as the future and they liked the future a lot more than the present, as a result voter turn out was low and Bush won.
I fear the same thing could happen to the Republicans this year. McCain did nothing to generate excitment in me. Sure, I’ll end up voting for him because I don’t want the United States to end up like a European country, but I’ve probably voted in more Presidential elections than Obama and I’m only 30. In short, you vote for the top of the ticket, not the VP or the keynote speaker. Yes, Palin will help, but it might not be enough. Regardless, the Republicans have found the face of the future of the Party.
Palin’s alleged Pentecostal roots worry me a bit. I desperately hoped that the Republican Party would learn some lessons from the disastrous Bush administration–chief among them, the need to break from the radical religious wing of the party. Watching the RNC this week was like watching a Gaither Family Homecoming concert, not that there is anything wrong with that, but I was waiting for Bill Gaither to join Fred Thompson on stage and lead the delegates in a chorus of “He Touched Me.” Let me be clear, I’m not suggesting that Bill Gaither is a religious radical–I like Bill Gaither–but there is a perception among many in our country that the Republican Convention is more like religious crusade. In order to win future elections, we, as Republicans, must distance ourselves from the religious radicals in our party as they do not honor the core value–limited Federal government–of our Party.
Another example of how things haven’t changed came from the Left. Apparently, the bands Heart and Van Halen are pissed at the McCain/Palin ticket for using their music at the Republican National Convention. I aim not to debate the legal aspects of the bands’ claims, but to instead point out how pathetic it is of them to bitch and moan about the Republicans using their music. If you have problems with their political views, issue a statement that says “while they may use our music, this is by no means an endorsement on our part of their campaign.” Instead, we get, “you think differently than me, therefore you cannot use my music.” It proves just how whiney liberals can be and it proves just how dependant upon government they are, threatening to use the court system to seek retributions. Give me a break!
If the Reps don’t win this election, we have definitely found our “Obama” in Palin. I know Bush’s speechwriter wrote her speech, but there were only a couple of places where she made it ’speechy’…she reached out to the common man/woman without the holier than thou attitude most politicians have. Without a doubt, she was a wise choice for McCain, but most people will call it pandering for the Clintonians that won’t vote for Obama. On the political side, she’s an excellent choice…a staunch right wing to offset McCain’s middle of the road stance. Of course, they’ll point to her lack of experience, but then again, the Reps are doing that with Obama. I call that a push. Needless to say, it’ll be an interesting couple of months.
PO, you are so right!