A couple of days ago I mentioned how the Republican National Convention will feature a slate of prime-time speakers, none of whom are actual party leaders, and several of whom have actually praised John Kerry. The point of the schedule, of course, is to con the public — hide the GOP’s right-wing leadership and maybe they’ll fool people into thinking it’s a moderate party.
Dems like me, of course, find it disturbing that Republican Party officials are so ashamed of their leadership that they find it necessary to hide them from public view. But as Demagogue’s Zoe Kentucky noticed yesterday, the GOP’s far-right base isn’t particularly thrilled with the convention schedule, either.
For example, the Family Research Council, a religious right powerhouse, is wondering why their favorites have been left off the speakers’ list.
The Republican National Committee recently announced the line-up of speakers for its 2004 national convention, to be held in New York City. Given the location, it comes as no surprise that “moderate” Republicans Gov. George Pataki (NY) and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani are among those giving keynote addresses. However, a look at the full list of speakers shows that the convention is lacking in speeches by prominent Republicans who can adequately address the social issues our nation is facing – from protecting marriage to defending the sanctity of life.
In fact, many of the people who will have prominent roles at the convention have publicly contradicted the Bush Administration’s policies on these very issues; not just Pataki and Giuliani, but also Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Understandably, the Bush campaign would like to portray the Republican Party as a “big tent” while the national spotlight is on, but surely there is some room in that tent for social conservatives. The Bush team admits it had trouble fully mobilizing Christian voters in 2000. Leaving real conservatives off the convention stage won’t do much to correct that problem in 2004.
As Zoe Kentucky mentioned, the GOP learned a valuable lesson when Pat Buchanan frightened the public at the ’92 convention. If this means the RNC will be a masquerade ball, so be it.
But the Family Research Council is right in one sense — the Republican Party is basically expecting its fringe activists that make up the GOP base to smile and wave at the moderates they loathe when they take the stage in New York. They’ll be looking for DeLay, Ashcroft, and Santorum, but they’ll get Giuliani, McCain, and Schwarzenegger.
So, FRC, what are you prepared to do about it? I say, if you want real conservatives, then you should demand real conservatives. If you’re not satisfied and feel taken for granted, then you should send the GOP a message and stay home in November.