The Republican Divide
2010-09-20 - by
In retrospect, the Republican primary for the 13th Congressional District – Bernie Reeves versus Bill Randall – was a microcosm of what’s happening in the Republican Party nationally.
It’s the Golfers versus the Grizzlies, the Country Clubbers versus the churchgoers, the K Street crowd versus the cul-de-sac crowd, the Establishment versus the pitchfork-carriers, the lords of the castle versus the villagers, the seigniors versus the serfs, the Pachyderms versus the Goats … well, you get it.
Democrats are dreaming if they’re counting on the divide to hurt Republicans this fall. Politicians are quick to put differences aside when they smell victory, especially after losing two elections in a row.
The Tea Party crowd of Palin and Beck is turning out votes, so McConnell and Boehner are happy to have them on board – for now.
After the election, Republicans will stop fighting Democrats and start fighting each other. Win or lose.
The differences are just too deep. And they reflect the divide the North Carolina Republican Party has seen ever since New Right Republicans from the East like Jim Gardner and Jesse Helms rose up in the Seventies against Jim Broyhill, Jim Holshouser and the old-line Republicans from the West.
The Republican Divide
2010-09-20/
In retrospect, the Republican primary for the 13th Congressional District – Bernie Reeves versus Bill Randall – was a microcosm of what’s happening in the Republican Party nationally.
It’s the Golfers versus the Grizzlies, the Country Clubbers versus the churchgoers, the K Street crowd versus the cul-de-sac crowd, the Establishment versus the pitchfork-carriers, the lords of the castle versus the villagers, the seigniors versus the serfs, the Pachyderms versus the Goats … well, you get it.
Democrats are dreaming if they’re counting on the divide to hurt Republicans this fall. Politicians are quick to put differences aside when they smell victory, especially after losing two elections in a row.
The Tea Party crowd of Palin and Beck is turning out votes, so McConnell and Boehner are happy to have them on board – for now.
After the election, Republicans will stop fighting Democrats and start fighting each other. Win or lose.
The differences are just too deep. And they reflect the divide the North Carolina Republican Party has seen ever since New Right Republicans from the East like Jim Gardner and Jesse Helms rose up in the Seventies against Jim Broyhill, Jim Holshouser and the old-line Republicans from the West.