CPAC and the Future of the Republican Party
CPAC, or the Conservative Political Action Conference, took place this past weekend. The conference is an annual political event attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the country. This year’s conference had a record attendance of over ten thousand conservatives who came together to discuss the future of the conservative movement. There were a wide variety of speakers, including Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, television/radio host Glen Beck, Gov. Mitt Romney, and Rep. Ron Paul. The conference went mostly as planned until something happened that shook the establishment.
Each year, the Conservative Political Action Conference holds a straw poll to determine preferences for the next presidential election. The winner of the 2010 straw poll was Texas Representative Ron Paul with 31% of the vote. This came as a shock to many people, especially Mitt Romney, who has won the straw poll for the last 3 years. It is attributed to the larger number of younger attendees at CPAC this year. Many commentators have said that this means nothing, that the younger voters, despite their larger turnout at political events of late, simply do not come out on election day. It is true that the baby boomers currently make up the largest block of voters, but they won’t hold this position forever. The future of the Republican Party is the younger voters. They will decide which way the party heads, and they need to be taken seriously.
I believe that a lot more young people are getting involved in politics because they are becoming more aware of the pending disaster that will befall the United States if we maintain our current policies. The fact that Ron Paul won 31% of the vote shows that younger voters are less likely to go along with the Republican establishment. I do not agree with Congressman Paul on many issues, but I believe that he represents real change from our current disastrous policies. Younger voters aren’t looking for candidates who are touting the same old Republican rhetoric that sounds good, but gets nothing done. The fact is that Republicans haven’t been as fiscally responsible as they like to say they have. The Republicans need new candidates who are more independent, and willing to put the voters before their party.
It would be political suicide to run another candidate like John McCain in the next election. As much as I respect the man for his military service, he just isn’t what the Republicans need to win. Republicans like McCain perpetuate the problem of inconsistent politicians who are subservient to the current political winds in order to secure their reelections. It is clear that conservatives are hell-bent on removing these politicians from office. Insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Conservative voters, particularly the younger ones, finally realize this. That is why the Republican Party needs to keep this year’s straw poll in mind when they decide on their candidates. They will not win over the support of younger voters if they continue to run the same old candidates who are partially responsible for the mess this country is in.
Despite Congressman Paul’s support at CPAC, his chances of winning the Republican primary are still slim to none. But his victory shows that there is a growing group of conservatives who are ready for a new breed of politicians. It is natural for older conservatives to dismiss this group as unimportant and foolish. But it is imperative that conservatives stop alienating minor factions, and try to incorporate them. They may seem like small groups of people, but they are important votes to winning elections. In order for the conservative movement to succeed, we must unite under one banner to outnumber the progressives.
I see a potential rift in the conservative movement if we are not careful. The current prognosis is that we have the upper hand thanks to the current administration. But in order to keep the upper hand throughout the next election cycle, we must be consistent and united. We need to make it clear to the Republican Party that in order to win the full support of conservatives, they need to bring forth candidates who are unfaltering in their principles, and can bring all factions of conservatives together. If we can do this, our victory is guaranteed.
Ante Omnia Libertatum. Above all, liberty.
Related posts:
