Republican shift likely in 2012
Mitt Romney announced Monday that he would be launching a presidential campaign, adding his name to the already crowded group of GOP hopefuls. He is one of the many Republicans and other politicians whose positions on a number of issues can, and likely will, change to accommodate different audiences.
In 1994, while running for the United States Senate, Romney was in favor of gay rights, supported the woman’s right to choose and was an advocate of minority rights in the workplace.
He held these views because he was running against Ted Kennedy, a very liberal candidate in a liberal state. Romney’s message had to mirror the political reality in which he found himself. Given the political reality of today, Republicans will have to shift their policies and message further to the right if they hope to garner support from tea partyers and other members of their base. This move to the right will be most apparent during the Republican primaries.
Republican candidates in 2012 will likely support far-right policies such as hard-line social policies, family values, religious issues and extremely pro-business exemptions. In doing so, these politicians will alienate moderate voters and will eventually find themselves backtracking on what they’ve said to prevent appearing too one-sided.
As voters, we must realize that the candidate we vote for will likely not be the candidate we thought we wanted. This is what we get when politicians make empty promises to everyone, hoping all of them will support their campaign.
More Like This
Students report few issues voting by mail, in person for 2020 election
By Camdyn Bruce and Caleb Bozard | Nov. 9, 2020Column: GOP moderates must cooperate
By Andy Wilson | March 13, 2016