The GOP is a Party - Divided!
After eight long years under George Bush´s regime, the country is in turmoil! The American Public is wracked with anger due to the Economy and Other Issues. Gas prices are going through the roof, we have a senseless war in Iraq with no end in sight, in-fighting across the nation over everything from Health Care, Illegal Immigration, Religion and Global Warming. Most Citizens, including members of the GOP, are blaming the problems on President Bush and the GOP.
The Republican Party has always had various factions, from the Christian Right to the Neocons, Global Business to the ANTI Immigration Reformist and finally to the Extremists. In previous elections, the Republican Party united across all groups. In this election year, they are clearly divided.
Case in Point 1: Refusals to Support McCain (examples)
- Ron Paul refuses to endorse McCain
- At least 14 Republican members of Congress have refused to endorse or publicly support Sen. John McCain for president, and more than a dozen others declined to answer whether they back the Arizona senator.
- Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently declined to answer whether he will support Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president. (payback)
Case in Point 2: The Battle in Arizona - Russell Pearce vs Other Republicans
"There is a growing sense among people who are mainstream, pro-business Republicans, who believe Russell Pearce is leading our party into a permanent wilderness if we don't act," said Nathan Sproul, a former executive director of the state Republican Party and chairman of the Mesa Deserves Better committee.
Sproul is also running a ballot campaign this fall that would loosen some of the state's employer sanctions, but he says the critique of Pearce goes far beyond illegal immigration. Sproul said Pearce leads an extremist faction of the party that, if not called out, will take over the state GOP."
Many GOP groups are angry at Pearce for a variety of reasons, including:
- Pearce disses John McCain (see video). Response to New York Times reporter asking if he was claiming that John McCain is "treacherous, treasonous": "Yes, I am."
- Pearce links himself to Nazis and Racists. Distributes an article from the neo-Nazi National Alliance website.
- Pearce requests a reprisal of "Operation Wetback," and claims his GOP peers are "sissies" for not using the racist term themselves because "You don't use it today because people have tried to make it offensive. Things change, and you know what? Who cares?"
Pearce has lost several key endorsements from GOP leaders including that of U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), and Arizona State Sen. Carolyn Allen (R) who said Pearce had "lost his moorings. He's driving himself mad about this [immigration debate]."
These are but examples. Other GOP contenders are jumping on the ANTI Immigration Reform platform and attempting to use it as a stepping stone, including Tom Tancredo, Joe Arpaio and Jim Gilchrist. In the meantime, GOP Leaders are desperately attempting to keep the whole Immigration debate undercover until after the election.
Some of the ANTI Immigration reform groups are not standing still for this attempt at a cover up of their primary cause! NumbersUSA, Alipac.us and a Congressman are advocating "Operation Calm Before the Storm." They are asking their members to sign a petitition and deluge Congress with their message. The mission: "To position every activist group in the nation on the same "Playing Field" with its' opposition, by providing access to, and the facilitation of, currently available technology based "Tools" and information resources necessary to effectively combat illegal immigration on an individual community basis."
These ANTI groups provide free form letters and faxes and encourage their members to overwhelm Congress with these messages. In the past, their members, primarily retirees, have been quite successful with their use of internet tools. However, now, Congress and all those that oppose their agenda are fully aware of their tactics. During their last "National Rally" only 2 dozen people marched. The reality is, they have very few supporters!
The question today is, will the GOP continue to splinter? Will those with specific agendas continue to disrupt the vast majority? Will they continue to refuse to support their candidate? We will see at the GOP Convention!
The Republicans have to make a decision. Either they want a chance at winning in November or they don´t.
Talk more about Immigration on Immigration Talk with a Mexican American.