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Jessica Wehrman: Jordan, Boehner try to bolster the party
Sunday, November 09, 2008
WASHINGTON — On the night of the election, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, easily re-elected to his second term in Congress, attempted to lay out what Republicans would have to do to overcome the throttling they'd taken elsewhere in the country on Nov. 4.
They had to stick to conservative fundamentals, Jordan, R-Urbana, said. They had to control spending, keep the national defense strong, keep taxes low, and pay attention to family values.
Maybe so. Jordan, as well as House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, have argued for such things since 2006. Boehner, notably, in 2006 acknowledged his party had "lost its way."
And it's Boehner, now, who must help define a winning strategy if he intends to maintain the leader of the House Republicans. He's made it clear he still wants to, despite watching at least 19 Republican seats turn blue. On the day after the election, he sent out a letter to his House colleagues trying to rally the troops.
But even as he fights to keep his position, House moderates Ralph Regula, R-Navarre, and David Hobson, R-Springfield, pack up their offices in preparation of leaving. Another moderate, U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., lost Nov. 4.
Boehner's party is looking younger and more ideologically conservative. And that may not be a good thing for a party that wants to claw its way back to the majority.
Here's why: According to exit polls taken in Ohio on election night, 45 percent of voters consider themselves moderate. Compare that to the 20 percent of the state that self-identifies as liberal. Or the 35 percent that considers themselves conservative.
Moderate is a big, squishy term, and not one easily defined, but here's something else to chew on: Of those who said they were moderate, most voted for Obama – 61 percent, compared to 38 percent for McCain. They voted overwhelmingly for a guy that Republicans argued was the most liberal person in the U.S. Senate. And they voted against McCain, a man who both sides acknowledge has a storied history of working across the aisle.
Dan Harkins, former chairman of the Clark County Republican Party, argues against reading too much into the presidential election results.
He points to ballot issues across the country to argue that voters still feel strongly about socially conservative positions.
Look at California: Voters there rejected a court ruling allowing gay marriage, and in San Francisco rejected the legalization of prostitution. And in Ohio, a measure to allow casino gambling, he said, "tanked," while a "usury" referendum that limited payday lending stores from charging massive interest rates passed. Another measure, protecting property rights, also passed.
"Democrats would be mistaken if they believe (the 2008 presidential election) was a mandate with a regard to their entire agenda," he said. "What voters did was react to the current economic situation."
Jordan and Boehner talk about getting back to Republican fundamentals to regain what they've lost, but they've got to do it in a way that appeals to more than just those who call themselves conservative.
Forty-five percent is a huge chunk of voters – a chunk that both sides should be willing to fight for.
Comments
By Daylight
November 11, 2008 3:14 PM | Link to this
“Our New President” Obama needs all the help he can get, as he tackles the problems President Bush started/leaving for others to find a solution: the burdens of the recession, a TRILLION-PLUS DOLLARS in new government debt, our aging society, the rising health care, the failed energy polices and TWO FOREIGN WARS. This election brought down the division/racial barriers of our country, it’s time to bring down the political barriers between Republicans/Democrats, its time to work togeather
By Daylight
November 11, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
The post Bush Republicans is the minority because they driven away women, the young suburanities, Black Americans, Latino-Americans, Asian-Americans, educated Americans, gay Americans, and the working class Americans. For 8 years we have been easily divided, easily frightened by the Bush Administration. Jim Jordan, what have you done for Lima/Allen County in bringing jobs, helping Lima/Allen County compare to other U.S Reps who’s helping their areas? NOTHING
By Fred E.
November 10, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
The ‘buzz” word for this past presidential election has been CHANGE,but with no solutions.How about these solutions!
Two term limits for ALL members of Congress to prevent lobist control of Congressional members campaign contributions.
By Wordell
November 10, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
Republicans abandoned our “Republic” when they joined the enormous government of democrat socialism. They joined ranks with the enemy. Flotsom & jetsom will remain after these 4 years of Jimmy Carter X 20. The trip will be horrible, and I won’t accept the “I told you so” from them as they point fingers towards the failure as to why the ship sank. Flotsom floats off the sinking ship, jetsom is jettisoned prior to sinking. It was a nice Republic while it lasted. Welcome to the ocean of socialism.
By Bill in Brookville
November 10, 2008 7:42 AM | Link to this
Boehner has only catered to the rich in his career. He has not one credit to working people. Why do you keep him in office.
By glus
November 10, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this
I have been angered and frustrated by the Bush administration over the last 4 years but not for the same reasons as liberals. I got angry every time Bush did not stand up to the mainstream liberal media but chose to be silent when he and conservative values were attacked ,challenged and ridiculed by them. I yelled at my TV set for him when Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Jack Murtha, Teddy Kennedy, Barbara Boxer, etc would spout their despicable nonsense. Every time they insulted and belittled Bush, it was an insult to me. I bit my lip when Murtha and Hollywood elites would go to Europe and bad mouth our country. When Reid announced to the world that the war was lost. I found that extremelyinsulting and disturbing. Where was Bush? The silence was defining when he should have beenconfronting these people and standing up for my values!
The Republican Party has morphed into something unrecognizable to conservatives. And on top of that, the republicans abandoned their conservative values and principals (and me) and spent like liberals. That never works. We were also given John McCain as “our” candidate, and most of us found it hard to rally behind himbecause of his liberal views. I no longer consider myself a Republican, but a conservative because the Republican Party abandoned me.
By Rob
November 10, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this
The Democrats played moderate to win. The reality is they will govern center-left and add additional huge ongoing entitlement obligations. They will also weaken business and build trade barriers. The core volunteers and funding for the Democrat takeover came from ideologues not moderates. The Republicans lost because they lost touch with the core Republican values- self reliance, small limited government, strong defense and strong families. If they don’t recapture this focus they won’t be back.
By Mike
November 10, 2008 6:03 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately the Republican party took America for a ride the past 8 years, and they drained the middle class for every penny we were worth. I think a lot of us fell for the ‘Morals’ and ‘Values’ speeches they gave, but it became abundantly clear that they have no true morals nor values that relate to us working class citizens. I think America got it right this time, and I feel like the Democrats will serve America by actually putting God first and doing right by the people.
By Bake
November 10, 2008 5:28 AM | Link to this
Is John Boehner working for the people or the Republicans?
By karon
November 9, 2008 11:52 PM | Link to this
Republican party or grand old party was started by mostly rich trust fund men. This was many years ago! I remember my Grandfather was a member of this grand old party back in the south. Somehow, I notice a big difference in the Republican party when Reagan became priesdent. All of a sudden God, guns ,and religion became a part of the Republican party. My grandfather was never a church person neither was his friends of this party. Romney reminds me of a true republican, Not Mccain or Palin
By edu guy
November 9, 2008 11:18 PM | Link to this
I agree with the posts. The GOP has lost its way and now the American people could pay a price. We are definitely one step closer to Socialism then we were 1 week ago. Nonetheless, had McCain won I would still be writing this post. Further, the two party system is set up to let the pendulum swing back and forth. And I like so many of today’s younger Americans <45 believe our best days are ahead of us and not behind us. Wait till the media changes their tune come Jan 20, 2009. Invest now…
By TSG Dan
November 9, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
The Republican party did not have a good year this election cycle. This was a year for “change”. President Bush was blamed for much of the trouble in America. Yes, even the housing crisis. I am not confident Obama is the solution. Therefore, in two years I feel conservitive Repuplicans will win many house and senate seats.
By Dan
November 9, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
At this point the republican party is a joke! And to put Boehner, Boehner made his choice when the so called banker bailout was introduced. 95% of the American people thought it was a bad idea, it did not matter to him he signed! In other words the he*l to what my people want! John Boehner is what is wrong with Washington and what is wrong with the GOP!
By Todd
November 9, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this
Jim Jordan for President. If more people would work as hard as he does, we would be in good shape and on our way to paying down the debt.
By obama
November 9, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this
republican party has been dismantled. There are no values or shame with them and thats one reason I have moved on. They claim they are prolife but have to explanations for single women that do keep their babies. They put our troops up to die for no reason. I have turned from that crap and will never turn again.
By Francis Hazard
November 9, 2008 8:24 PM | Link to this
I agree. Republican officeholders also need to put “intregrity first” in their exercise of governance and public life. Democrats benefited from a sea change of public attitudes due to the recession, several republican failures in leadership, an extraordinary grass roots success by their party, media bias, weariness with the war and the perception that “change” might set the country back on the “right track”. Fresh leadership within the party can turn it around. Find a place for Sarah Palin.
By lawabider
November 9, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
Republicans have been talking about the fundamentals all along and the moment they are in position to do anything about it, they drop the ball. It’s time for a new generation to call the GOP back to its roots because the one at the helm has already shown what they’ll do. That’s why I support the Campaign for Liberty.