The GOP is in a Box

The Republican National Committee (RNC) provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is also responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention. Mr. Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, has been classified as unvarnished and combative when he predicts that Republicans will not win the majority in the House this November. This comment is considered intemperate by Republicans.

Nick Ayers, executive director of the Republican Governors Association said he was startled at how members were grousing about Mr. Steele. Governor Linda Lingle of Hawaii offered a public reprimand to party members for criticizing Mr. Steele, “Please don’t do a rebuke in my home state of Hawaii, not to my friend Michael Steele,”

The Republican establishment struggle to deal with the demands of the Tea Party movement. Mr. Steel said, “I don’t see it as a rivalry.” But Dick Armey, a former House majority leader who has become a leader of the Tea Party movement, suggested that it might be unwise for the Republican Party to count on Tea Party support.

The intensity of the divisions was put on display as Mr. James Bopp Jr. of Indiana and Bob Tiernan, the Republican chairman from Oregon, quarreled before reporters over whether the watered-down compromise had any real force. Mr. Bopp insisted that it did, and Mr. Tiernan insisted that it did not, repeating himself and interrupting Mr. Bopp until Mr. Bopp turned to him and said, “Shut up!”

Christopher C. Healy, chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party acknowledges that Republicans are:

1. Seen as overly partisan
2. Under increasing pressure to offer a competing vision of governing.
3. Can’t be just about saying no

Representative John A Boehner of Ohio, the Republican House leader, suggested that the two parties pull out of complicated legislation smaller item they could agree on and vote together on those. OK, this will take the Senate and the House to introduce bills.

Pre-existing conditions
Coverage cancellation
Premium increases
Tort Reform and medical malpractice


It should be simple to pass a bipartisan vote on these issues. What member of Congress wants to go back to their district and run on a platform of "I want you to be cancelled or denied Health Insurance coverage?" The GOP is in a box. They are in a position where they will have to pick between political objectives or passing policy that is good for the country.



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