Moderate conservatism has become less prevalent in recent years. This is mainly down to ideological differences between new emerging branches of the Republican Party. For example the rise of the tea party has dramatically moved the republicans to the right with the likes of Sarah Palin leading the way. However Romney has shown that moderate conservatism is still within the Republican Party due to his “flip flopping” nature. The emergence of the tea party has captured the headlines during much of 2009 up to 2012. They have a distinct political identity which separates them from anybody else.
For example the tea party believe in fiscal responsibility and free unregulated markets which grants liberty of the individual and economic efficiency. In the 2010 republican senate primaries members of the tea party mounted challenges in a significant number of states and districts. In particular they took aim at people they call RINO’s (republicans in name only). At senate level, tea party candidates defeated more mainstream contenders in Kentucky, Alaska and many more. However what’s more important is the defeat of Mike Castle who was a relative moderate.
After November 2010 the tea party had removed many moderates from their seats which left representation for the tea party at 129 in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the history of the Bush presidency shows that conservative elements are still dominant within the Republican Party. For example Bush’s strong foreign policy indicated that the republicans were still very conservative. After 9/11 Bush became more and more right wing which in his defence is what the public wanted. However the invasion of Iraq in 2003 highlighted that the Republican Party was still very much conservative.
Furthermore the tax cuts that Bush made were very much traditionally conservative. For example the economic growth and tax relief reconciliation act of 2003 showed that the Republican Party had remained focused on typical republican ideology. Finally Bush made much pro-business legislation which comes back to the traditional ideology of power of the individual. The presidency of Bush shows us that moderate conservatism is a declining force. Moreover, the movement of John McCain to the right during the 2008 campaign and the appointment of Sarah Palin as his running mate have showed us that the Republican Party has remained right wing.
McCain used “Joe the Plumber” as a working class man who is going to be damaged by Obamas proposals. McCain was not always right wing but due to the democrats becoming increasingly left it meant that he would have to move radically to the right. This therefore was shown by the appointment of Sarah Palin as his running mate. As discussed earlier Palin is a key member of the tea party which is radically right wing. However, the “flip flop” nature of Romney has shown us that moderate conservatism is still a force in the Republican Party.
For example when Romney was governor of Massachusetts he introduced what is now known as Romney care. This is similar to Obama care whereby health insurance is compulsory for all. This therefore indicates that although there is a growing nature of fiscal conservatives there are still moderates within the party. To counteract this “liberal” piece of legislation Romney then appointed Paul Ryan who is very right wing as his Vice President. Furthermore, former president Bush campaigned as a “compassionate conservative”.
This means that they maintain traditional conservative views but are very much concerned about social welfare. Bush also promoted the “No child left behind” legislation which helps disadvantaged children to be educated. The act requires that states make assessments for children to measure their progress in school. This shows us that even considered right wing members of the conservative party can be a moderate which adds to the defence that moderate conservatism is still a force within the republicans. Moreover, there are still many high profile moderates within the Republican Party.
For example Olympia Snowe of Maine is a very well-known moderate. Olympia Snowe is fiscally conservative and socially liberal. For example she voted “No” of the constitutional ban of same sex marriage in 2006. And was one of 3 republicans to vote yes on Obama care. However, fiscally Snowe is very much conservative. For example she voted NO on a tax increase for people earning over $1,000,000,000 a year. Another high profile moderate is Susan Collins. Collins is socially liberal as her voting record would suggest. For example she voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. Apr 2007) and she voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999). This shows that moderates in the Republican Party are still having an influence of legislation and therefore shows that there is still a force. Finally there is more evidence to suggest that moderates still play a part in the Republican Party. For example in the 2010 senate primaries Carly Fiorina defeated tea party candidates in California due to the moderates being better funded and better equipped. Fiorina is a moderate because she believes that embryonic stem cell research ok if not created for purpose. (Sep 2010).
Fiscally Fiorina believes if there is any tax increase reform then she will vote against it. This shows us that moderates do have good funding which enables them to have power when it comes to campaigning and therefore shows them as a force in the Republican Party. Overall moderates are still a prevalent force in the Republican Party as the 2010 primaries suggest. However the evidence is outstanding for the increase in fiscal conservatives such as the tea party. Therefore I believe that moderates are a declining force within the Republican Party and support will only get lower for them in future years.
