David Brooks' latest lament about hard times for Republicans has given me an idea. Here is the key passage:
Battle lines have already been drawn in the fight over the future of conservatism... In one camp, there are the Traditionalists, the people who believe that conservatives have lost elections because they have strayed from the true creed... The other camp, the Reformers, ... tend to believe that American voters will not support a party whose main idea is slashing government. [They] propose new policies to address inequality and middle-class economic anxiety [and] tend to take global warming seriously... [They say] conservatives need to pay attention to the way the country has changed, [they] have to appeal more to Hispanics, independents and younger voters, [and] they cannot continue to insult the sensibilities of the educated class and the entire East and West Coasts.
Now, David Brooks is often completely full of it, and this column is not really an exception. To illustrate, his conclusion is that the Traditionalists will rule for a while, the Republicans will be in decline, but that sooner or later, the Reformers will rise again, and when they do, so will conservatism.
But my idea is that a "reformed" Republican is basically a progressive, left-leaning, moderate Republican, in other words, a RINO who might be susceptible to changing parties.
If this is correct, the question is, what should we do about it?
There is an obvious risk to trying to recruit dissatisfied RINOs: they probably will not "fit" perfectly with traditional, mainstream Democratic stands on some issues. Bringing them into the party in large numbers would necessarily change the party. (Assuming they would even be willing to join us in large numbers, of course.)
At this moment in time, I think the risk might just be worth it. Basically, if you buy into Brooks' model of the GOP, if we could welcome most of his Reformers into the Democratic party, all they will have left will be the haters, the bigots, the know-nothings, the Palins, Limbaughs, and Cheneys.
If the effort were successful, even Brooks probably wouldn't be able to stand staying Republican.
What could we offer these RINOs?
Well, the Democratic Party is a pretty exciting place these days. If they joined, they would be part of the excitement. If Obama succeeds in creating a program that has at least some appeal to moderate, progressive conservatives, then they wouldn't be violating their basic instincts. Also, I think the Reformers are probably pretty upset and embarrassed by the recent campaign, and this would be a way for them to do something positive about it. I don't know, it just seems to me that we may have a chance to raid the GOP and strengthen our own numbers at the same time.
Just a thought.
Greg Shenaut