If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mark 3:24
The current Republican party is roughly composed of three camps: international corporatists, the religious right and libertarians. Generally these camps play well together but there are important differences between them.
This diary will examine how political messaging can be used to drive a wedge between these groups causing instability in the group and lowering their combined power.
Join me over the orange smudge for an example.
As you probably heard, last week Catholic scholars from Georgetown denounced Paul Ryan's Ayn Rand inspired budget.
“Our problem with Representative Ryan is that he claims his budget is based on Catholic social teaching,” said Jesuit Father Thomas J. Reese, one of the organizers of the letter. “This is nonsense. As scholars, we want to join the Catholic bishops in pointing out that his budget has a devastating impact on programs for the poor.” [...]
“I am afraid that Chairman Ryan’s budget reflects the values of his favorite philosopher Ayn Rand rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Father Reese. “Survival of the fittest may be okay for Social Darwinists but not for followers of the gospel of compassion and love.”
When I read the section which I have in bold I actually jumped out of my chair. That is exactly the type of messaging I have felt that Democrats should be using to disrupt the three legged stool of the GOP. The fact that it didn't come from Democrats but from religious scholars of Ryans own denomination, though made the smackdown even sweeter.
The proof that the Republicans are vulnerable to this kind of disruption could not be any clearer than in Ryan's reaction:
I reject her philosophy [...] It’s an atheist philosophy. It reduces human interactions down to mere contracts and it is antithetical to my worldview. If somebody is going to try to paste a person’s view on epistemology to me, then give me Thomas Aquinas [...] Don’t give me Ayn Rand.
To which anyone who knows about Paul Ryan might reply "Whaaaa?" This is Paul Ryan! This is Mr. I Love Ayn Rand. He gives out Atlas Shrugged to his staff and swoons over her "morality of capitalism." He just threw her under the bus! This is because while his economic philosophy is entirely Rands, he understands that it's the religious right who actually cast the votes for him.
This is a man who sees he's vulnerable.
And for once he's right about Rand. Her entire drive in creating the monstrosity that is Objectivism was to create a morality completely devoid of faith. It is a "morality" (and it's hard for me to call it that. I would prefer to call it sociopathic rantings.) completely antithetical to Christianity. I say that not because of my own opinion of Christianity or Objectivism but because that was her goal!
So how could political messaging be used to cause trouble for the GOP? Well if were advising any politician going on the TV to talk about the GOP budget the first rule would be every time you need to mention "Paul Ryan's Budget Proposal" make sure you work in some reference to Ayn Rand. For example
Mr Progress: I have deep moral concerns with Paul Ryan's Ayn Rand inspired budget."
or
This Any Rand budget proposal put forth by Rep. Ryan is unacceptable.
or
I'm shocked at the social Darwinism being put forth by Rep. Rand errr Ryan excuse me.
Tie Rand to Ryan and other religious on the outside and Randian on the inside republicans and push them to either reject it or own it. This is not a strategy that can be used once or twice but must be sustained to have any lasting value. It could be used at the water cooler but it has to be reinforced on the media. Think of how successful the GOP and Fox news surrogates have been at using words like "Socialist" or "Marxists." This is not an accident. This is a planned coordinated effort. One of the purposes of this is to reinforce the idea that the GOP is the party of "Christians" while the Democrats are a bunch of godless heathens. Pointing out the origins of their own economic agenda makes this line harder to push.
What I am suggesting can be done. It may not be easy. It may make some in the Democratic party uneasy. But if done well could be well worth it in order to drive a much deserved wedge between the libertarians and the religious right.