Why the GOP is hurting (UPDATE)

Various commentators have offered suggestions for the GOP's sad state.

Was it giving in to social conservatives and turning off more moderate voters, as P.J. O'Rourke suggests? Given that traditional marriage amendments passed in several states, including California, it seems unlikely that the electorate suddenly shifted to the left and rejected conservatism.

Was it fielding a candidate that inspired little excitement and the baggage of an unpopular President? That surely has more to do with it

But why were the President and the predominantly-Republican Congress (1994-2006) held in such low esteem? The GOP was given power in '94 because of frustrations with a Democratic Congress and the GOP's clear and compelling promises to do a better job running the country. But not long after gaining power, the GOP went about proving Lord Acton right again.

I don't think America has rejected conservatism; I think America has rejected the corruption and betrayal of conservative principles over the last 8 years. The GOP under Bush has wandered far from small government, fiscal responsibility, and constitutionally-limited powers.

The GOP doesn't need to look any farther than its own feckless and self-serving performance during the Bush administration. It doesn't matter that the Democrats are just as spendthrift, power-hungry, selfish and irresponsible. If all you can do is tie the opposition, then you're going to get the blame when things go wrong. The GOP has to stand for something more than being "not Democrat."

In 1916, German-born Presbyterian minister William Boetcker gave a summary of conservative principles. This is as good a place to start as any:

• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
• You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
• You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer.
• You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
• You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
• You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
• You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
• You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
• You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

It's a shame that in forgetting these principles, the Republicans have not only earned their political rejection, but have brought such disrepute to conservatism that the country's leadership is now in the hands of people who reject all of these principles.

We may all be in for some painful lessons.


UPDATE: Freeman Hunt links to a Hot Air piece on Mike Huckabee's critique of the GOP. I think Huckabee is as wrong as O'Rourke. He's actually concerned that libertarian tendencies in the GOP leave "little room for government-driven solutions to people’s problems."

I would suggest that if your concern is not having enough government-driven solutions to people's problems, you're in the wrong party to begin with.