Apart from being the first time that partisanship swirling around the raising of the debt limit ceiling threatens to shove the United States into an economic abyss, the Great Debt Ceiling Debate of 2011 marks the rebranding of the Republican Party – even as party bigwigs try to desperately stave off the rebranding.
Republicanism once operated within certain perimeters – Republicanism symbolized by Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Compromise, aggregating interests, consensus and coalition building were considered virtues. Historian Gil Troy classified Ronald Reagan as a moderate President due to his willingness to compromise. George H. W. Bush promised “a kinder gentler nation” to make Republicanism more accessible to foes and to those who distrusted it. His son George W. Bush took it a step further, offering “compassionate conservatism.”
Say “adios” to all of that.
The new emerging brand is notable for its belief that compromise is a filthy word or means “caving” and that caring about poorer or more vulnerable Americans is hack PC or weakness. Talk about debt ceiling default not being a big deal generally comes from well-off politicos who don’t have to worry about their families’ survival or talk show hosts who rent or own private jets, or well fed members of Congress who enjoy government-paid health care and feast on Senate Bean Soup or have meals paid by well-heeled political supporters.
To members of the GOP’s talk show political culture and Tea Party members, refusing to raise the debt limit ceiling is a study in lofty principle. To others such as The Daily Beast’s John Avlon it’s a religion-like, fanatical, fact denial. Avlon writes: “Call them Debt Ceiling Deniers. Believers in faith-based fiscal policy. Math-challenged cause-and-effect-skeptics.” And to many independent voters, I predict, it will appear scary.
Polls show the Tea Party position has not won over most Americans.
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Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.