Patriot Update

“Thou shalt not speak ill of any Republican.”

-Ronald Reagan, President

Reagan didn’t say this because he is an apologist; he said this so Republicans could win elections.  Republicans have a tradition (it seems) of re-trying their own victorious primary candidates to lose elections at the behest of the Democrat party.   Reagan saw this, and tried to put a stop to it.

Todd Akin (R-MO), who is running against liberal Obama-loyalist Claire McCaskill,  used a poor choice of words in an interview.  In his statement, he said this:

“Rape is equally tragic and I made that statement in error. Let me be clear: rape is never legitimate. It’s an evil act and it’s committed by violent predators. I used the wrong words in the wrong way. What I said was ill-conceived and it was wrong and for that I apologize. I’m a dad of two daughters and I want tough justice for sexual predators…”

Rational minds examining the happenings are grappling with some facts:

• He is the father of young girls.
• He has been married for decades and happily so
• That would be a really, really dumb stand to take in the midst of a campaign

All of this is beside the point.  Dr. Dathan Paterno of Chicago, IL and I just finished writing a book wherein we discuss the psychology of politics in depth.  The astonishing thing is that on a day when the cover of Newsweek has a story saying Obama should move on, and polls suggest that Romney is winning suburban Chicago, Republicans were gathering to oust one of their “squeaky cleanest” from the General Election field. Distracted from the Obama economy and his friend, Claire McCaskill’s jobs killing years in the Senate, Republicans began to faction.  Further, Republicans busied themselves delivering the liberal narrative for Democrats.

Why?

The Republicans, generally speaking, are psychologically the party of principal, and the Democrats, generally, are much more pragmatic in their psychological approach to elections.  Democrats seem to better recognize that after a primary, they are a team.  That is how they win elections.

If this whole thing were turned around, and the Democrat had made the statement, this is how it would look:

Republicans would scream that the Democrat candidate was pro-rape and anti woman.  Few, if any networks would cover the press releases.

• The Democrats would defend that at least their candidate is bringing the idea of women’s health to the forefront, and they would make the argument that if Republicans REALLY cared about women, they would be the ones talking about rape kit awareness to prevent pregnancy in the case of rape.
• Democrats would circle their wagons with warm, touchy feely photos of the candidate’s family, and young daughters (Clinton, Condit, etc…).
• Hollywood would do a big fundraising gala for the guy and he would win.  Big.

Some have argued that Akin should step down (though he has said he is not) so that Missouri doesn’t lose the Senate seat to Claire McCaskill.  But there may be a bigger picture to consider.  Do Republicans really want to stand idly by as the Democrats pick off their primary choices one-by-one, based upon bad word choices, or worse?  Does that risk winning the Senate, and possibly the entire country by Republican’s inability to “team up?”

If this happened over word choices, can you imagine how Democrats are licking their chops at the October surprises they have in store for all Republican Primary victors, everywhere?

Ask yourself these questions, conservatives.  See you at the conventions!