Republicans Are “Dying At The Box Office” Because, ”Saying No Is Not The Basis For A Healthy Political Party”

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

The words are those of Governor Schwarzenegger. Not since Diane Feinstein chided the liberals of my party on capital punishment has a public figure faced down the activists that dominate Party conventions in a major speech.

Schwarzenegger’s criticism of the Grand Old Party were funny and accurate. The Republican position on global warning is “to doubt it”. But they also drew blood: “If it is our policy to ignore the majority of the world’s scientists, then we are a Party at odds with the future”.

The tension that exists between activists who believe their party’s elected officials should be faithful to platforms they adopt regardless of the opinion of the voting public is not new and not unique to Republicans. The greater the divide between the votes needed to win elections and the opinions of activists, the greater that tension.

To the activists, the principles and ideology define the Republican Party. While lip service might be paid to victory at the polls, it isn’t victory if the price is compromise of those principles and ideology. Who wants to work to elect Tweedle Dee? Of what value is the principle of “me too”?

Schwarzenegger responds that responsible Republicans should prefer “progress with messy compromise over defeat with pristine principles”.

(And, he provided the theme for the recall campaign against Senator Jeff Denham: “Saying ‘no’ is NOT the basis for a healthy political Party”).

Bill Cavala was Deputy Director of the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services where he worked for over 30 years.

Mr. Cavala manages election campaigns for Democratic candidates.

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