Draft Dick Cheney 2012. The group was formed just this past Friday and its purpose is to urge former Vice President Dick Cheney to run for president in 2012. While the Democrats have President Barack Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the face of their party, the Republicans have settled for former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, radio personality Rush Limbaugh, and the aforementioned Cheney. Even though it may seem detrimental to just the Republican Party's image, having these three representatives for the GOP is hurting the entire political spectrum.
Ever since the White House turned from red to blue earlier this year, there have been countless attempts at questioning the legitimacy of Obama's presidency, whether justified or not. These attacks have come from GOP vice presidential candidate Palin regarding health care, former Vice President Cheney on the war-front, and Rush Limbaugh attacking almost every Obama-led issue. Although they have their fair share of followers, this trio is widely regarded by the left as being among the least-respected figures in politics.
The grassroots base is there for conservatives, and representatives are taking notice. Palin, Cheney and Limbaugh have been able to charm, scare, and scream their way into the hearts and minds of many Americans. In response, representatives in Congress have become more conservative in their approach to the major issues, particularly health care, fearing the loss of voters in their future November race.
This is not an issue for Republicans because going further right is not something many GOP members oppose. On the other hand, many Democrats in Congress have been forced to unite in their temporary majority and are scrambling to pass legislation while they are still in power. Democrats on the horizon for office and those that are going to be in tightly-contested races in the future are more worried about their perception to a small number of right-wing radicals than representing the rest of their constituents.
It seems as if there is a ripple effect caused by a very small minority of people. People like Palin, Cheney and Limbaugh are criticizing the Democratic majority as a purely political move. They are not worried about representing anyone but themselves and are only trying to further their agenda, whether that's a future presidential nomination, a desperate attempt to stay relevant in politics, or ratings on a radio show. Republicans in Washington follow suit because their leaders have determined their course of action for them.
The voice of the GOP is coming from a select few and is being trickled down to representatives. It is doubtful that their views are shared by their constituents. For instance, nearly 50 million Americans are uninsured and surely not all of them can be Democrats. Is Palin speaking for Alaska or for her dreams of being president when she calls the health care reform "downright evil?" Ironically, the woman who claims to represent the everyday "Joe six-pack" is possibly doing just the opposite.
I once saw a sticker that read "Politics is a Good Thing!" That's hard to believe in the current political climate. There is no such thing as bipartisanship. One party is in power and if they become even slightly unpopular, the other party is too quick to pounce instead of working with the other. The conservative leaders have been sure to take shots at the Democrats at every turn, whether or not "real America" agrees with them. Instead of Congress listening to the people, it seems as if people are being told what to think by Congress.
November is gone and in that month, two gubernatorial elections were seen by many as an early test to Obama's popularity. Next November is another test in the form of midterm elections. Some people vote for the needs of their families and others for the needs of their communities. No one should ever vote for the needs of a political figure advancing his or her career by exploiting the party in power.
Hung Vu's column appears Tuesdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at h.vu@cavalierdaily.com.
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