LAKE MARY -- There is a major paradigm shift within the base of the Republican Party. The ways of the John McCains of the party are fleeting while new Republican rock stars such as Senators Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Mike Lee emerge as the future leadership of the GOP. This could be considered a radical change in direction for Republicans and a welcome one by most, but let us not throw caution to the wind as we embrace a new style of Republicanism.
This new change within the party is being sewn with libertarian roots. As a libertarian leaning conservative, I am not entirely opposed to this movement.
In fact, I warmly embrace parts of it. However, there is a strong desire among the youth within the GOP to move away from the social issues for fear the GOP positions on said issues are costing Republicans elections.
It has been a long libertarian tradition to be more socially liberal and many in the youth movement in the GOP are often ready to adopt the social positions of the libertarian platform.
From my experience, the reason for these desired changes is not based on principle, but rather on fear. The fear of offending voters and therefore losing elections as a result appears to me to be the primary reason for wanting this change. If fear is the root cause, then we are doomed to fail.
From my experience, the reason for these desired changes is not based on principle, but rather on fear. The fear of offending voters and therefore losing elections as a result appears to me to be the primary reason for wanting this change. If fear is the root cause, then we are doomed to fail.
The Libertarian Party continues to struggle to find any relevancy within the political arena, so why would we want to emulate those who fail?
The pure libertarian is often too weak to take a strong position based on principle that might offend another such as with gay marriage and/or abortion. Their position is most often to say, “Let the state handle it” or “It's not my business.”
It's an easy cop out and is not respected among the voters who expect their leaders to take a stand. In fact, many voters can respect an opponent who has courage in their convictions rather than a politician of hollow answers. Then there are the fiscal libertarians and these are the positions of which I most often agree.
The only problem is these are the same positions held by conservatives and Republicans more often than not over the recent history of the GOP.
The problem lies with the enforcement of those practices and that is where I embrace Senators Paul, Cruz, and Lee. They are true enforcers of fiscal conservatism/libertarianism and that is the primary reason they need to be the new leadership of the Republican Party. However, they all had to put an "R" next to their name to have any real chance of winning a serious election.
The libertarian movement within the GOP is good for the party, but proceed with caution. Let not fear drive our positions or we have already lost. We need more enforcers in government, but let's not take advice on winning elections from those who do not win without the Republican brand.
The libertarian movement within the GOP is good for the party, but proceed with caution. Let not fear drive our positions or we have already lost. We need more enforcers in government, but let's not take advice on winning elections from those who do not win without the Republican brand.