Monday, August 15, 2011

GOP Candidates Take the Stage

Last Thursday, the Republican contenders for the party’s nomination squared off in Ames, Iowa in one of many scheduled primary debates. The candidates, many of whom have already begun to encounter the fierceness of a national campaign, are coming under closer scrutiny as the electorate becomes increasingly dissatisfied with the economic direction of the country.
Just one week ago, the national credit rating was downgraded for the first time in the nation’s history. With so much on the line, this nomination process will be something much different from previous election cycles. The public tolerance for cheap political rhetoric and vague campaign promises is waning. In such an uncertain and desperate time, the American people don’t have time to hear meaningless chatter from candidates who seek to deflect the important questions and who lack specificity in their proposals.
At the debate, all of the candidates underwent considerable scrutiny for comments they have made in the past that now conflict with their most recent stances on the issues. When asked about his fragile campaign by Fox News reporter, Chris Wallace, Newt Gingrich quipped, "I'd love to see the rest of tonight's debate asking us about what we would do to lead an America whose president has failed to lead, instead of playing Mickey Mouse games."
The audience seemed to respond most passionately at Gingrich’s comment than almost any other the whole night. This moment sent a clear message that the American people aren’t interested in horse-race politics as usual, they want to hear from the candidates about their specific proposals to get America out of this economic downfall.
As the Republican field comes closer into focus, the party is still waiting to hear from newcomer, Rick Perry, and potentially, Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin. It seems as though no one (except the Ron Paul fans) are committing to any specific candidate just yet – a clear sign that this time around, the party’s nominee won’t be about the person themselves, but rather the ideas they represent and their commitment to save America.