How Tom Daschle Might Kill Conservatism

by James Pethokoukis - November 21st, 2008 - U.S. News & World Report

Daschle and the Obamacrats certainly have the momentum: a near-landslide presidential election victory, at least 58 Democratic votes in the Senate, and a nasty recession that will make many Americans yearn for economic security. Already the health insurance companies seem set back on their heels. The industry's trade organization now says it would accept new rules requiring them to cover pre-existing conditions as long as there was a universal mandate for all Americans to have health insurance. On top of all that, Obama clearly wants to make healthcare reform a priority in his first term, as evidenced by the selection of a heavy hitter like Daschle. And even if he wasn't interested, Congress sure is, with Max Baucus and Ted Kennedy readying a plan in the Senate.

It is clear that Republicans still don't understand the game at all. Bill Bennett and Michael Steele were on TV last night assuring everyone that they are pleased with the apparently "moderate" appointments of OBama. This is going a long way to lull America's nervous Obama voters that they did not make a mistake. These two obviously think that later when they criticize Obama people will remember their earlier comments and give them credit for being fair and objective. Actually, the public has little memory for anything like that. What they will remember is that Republicans agreed that Obama is "moderate" and when they criticize him they will be labelled vicious lying Republicans attacking the "moderate" Obama.

With people as stupid as Bennett and Steele representing Republicans, it takes little intelligence to figure out why Republicans are getting their brains pounded in by Democrats. To Democrats this is a war for power. For Republicans it is an intellectual exercise about adhering to Republican principals, civility and non-partisanship ... whatever that is supposed to be. Even a feint towards being "moderate" by Obama thrills them.

At the same time even very conservative libertarians like me are smeared as RINOs and asked to leave the party. Read this article and assume even half of it is right. Then you may understand why I am so angry at the Republican Party and self righteous conservatives with their RINO insults. It was these same social conservatives who sat out this election and gave America to the socialists.

Conservatism is DEAD already. Musing that it might be killed is way late.