Most Republicans aren’t the least bit serious about their conservative rhetoric.
Frustrated with Gov. Mark Sanford’s refusal to accept $700 million infederal stimulus dollars and his opposition to the state budget, S.C.Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell addressed the governor in anopen letter this month, writing, “Time and again, you have failed toaddress problems in a constructive manner and proactively work with theLegislature to find solutions.”
Noting Sanford’s constant opposition to theRepublican-dominated state legislature, McConnell added, “While theattacks you have launched may have been intended to build your nationalimage as a reformer, in the final analysis, the work of a true reformeris measured not by words or TV ads or by press releases, but by what heor she has been able to accomplish.”
McConnell has a point. But it’s also nearly impossible to accomplish anything when there’s only one reformer.There are two types of “conservative” Republicans. The first typebelieves that government is broken, but simply needs Republicans tobetter manage it, while the other believes we need to actually reducegovernment. The first type can enjoy long careers by peppering theircontinuing support for the status quo with conservative-soundinglanguage. The second type tends to make fewer friends because theircareer-long language consists of telling Democrats, Republicans, andeven their constituents one word: “No.”