{"id":5163,"date":"2011-12-05T08:36:19","date_gmt":"2011-12-05T13:36:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/?p=5163"},"modified":"2011-12-07T12:11:49","modified_gmt":"2011-12-07T17:11:49","slug":"gop-primary-process-faces-looming-credibility-gap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/2011\/12\/05\/gop-primary-process-faces-looming-credibility-gap\/","title":{"rendered":"GOP primary process faces looming credibility gap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let me say, first, that I think the Republican primary includes some fascinating, intriguing political figures, who have stretched the dialogue about GOP politics and provoked serious discussion about the nation’s future.<\/p>\n

Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum all have substantial resumes, and intriguing things to say about American democracy.<\/p>\n

But there’s a growing sense within conservative ranks that the Republican primary process is spinning out of control, devolving into more of a reality TV show than a credible way to choose the nation’s next commander in chief.<\/p>\n

The latest bump in the road is the decision by conservative news magazine Newsmax to enlist Donald Trump as the moderator of its December 27th debate in Iowa.<\/p>\n

That decision drew a scornful response<\/a> from Paul — arguably the frontrunner in Iowa — who said he won’t attend:<\/p>\n

“The selection of a reality television personality to host a presidential debate that voters nationwide will be watching is beneath the office of the Presidency and it flies in the face of that office’s history and dignity.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The libertarian lawmakers from Texas added this:\u00a0 “Mr. Trump’s participating will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere.”<\/p>\n

Further complicating this circus-like primary season is the fact that so many Republican candidates are themselves primarily media personalities, rather than plausible candidates.<\/p>\n

Trump himself flirted with running for the White House, before his flirtation with the “birther” movement unraveled his last vestiges of irony-free credibility.<\/p>\n

And journalists have noted for months that several campaigns — those of Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachman, and Herman Cain, in particular — have mingled for-profit book promotions with vote-gathering.<\/p>\n

Over the weekend, conservative columnist George Will blasted Cain, claiming that the former pizza mogul had effectively hijacked the process for personal gain.<\/p>\n

“[B]oth parties have to do some serious thought as whether they can develop some filter to prevent this process \u2014 particularly with mad proliferation of debates \u2014 from being hijacked by charlatans, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial charlatans,” Will said.<\/a><\/p>\n

In fact, there is little evidence of a comparable problem on the Democratic side, for the simple reason that there isn’t a similar linkage between media self-promotion and politics.<\/p>\n

Personalities like Gingrich, Trump and Sarah Palin — often in partnership with AM talk radio and Fox News — have created a kind of revolving door of lucrative punditry, public speaking, and publishing that is new in American politics.<\/p>\n

The line between political popularity, ratings, legitimate advocacy and showmanship have blurred dangerously.<\/p>\n

So far, that kind of thing hasn’t happened on the Democratic side.<\/p>\n

This change reflects the fact that the Republican Party remains deeply wounded, the influence of its leaders largely eclipsed by tea party groups, conservative media executives\u00a0 and independent political organizations.<\/p>\n

Indeed, the conservative movement appears on its way to emerging as a kind of loose coalition of powerful groups — each with its own fundraising arm — rather than a coherent, monolothic party.<\/p>\n

We’ve seen this here in the North Country, where Republican candidates for the 23rd congressional district have faced devastating challenges from New York’s Conservative Party.<\/p>\n

Arguably, there simply aren’t any credible gatekeepers anymore in the GOP, no one with the influence and clout that allows them to vet candidates or police the primary process.<\/p>\n

The results can be fascinating and colorful, to be sure.\u00a0 At times, the marital scandals, gaffes, and debate fireworks have been, well, like a reality show.<\/p>\n

And at times, the free for all arguably produces interesting results.\u00a0 If there were a party gatekeeper, for example, Newt Gingrich would have almost certainly been bounced from the race months ago.<\/p>\n

But as George Will suggested over the weekend, it’s a nervous business when the system for reviewing presidential candidates for one of our two great parties is “hijacked” by figures like Mr. Trump.<\/p>\n

What do you think?\u00a0 Too much circus for your taste?\u00a0 Or is this good old fashioned colorful American politics at its best?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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