21 January 2013
POLITICS: The Republican Party has become more divided than ever.
By Kate Weggeland, Staff Writer
Abraham Lincoln, considered by many Republicans to be the greatest GOP leader, once said, “a house divided cannot stand.” That statement is currently being put to the test as the two wings of the Republican Party debate social and fiscal issues.
Along the epicenter of GOP moderation, Northeastern Republicans have always been more apt to support greater government involvement in the lives of American people. This moderation has generally included support for women’s right to choose, a greater willingness to increase taxes and more emphasis on protecting the environment.
More conservative Republicans, holding sway in the south and west, are generally opposed to government interference. These Republicans strongly believe in limited government, reducing the individual and corporate tax burden, decreasing government regulation and supporting a strict right to bear arms. Protecting individual rights also includes opposing women’s right to choose.
In the last several years, the Tea Party movement (comprised of individuals from both the Democratic and Republican parties) has espoused very conservative principles favored by the Republican right. What began as a grassroots movement several years ago moved like a wave through Republican districts, replacing more moderate Republicans with conservative victors.
Many high-profile Tea Party victories have caused more moderate Republicans to question the ideals and values of the party. The recent debate over the federal fiscal cliff highlighted the breach between the party’s two segments. Moderate Republicans were willing to vote with Democrats to raise taxes on the upper-middle class and the wealthy.
Tea Party Republicans viewed such support as fiscally irresponsible and treasonous to the notion of limited government. The depth of the chasm between the two wings of the party relating to this particular vote can be seen here in Riverside County, where long-time Republican congressman Ken Calvert, who supported the tax increase, was immediately subject to a possible and significant challenge from long-time Republican and County Supervisor Jeff Stone less than two months after the November election. Stone argues that Calvert betrayed the party. Calvert believes that the nation’s national debt must be addressed by a combination of tax increases and spending cuts.
Thus begins the 2014 election cycle, pitting moderate Republicans against Tea Party Republicans, in a house divided.