The GOP Internal Struggle Over Church & State

Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele has found himself in rocky territory once again because of an interview he gave to GQ magazine where he attempted to be more inclusive on the issues of abortion and homosexuality. The interview drew a sharp response from the losing candidate for the GOP leadership, Ken Blackwell, who retorted that Steele "needs to re-read his Bible, the U.S. Constitution and 2008 GOP Platform..." Blackwell represents so many in the GOP who believe that their interpretation of the Bible should be the rule of public law in so many cultural areas.

Steele is quickly finding himself in the midst of the leadership of a far right drifting political party that wants to blur the line between church and state, and wants to win elections even at the expense of the nation's economic recovery, where many embrace the arrogant nonsense of talk show clowns like Rush Limbaugh who has answers to nothing, only rudeness to offer. How long Steele can hang on as GOP Chairman in a party with so many wacko factions like is a pretty good question. This party continues to drift farther and farther from mainstream respectability, and mainstream candidates for public office.

Steele is a decent man who once studied to become a Catholic priest. He represents some of the same patience often found in many priests in a political party with many angry right wingers who often represent a radical agenda that wants the line between church and state to be completely blurred. They are America's own homegrown Taliban in a great many ways.

And the new problems that Steele is facing with many members of his own party also indicate that his election was largely based on the GOP looking to find some answer to President Obama to somehow attempt to disprove the racism they have been blamed for by many taking such an extremist line on immigration issue. When Steele disappoints these GOP members by not promoting all of their own ideological talking points, they are angry. This isn't half as inclusive of a party as it would like many voters to believe that it really is. Yesterday, in a national fundraiser held by a Texas congressman for the National Republican Party at least one call-in lamented so many Mexicans are in the U.S., not just illegal immigrants. Just too many Mexicans. This is type of racist nonsense thinking that pervades many in a political party in which Michael Steele attempts to lead. This alone proves how difficult it must be for Steele to keep his job for long.

Likely Steele will be forced to turn in his resignation very soon, and some typical White racist will take up the party helm, that will appeal to those in the religious right who want to blur the line between church and state, the Rush Limbaugh voters, the Sarah Palin trailer-trash voters, and all the other goofy factions that are making the GOP a party that's not really ready for prime time like it once was.

Steele is attempting to make the GOP a big tent party, in a party that really doesn't want to be a big tent party. Many in this party just don't seem to realize that if they grow too extreme, then a shrinking pool of voters will view the candidates of this party as acceptable alternatives in elections. This party is quickly setting itself up for defeat of 1964 proportions in 2012. After the big 1964 loss, the GOP quickly learned to become centrist for 1968. More extremism in 1968 would have sent this party going the way of the Whigs. Steele is reasonable man in a party not yet willing to be reasonable.