Joe Pags on the "Big Tent" Theory

Joe Pags (in for Glenn today, who is nursing himself back from an appendectomy) cannot believe the nerve of those who would have you believe that the Republicans need to expand the size of their "tent" by compromising their ideals.

Last Tuesday, unapologetically conservative Republicans made major advances in New Jersey and Virginia and a relative unknown conservative knocked the Republican candidate out of the campaign in New York's 23rd Congressional District. America is more conservative than it has even been in this century, and the most it has been since the Reagan era. So why are Democrats calling for Republicans to compromise their beliefs in an attempt to bring people "under the tent"?

"We don't need a bigger tent," Joe declared today on the program. "The tent is open for whoever wants to come in and share our ideals." It dilutes our message, he explained, to attempt to water down the conservative message in the hopes that attracting moderates and liberals will strengthen the party. The strength of the party, however, is not in numbers. It is in the sincerity and coherence of the party's beliefs. Joe cited Ronald Reagan as an example:

"How expansive do you think Ronald Reagan's tent was? Ronald Reagan had a tent of whatever size is necessary to have so many people vote for him," and not once did he compromise his beliefs to do so. People understood what they were getting when they voted for Reagan and they were comfortable, in many instances, agreeing to disagree on certain issues. "Reagan said '"Here's what you get, but if we work together we can have a successful America,'" Joe concluded. He didn't change his stance on abortion, for example, but pro-choice voters chose him over Mondale. "Even in the debates Mondale seemed to be a fan of Reagan," noted Joe, citing this famous episode during a presidential debate where Reagan cracked a joke that even Mondale had to laugh at:

If you want a good candidate who is going to represent you in Washington, Joe concluded, you need someone who is willing to stick with their beliefs, even when they are unpopular with the popular Pelosi kids. "The tent is there, the values are obvious... and the idea that you have to change all your stances on issues is ridiculous."