About Those GOP “Censure” Resolutions
It’s About “Trumpism.” What That Really Means, and The Way Forward
US Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) is the latest elected official to face a so-called “censure” resolution passed by his own state party. He’s far from alone. Most of the 10 US House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump and the 7 US Senators who voted to convict him for “inciting” the January 6th “insurrection” have faced such resolutions at the county and/or state level.
More of the ire has been focused on US Rep. Lynn Cheney (R-WY), the Chair of the House Republican Conference, second in line on the House GOP leadership ladder behind Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Steve Scalise (R-LA), the Leader and Assistant Leader, or “Whip,” respectively.
I get that Trump enthusiasts not only fervently disagree with these public officials but are upset over the impeachment and conviction process. They’re also mad that disputes over election results and reports of fraud were not adjudicated to their satisfaction, either by state legislatures or courts. They have a point, and there no question that the administration of the 2020 election was, in parts of the country, badly handled. Lawsuits are still pending. Others, including me, opposed the impeachment and firmly believe the impeachment trial was unconstitutional. None of them I’ve seen are expressing support for what happened at the US Capitol on January, so let’s get that out of the way. But if we’re going to condemn “virtual signaling” on The Left when it happens, fairness dictates that we call it out on The Right as well.
This is a waste of time. Worse, you are helping implement the Democratic strategy to permanently divide Republicans. It is, at best, a circular firing squad that signals to independent and marginal Republicans that, maybe, they’re not welcome. It also suggests that Trump voters have not learned, as Senator Lindsey Graham suggested over the weekend, that the GOP future is “Trump plus.” That means building on Trump’s success with new appeals and strategies geared to voters lost over the past 4 to 5 years years, while keeping the ones the GOP has gained.
I prescribed a future for the GOP that the North State Journal (NC) kindly published a few weeks ago. I think it continues to age well and is worth revisiting in part, with a few modifications.
First, when in a hole, stop digging. Stop doing the Democrats’ work.
Second, remember something that is taught in the Army. “Front Toward Enemy.” I do not mean to call GOP political opponents, “enemies,” but only to make a point that your opposition is in front of you, not behind or next to you.
Third, remember that politics is ultimately a math issue - you need more votes than the other team. Recruitment, as in the Army, is a Step One towards building a winning campaign. Politics is also a team sport.
Fourth, Republicans must strive, as challenging as it will be, to keep Trump voters in the fold while unifying (there’s that word again) around a positive, constructive and forward looking GOP agenda that attracts people who were turned off or repelled by Trump’s “style,’’ personality, Twitter feeds, or whatever. Some people just could not separate the man from the record. Trump has only himself to blame for making this election a referendum on him (which the Democrats were happy to accommodate) and not a ‘choice.’ In fairness, given media hostility, he faced serious headwinds.
This last part is going to be hard. And that brings us to “Trumpism,” and why that will be the the most challenging obstacle in unifying the party. Ultimately, it may not really be an “agenda.” It may be the style of leadership.
“Trumpism” isn’t a philosophy. It is summarized by two words I heard most often from Trump supporters when asked why they supported him: “He fights.” That’s why focusing on an agenda is important, even essential, is not enough.
Kristin Soltis Anderson best describes it here:
“I think Trump’s persistent influence is not about a person or a policy. It is instead about how he satiated and intensified the strongest hunger Republican voters have today; an appetitive for a fight.”
She concludes: “Trump’s legacy in the party isn’t policy, and it isn’t a person. It’s a posture - a fighting posture in a moment where Republicans think the fight is what matters most.”
I’ll add to that. Republicans need to think about what “the fight” looks like, sans Trump in the White House (oh, he’ll still be around) and how best to engage. Many consider too many Republicans are more interested in modeling what it looks like to be “good losers.” No, they are not interested in violence, as much as Democrats would like to lump all Trump supporters in with the nuts and rioters who breached the Capitol on January 6th. And, no, they’re not all against “compromise,” at least where their principles and values are not violated. They just want GOP leaders to stand up and be as “wise as serpents” when it comes to advocating for, or opposing, an agenda.
I know of no Republican who likes or supports the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, Speaker Nancy Pelosi or Senator Chuck Schumer. But nearly every Republican I know admires them for their tenacity and single-minded focus on their objectives, no matter how odious. “I wish Republican leaders fought like they did,” I’ve heard a few times.
I think GOP leaders are always deliberating on how best to proceed. It is what leaders do. It is an artful skill that is honed from experience, sometimes painfully. That is a challenge when in opposition, and there’s no White House-driven agenda to rally around. But they also know that censure resolutions against fellow Republicans are counterproductive, and should be saved for truly egregious actions. In this instance, censure-supporting Republicans should save their ammo for the 2022 primaries, if they’re that upset. A couple of impeachment-supporting Republicans had previously announced their retirements (Burr and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA). Primary elections are an appropriate place to find alternative candidates.
But I have some advice for those grassroots Republicans who are putting all the onus on their elected leaders. Get engaged, yourself, via an organization like Braver Angels. It isn’t enough just to throw rocks and expect others to do your bidding. Actually learn how to engage with people who may not agree with you, learn and especially figure out how to respond, and remember that for all we argue over, what unites us a country. It’s not just our elected officials and party leaders we should expect to be “wise as serpents.” The same holds true for all of us.
We all have some responsibility here. Censure resolutions are not the way.
Just make sure you support candidates who can win in November 2022.