If it seems as if politics has become more viciously partisan than ever before, well, it’s true. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a major new study that found that not only are the differences between the two major parties deeper than ever before, so are the differences between the groups that make up the parties. On the Republican side, Tea Party members and evangelicals have little use for more moderate Republicans who don’t want to cut government as much as they do. On the Democratic side, there’s never been as wide a split between minority voting blocs, like blacks and Latinos, who tend to be very religious, and the far-left progressives who’ve seemingly taken over the party’s direction to the point of forcing Catholic hospitals to hand out abortion drugs.
A similar poll 14 years ago found that the number of both Republicans and Democrats who considered themselves to be strongly partisan was in the mid-40 percent. The number of strong partisans has now leaped to the mid-60 percent. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans now say the government controls too much of daily life, while the number of Democrats who strongly disagree has doubled.
If we ever hope to solve America’s problems, we have to find some way to reach consensus, and not just have one side force its views down the other side’s throats. We’ve seen how popular that tactic was with Obamacare. The big question is how we’ll do it, with a media, a fundraising apparatus and a lot of politicians and activists who have a deep vested interest in keeping us as divided as possible. Say, maybe we could all come together and at least agree that we don’t need any more of them.
I was listening to you as you were remarking on becoming a Republican. I am 72 years old and my Dad was a Democrat most of my young life. At some point he became a Republican. I ask him one day, Dad, why did you change and become a Republican. He said, I didn't change, they did!
Joseph A. Clark
08/28/2012 11:24 AM
Rev Huckabee, I have received many phone calls from the Republican poll workers over the last two months. I have given them no answer as to who I will support, and at this point in time I care not to support either candidate. Why? I am a registered Republican and retired Federal Worker that has lost all his retirement savings and all the equity in his home over the last six years due to the Housing Crisis created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development at the direction of two former Presidents; Bill Clinton and George Bush. Given these "facts" can you explain why either party should be trusted with our future?
Ginger Waters
08/26/2012 10:11 PM
Dear Governor,
Just wanted to share that, like Artur Davis, I was a lifelong Democrat. I kept hanging in there hoping the Democratic Party would come to its senses. I am a church-going Catholic (and Latina, too), so the HHS mandate was the last straw for me -- I couldn't dump them fast enough! Unfortunately, living in California, I feel like my vote doesn't count for much but I assure you I will be voting for Mitt Romney!
William Tucker Arant
08/26/2012 11:20 AM
I believe that the widening rift between Republicans and Democrats can be explained.
The Democrats are offering more government goodies, and for those who want free stuff, this is good.
The Republicans are offering a more limited government with less irrelevant regulations and guidelines, and this is also good.
However, it seems that whenever we vote, things still get worse.
When a huge block of voters do not have a mind to work still have the power to vote things their way, then we have a functionally inadequate government who, in the very near future, will not have the power to borrow any more money.
I would say that the 50% of taxpayers don't pay taxes they the majority of them are Democrats.
Most of the revenue therefore, in my opinion, comes from Republicans who are businessmen. They pay both personal and business taxes.
No wonder 2.7 million jobs went to China. We don't like China taking our businesses but our government has caused this.
Now the government is more of an enemy than an ally.
Nancy J Anderson
08/25/2012 08:59 PM
There are a few things that need to be bi-partisan. But on most of our major issues in this country there should be no sides. Everybody with any common sense should agree that we need to stop spending because we are sinking in debt. Obviously, spending has not gotten us out of this mess. When you are in a hole-stop digging.
When it comes to moral issues, right is right and wrong is wrong. You cannot ride the fence. There did not used to be such a division on moral issues and we were a much better country.
Mike Huckabee
The Mike Huckabee Show The Huckabee Report Huckabee on Fox HuckPACMike Huckabee News
Aug 21 2012
More Partisan Than Ever
Mike Huckabee
If it seems as if politics has become more viciously partisan than ever before, well, it’s true. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a major new study that found that not only are the differences between the two major parties deeper than ever before, so are the differences between the groups that make up the parties. On the Republican side, Tea Party members and evangelicals have little use for more moderate Republicans who don’t want to cut government as much as they do. On the Democratic side, there’s never been as wide a split between minority voting blocs, like blacks and Latinos, who tend to be very religious, and the far-left progressives who’ve seemingly taken over the party’s direction to the point of forcing Catholic hospitals to hand out abortion drugs.
A similar poll 14 years ago found that the number of both Republicans and Democrats who considered themselves to be strongly partisan was in the mid-40 percent. The number of strong partisans has now leaped to the mid-60 percent. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans now say the government controls too much of daily life, while the number of Democrats who strongly disagree has doubled.
If we ever hope to solve America’s problems, we have to find some way to reach consensus, and not just have one side force its views down the other side’s throats. We’ve seen how popular that tactic was with Obamacare. The big question is how we’ll do it, with a media, a fundraising apparatus and a lot of politicians and activists who have a deep vested interest in keeping us as divided as possible. Say, maybe we could all come together and at least agree that we don’t need any more of them.
PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT. I READ THEM!
This is from yesterday's Huckabee Report.
Comments 1-5 of 11
Bennel L. Hatler
09/02/2012 08:41 PM
I was listening to you as you were remarking on becoming a Republican. I am
72 years old and my Dad was
a Democrat most of my young
life. At some point he became a Republican. I ask
him one day, Dad, why did
you change and become a
Republican. He said, I didn't change, they did!
Joseph A. Clark
08/28/2012 11:24 AM
Rev Huckabee,
I have received many phone calls from the Republican poll workers over the last two months. I have given them no answer as to who I will support, and at this point in time I care not to support either candidate. Why? I am a registered Republican and retired Federal Worker that has lost all his retirement savings and all the equity in his home over the last six years due to the Housing Crisis created by the Department of Housing and Urban Development at the direction of two former Presidents; Bill Clinton and George Bush. Given these "facts" can you explain why either party should be trusted with our future?
Ginger Waters
08/26/2012 10:11 PM
Dear Governor,
Just wanted to share that, like Artur Davis, I was a lifelong Democrat. I kept hanging in there hoping the Democratic Party would come to its senses. I am a church-going Catholic (and Latina, too), so the HHS mandate was the last straw for me -- I couldn't dump them fast enough! Unfortunately, living in California, I feel like my vote doesn't count for much but I assure you I will be voting for Mitt Romney!
William Tucker Arant
08/26/2012 11:20 AM
I believe that the widening rift between Republicans and Democrats can be explained.
The Democrats are offering more government goodies, and for those who want free stuff, this is good.
The Republicans are offering a more limited government with less irrelevant regulations and guidelines, and this is also good.
However, it seems that whenever we vote, things still get worse.
When a huge block of voters do not have a mind to work still have the power to vote things their way, then we have a functionally inadequate government who, in the very near future, will not have the power to borrow any more money.
I would say that the 50% of taxpayers don't pay taxes they the majority of them are Democrats.
Most of the revenue therefore, in my opinion, comes from Republicans who are businessmen. They pay both personal and business taxes.
No wonder 2.7 million jobs went to China. We don't like China taking our businesses but our government has caused this.
Now the government is more of an enemy than an ally.
Nancy J Anderson
08/25/2012 08:59 PM
There are a few things that need to be bi-partisan. But on most of our major issues in this country there should be no sides. Everybody with any common sense should agree that we need to stop spending because we are sinking in debt. Obviously, spending has not gotten us out of this mess. When you are in a hole-stop digging.
When it comes to moral issues, right is right and wrong is wrong. You cannot ride the fence. There did not used to be such a division on moral issues and we were a much better country.
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