Is there a split going on in the Republican Party? For those of us who are terminally online, perhaps is the only right answer.
To the uninitiated, here is the crash course to get you up to speed. Donald Trump, despite claims of being “the most pro-life president in history”, has promised to not only not ban abortion, but would veto any abortion bill that ended up on his desk. He claims that his victory was in the repealing of Roe v Wade, and that this is now a “State’s Rights” issue.
Unsurprisingly, the pro-life movement is inflamed. For many, nothing short of a national ban constitutes victory, and the vehicle they thought would ferry them to this promised land has sprung a leak. X, formerly known as Twitter, is alive with teeth gnashing.
What has been interesting is the intra-Republican backlash. Their main thesis is that abortion is a purity test that leads only to ballot loses (this seems to be true). Furthermore, it illustrates a significant gap between Republican voters and Republican operatives.
If you’re part of the Party, you’re not part of the normal. Those who donate, volunteer, write op-eds, host radio shows, speak on campus, or just generally derive parts of their identity from fellowship with the GOP frequently differ in values to those who’s support starts at a vote and ends at a rally.
If you’re part of the former, you’re probably fairly comfortable in life, and issues such as abortion, deregulation, and Israel come to the fore. This isn’t a right wing peccadillo; left wing equivalents will fret about climate, minority representation, and yes, Israel. But for the rank and file, those millions who cast their votes, abortion is usually a lower priority. Especially when staring down the prospects of higher bills, a porous border, escalating crime and the imminent threat of global warfare.
Trump is many things, but one of his strengths is an uncanny sense to understand the impulses of the crowds. Running on an abortion ban in such a tight race is most likely a losing strategy. Better to tack to a middle position and win, then die as a pure candidate.
We shall see how it plays out, but a good test for any leader is to see how they deal with harsh criticism from within their ranks.
Trump knows all about that right now.