When the story of the 2016 Republican presidential race is written, January 19 might emerge as a critical turning point, as two major moments triggered seismic shifts in the campaign and the state of conservatism and the GOP itsel.
Those moments occured with hours of one another as tea party favorite Sarah Palin endorsed the White House bid of Donald Trump and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad told Republicans not to support Ted Cruz because of his opposition to ethanol subsidies.
They are also moments that longtime conservative activist Richard Viguerie believes help to crystallize the differences between Trump and Cruz.
Viguerie gained fame in the 1960’s as the first man to use direct mail in political campaigning. He is now chairman of conservativehq.com and the author of “Takedown: The 100-Year War for the Soul of the GOP and How Conservatives Can Finally Win It.” He recently endorsed Cruz for the Republican nomination.
The first critical moment Tuesday came when Gov. Branstad told reporters in Iowa that Republicans in his state should reject Cruz over his stand on renewable fuels.
“He is the biggest opponent of renewable fuels and he actually introduced a bill in 2013 to immediately eliminate the Renewable Fuel Standard. He is heavily financed by big oil,” said Branstad.
“We think once Iowans realize that fact, they might find other things about him attractive but I think it would be very damaging to our state,” added Branstad. “He hasn’t supported renewable fuels and I believe that would be a big mistake for Iowa to support him.”
Viguerie says Branstad, in addition to touting big government, was deliberately disingenuous. He says this issue is anything but a reason for voters to punish Cruz.
“I think the person who should be punished is Gov. Terry Branstad. He’s the one who just lied. He said that Ted Cruz opposes renewable fuel. No. He does not oppose renewable fuels. He opposes subsidized, taxpayer-subsidized renewable fuel. Big, big difference and he knows that. He just flat out lied,” said Viguerie.
In fact, Viguerie applauds Cruz for not groveling to Iowa voters over ethanol.
“This is just an example of how Ted Cruz is the limited government, constitutional, principled conservative in the race, the only one at a top tier level,” said Viguerie.
So Viguerie was less than enthused to see tea party favorite and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin endorse Trump on Tuesday.
“I’m sorry to see it. I think it’s a big mistake. I think it will have limited value,” said Viguerie.
Why is it a mistake?
After taking a hands-off approach to Trump for months, Viguerie says he now sees Trump acting more like a typical politician, even vowing to increase ethanol subsidies if elected. But there’s something even more fundamental at work.
“He is in no way a conservative. He’s got a lifetime record, 40 years plus of being a political liberal person,” said Viguerie.
He says Trump’s record of supporting eminent domain against private property owners, backing abortion at all stages of development, endorsing same-sex marriage and donating to many prominent liberal politicians proves he’s no tried and tested conservative.
Viguerie also says voters should not be swayed just because the GOP figures who frustrate them are also critical of Trump.
“Your enemy’s enemy is not necessarily your friend. Because the establishment in this country is so opposed to Donald Trump does not mean that he’s our friend. He has a 40-year record of espousing big government solutions to the problems,” said Viguerie.
He also says the most important ingredient in a Republican win come November is party unity. Viguerie says Trump’s record of being socially liberal means he cannot bring the GOP together and he will face the same results as Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney.
Curiously, Viguerie believes Cruz is the only Republican candidate capable of uniting the party. That assessment is likely to cause many Republicans to spit out their coffee. After all, Cruz is detested by GOP leaders for repeatedly and publicly defying them. Nearly all of his Senate colleagues have endorsed someone else.
And lately, even names synonymous with the Republican establishment, such as Bob Dole, are starting to prefer Trump to Cruz.
So how does Cruz ever emerge as a unifying figure? Viguerie says Cruz fits five of the six requirements to unite the party, such as being conservative on economics, social issues and national security. He also believes Cruz would be appealing to tea party members and libertarians. That leaves the moderates.
“Since Cruz checks all five of those first boxes, with his vice presidential choice he can bring the establishment moderate Republicans and have a united ticket. With his vice presidential choice and other appointments, he has an opportunity to unite the party in a way that no other candidate does,” said Viguerie.
