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Bush's Supreme Court Nomination Sparks Conservative Backlash

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Conservative activists and donors are expressing strong discontent with President Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, with 51% of those polled stating that they will likely reduce their grassroots work and contributions for Republican candidates in 2006. This comes after President Bush's repeated broken promises to his conservative base, including growing the size of government, increasing federal spending, and appointing only a few conservatives to key positions.

Key Takeaways:

  • A survey of 5,074 conservative activists and donors found that 51% are so angry with President Bush and congressional leaders that they will likely reduce their grassroots work and contributions for Republican candidates in 2006.
  • 54% of conservatives believe that President Bush "did not keep his campaign promise" to appoint justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas with the nomination of Harriet Miers.
  • Only 31% of conservatives believe that President Bush is "governing as a conservative," while 69% say he is governing as a moderate or as a liberal.
  • Conservatives gave President Bush a D for "controlling government spending" and a D- for controlling illegal immigration, with 27% giving him a D or an F "overall grade as President."
  • 80% of conservatives are "disappointed or angry" with the GOP-controlled Congress, with 69% saying they deserve a grade of D+.
  • President Bush's high level of dissatisfaction among conservatives may lead to major problems for the GOP in the 2006 mid-term election, with Richard Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, stating that "it will be very difficult for the GOP to maintain control of the House and, unless something changes, the Senate could change hands as well."

Statistics:

  • 5,074: The number of conservative activists and donors polled by ConservativeHQ.com
  • 51%: The percentage of conservatives who will likely reduce their grassroots work and contributions for Republican candidates in 2006
  • 54%: The percentage of conservatives who believe that President Bush "did not keep his campaign promise" to appoint justices in the mold of Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas
  • 31%: The percentage of conservatives who believe that President Bush is "governing as a conservative"
  • 69%: The percentage of conservatives who say President Bush is governing as a moderate or as a liberal
  • 80%: The percentage of conservatives who are "disappointed or angry" with the GOP-controlled Congress
  • 27%: The percentage of conservatives who gave President Bush a D or an F "overall grade as President"
  • 69%: The percentage of conservatives who say the GOP-controlled Congress deserves a grade of D+

Sources:

  • ConservativeHQ.com
  • Richard Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com and American Target Advertising
  • American Target Advertising
  • "America's Right Turn," by Richard A. Viguerie (Bonus Books, 2004)

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