Republican Party's Identity Crisis: An Interview with Haley Barbour

The Republican Party is at a crossroads, facing a war within its own ranks. In a recent interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, shared his thoughts on the party's future. With several high-profile elections taking place, the party is struggling to balance its conservative base with its moderate members. Governor Barbour emphasized the importance of having a participatory party that lets voters choose their nominee, rather than a select group of party leaders.

Key Takeaways:

• The Republican Party is dealing with a war within its own ranks, with some members advocating for a more conservative approach and others pushing for moderation.
• Governor Barbour stated that the party's recent losses, including the Arlen Specter and Scozzafava cases, are not indicative of a larger trend, but rather a result of poor party leadership in specific districts.
• The Governor emphasized the importance of having a participatory party that lets voters choose their nominee, rather than a select group of party leaders.
• The party is trying to balance its conservative base with its moderate members, with Governor Barbour suggesting that a strong economic message and focus on jobs, taxes, and transportation will help attract mainstream voters.
• The interview also touched on the issue of Governor Christie's election in New Jersey, where he won 94% of the Republican votes despite being attacked by the Democratic incumbent for being a "moderate Republican."
• Governor Barbour expressed his support for Bob McDonnell's campaign in Virginia, stating that his focus on jobs, taxes, and transportation resonated with voters.
• The Governor also criticized the last administration of George W. Bush for not being fiscally conservative, citing excessive spending and a lack of veto power.

Statistics:

• 94% of Republican voters supported Governor Christie in New Jersey.
• Governor Barbour believes that Christopher Christie will have "legs" in the election, helping the Republican candidates down the ticket.
• According to Governor Barbour, the voters in Virginia are concerned about jobs, taxes, and transportation.
• The total amount of spending during the Bush administration is not specified, but Governor Barbour stated that there was "a lot of spending."

Sources:

• MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews"
• Interview with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Chairman of the Republican Governors Association, November 3, 2009
• Federal News Service, Inc.
• Copyright 2009 by Federal News Service, Inc.