The Rise of the Republican Party's Unlikely Leadership

The recent "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial, led by conservative voices Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sarah Palin, highlights a significant shift in the Republican Party's leadership. Just over two years ago, the most viable candidates for the Republican presidential nomination were John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee. However, since then, these three have been cast aside, and the party has instead turned to its tea party movement, led by Beck, Limbaugh, and Palin.

Key Takeaways:

• The three most important Republicans in the party are now Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Sarah Palin, who have become near rock stars to their fans and have elevated the status of the Republican Party.
• Despite their popularity, all three are not viable candidates for high political office, posing a problem for the GOP.
• The tea party movement, led by these three individuals, is actively promoting anti-Washington rhetoric that can damage any incumbent politician, regardless of party affiliation.
• The party's message has been distilled to a simple, anti-Obama creed often buttressed by misinformation.
• The Republicans have no viable candidates to push as an opponent in 2012, and the party is cannibalizing its own potential leaders.

Statistics:

• The "Restoring Honor" rally was attended by hundreds of thousands of loyal supporters, according to Beck's own estimates.
• Palin's approval rating is far below that of Obama's, leading to Election Day defeats of some of her handpicked candidates in recent months.
• The tea party movement is not guaranteed to lead to GOP dominance, and its rhetoric can damage any incumbent politician, regardless of party affiliation.

Sources:

• [The Hatchet, August 30, 2010 issue]