| The clash of neoconservatism with the basic | | | | we must increase taxes. His campaign is now |
| Republican concepts of small federal government and | | | | stumbling upon a dangerous ledge between reality and |
| low levels of taxation has created a chasm in the | | | | what the traditionally conservative base wants to hear |
| Republican party. On one hand neoconservatism has | | | | from him. The Republicans need to find a way to |
| its basis in the three main principles of the unilateral use | | | | reconcile with the fact that you can't have the war |
| of force, the belief in preventive action to avoid threats, | | | | and no increase in taxes when the federal budget |
| and the proactive spreading of democracy. On the | | | | deficit for 2009 is predicted to be almost half a trillion |
| other hand at the core of the Republican party and | | | | dollars. |
| conservatives in general is conservative fiscal policy, | | | | McCain's efforts to somehow bridge this divide have |
| small federal government, and low tax rates. This | | | | been met with retaliation from his base. Most notably, |
| creates a sharp divide in the Republican party, | | | | after recent comments, a conservative group named |
| because the implementation of neoconservative | | | | Club for Growth wrote an open letter to McCain which |
| values necessarily goes against the most basic of | | | | said, "When asked if you would be open to raising the |
| conservative values. The result, is imperfect, and will | | | | payroll tax, you refused to rule out a tax increase, |
| lead to impractical policy positions from Republican | | | | saying 'There is nothing that's off the table.' This |
| candidates, such as saying no to tax cuts while saying | | | | statement was particularly shocking because you |
| yes to the huge government spending that is | | | | have been adamant in your opposition to raising taxes |
| necessarily the result of the War in Iraq. This has | | | | under any circumstances." |
| become a growing problem in the McCain campaign | | | | While this divide certainly won't find reconciliation during |
| as can be seen with his recent back and forth on tax | | | | this year's campaign signal, conservatives need to look |
| cuts, as well as his back and forth on the Bush tax | | | | at their candidates and realize that war means |
| cuts. | | | | increased federal government which in turn means |
| This has come up again very recently in a new light. It | | | | increased taxation. Its as if the Republican party has |
| seems that McCain felt that he needed to be for the | | | | forgotten this connection, which is not only deeply |
| tax cuts to those making over $250,000 a year to win | | | | disturbing, but threatens the economic future of our |
| the Republican primaries, but now it seems McCain | | | | country by creating massive federal budget deficits |
| has realized that if we want a balanced budget again | | | | year after year. |