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Today's Republican Party is not your father's Republican Party. In the words of authors Raihan Salaam and Ross Douthat, this is no longer a “great old party” but a great new party with new voices, ideas and energy. And while some conservatives fear the party has drifted astray, others see it as more in line with typical Americans and the issues of today. These discussions are important and will continue, but as Election Day approaches, it is important to note some meaningful changes and what they mean for the future of party politics.
1. It's hard not to pay attention to the colorful cast of characters on Donald Trump's side in the 2024 election.
Look at Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and other disaffected Democrats and independents. If the Republican Party once had a strict hierarchical structure, today's party is a motley crew of pirates.
There will be some turmoil and occasional rebellion, of course, but there is also a wild new energy and dynamism of dissent. And instead of demanding absolute loyalty, everyone gives their all. After all, the stakes in this election are different. We're talking about free speech, meritocracy, and what it means to be an American. We will accept any allies we can.
And so far, Republicans appear to be gaining many new allies in the party and in the polls. According to the New York Times, Mr. Trump has a 19-point lead over Ms. Harris among those who did not vote in 2020. Historically, it has been Democrats, especially Barack Obama, who have benefited from new or infrequent voters. Trump seems to have that momentum now. Among Hispanic men, Mr. Trump enjoys even support with Ms. Harris, and among black men, his support is well above average.
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2. Today's Republican Party is a blue collar and family coalition.
In 1996, voters without a college degree favored Democrat Bill Clinton over Republican Bob Dole by a 14-point margin. Trump currently holds a 10-point lead among people without a college degree. Although the gender gap is real, Mr. Trump leads Ms. Harris among married men and women. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's most powerful constituency is single, college-educated women who prioritize abortion over Israel and support Palestine. Some may argue that political parties have never been more at odds in tone, style, and content. Democrats sound like people in a woke college faculty lounge. Republicans sound like they're in the break room of a manufacturing plant or in the stands at a Friday night high school football game.
3. America First will continue.
Mr. Biden's open borders, weak economy, and reckless foreign policy will only further solidify Mr. Trump's views on trade and national security. Immigration consistently ranks as one of the top issues for voters, with 55% of all Americans saying they want fewer immigrants, the highest since 2001 in the Gallup poll.
To believe in America First, you must actually believe in America and truly love America. One of the most alarming political changes in recent years is that patriotism has become more the property of one party, the Republican Party, than the other.
Among Democrats, pride in our country is at a historic low. That's not surprising given the woke nonsense that has swept through most schools and universities over the past few decades. While the far left attacks America's founding and promotes fairness, Republicans teach children how to read, write, count, and think. They rescue children from crazy woke plans, emphasizing ability, merit, and the importance of work. They don't just communicate virtue, they demonstrate a true understanding of virtue.
While we can all improve on the subject of virtue and education, including Donald Trump, there are certainly lessons for our children to emulate from Trump's life.
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The first is the value of hard work. While Trump has spent his life working to build and meet salaries in the real world we call the private economy, the same cannot be said for Harris. 2. Please tell the truth. Campaign hyperbole aside, Trump fulfilled more campaign promises from 2016 to 2020 than any president in modern history. What he said he would do when he took office, he actually did. That's a great lesson for young people. Third, he has demonstrated a willingness to learn, most notably a deepening awareness of the power of faith and those who believe. The days since his near assassinations in Pennsylvania and Florida have given him time to reflect. His perspective on mortality deepened and he invites us to do the same by his example.
4. The Republican “establishment” group is in retreat and a new generation is emerging.
Ohio state senator and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance is participating. Former Wyoming Republican Liz Cheney has resigned. By court-packing, filibuster-ending, and supporting pro-abortion radicals like Kamala Harris, Never Trumpers like Cheney have lost whatever credibility they had left. They argued that resisting Trump was about defending principles. It was really about staying in power and maintaining influence. Vance, on the other hand, is expected to spearhead this new Republican Party, with veterans such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and New York Congressman Elise Stefanik and newcomers such as businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. It is said that
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5. Finally, being a pirate is fun
You can tell jokes, throw fries at McDonald's, and sit with Joe Rogan for three hours without a script. The Trump Show is the antithesis of traditional consultant-led campaigns. And, of course, there is a bigger and more important point. The Republican Party is the party of free speech, open debate, and centralized power, and it is a rebel with a cause. Democrats, in collusion with Big Tech and big government, are the speech police and venue watchdogs. It's no wonder that support for the Democratic Party hit an all-time low earlier this year.
The Republican Party is a new, happy, grand pirate ship that reflects the true diversity of American life, from stay-at-home moms to Mars-bound rocket scientists, from Midwestern farmers to disaffected coastal elites. Another pirate, Bob Dylan, once said: “The times are changing.” We believe they are. Let's see on Wednesday.
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