For GOP, time to make up what they'll believe in

The Republican Party may tout faith-based initiatives and the fact that Christ is a registered Republican, but their most fundamental belief is not spiritually oriented. The main thing they believe is whatever the hell they think is the most likely way to grab victory. Terror, or crime, or prosperity: If there's an electoral victory in there, that's what they'll believe. God and the American people will play their assigned roles.

According to Politico, GOP strategists have decided to believe Obama is a weaker candidate than Clinton and will have weaker coattails:

Just a few weeks ago, the debate was over whether Obama would sweep in dozens of Democrats in swing districts on his coattails — not how much he might help Democrats in a few seats in his home state. The fact that no one is any longer talking about a sweeping Obama win is a stunning and rapid change.

Rather, Republican strategists are looking at swing districts in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Arizona and others. Those 4 states alone are home to 9 Democratic freshmen who will be vulnerable in their first run for re-election. The list also ignores a number of races where Republicans will be competitive regardless of how the Democratic presidential candidate fares.

Some Democrats continue to regard 2008 as a likely strong year for their candidates. They often point to party identification and the generic Congressional ballot as indicators that Democratic candidates are likely to fare well this year. But if John McCain wins the election — by a wide or narrow margin — it's hard to imagine this being a strong Democratic year.

Ignoring the glaring "no one is talking" nonsense the writer pulled from a dark orifice, the described new beliefs constitute what must be seen as a true conversion experience. Self-created and based on wishful thinking, but still, it's faith in something. Republican strategists, ignoring the reality occuring before them, have simply decided that Obama's strengths no longer exist and that he is actually weaker than Clinton. Given that he refused to be swiftboated, turned what could have been a catastrophe into a seminal moment, and not only maintained by increased his leads nationally — and is cutting into Clinton's Pennsylvania lead — the idea that he is weaker is one that can only be taken on faith. Faith, after all, is the hope for that which cannot be seen:

As the White House slugfest between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) continues, top Republican Congressional strategists say they are losing their fear of Obama and becoming increasingly hopeful that either Democrat could help GOP House and Senate candidates this fall.

"...increasingly hopeful." Isn't that nice? The occupation of Iraq is proving to be untenable, the economy is tanking, Republican lawmakers are quitting Congress (aka rats leaving a sinking ship), the Democrats are out-performing the GOP in every possible measure — turn-out, registration and most importantly, fundraising — and on top of that, Barack Obama's appeal to grassroots activists, independents, young voters and African-Americans fully dominates the tepid support McCain has from the Republican base. In every measure, Obama's strengths and the Republicans' weaknesses point to a huge Democratic victory in November.

So what, then, is the basis of the GOP faith? Why are they choosing to believe Obama may prove easier to beat than Clinton, who they have always expected to defeat? How can they say they have hope when the real world indicates that none should exist?

They have no choice. They see quite clearly how bad the signs are for their party. They recognize that once Obama has secured the nomination and the Democrats have had a chance to recover from the primaries; once the convention has taken place and Obama delivers another stunning speech, this time accepting the nomination — remarkably, on the 45th anniversary of Dr King's "I have a dream" speech; once the nominee begins to campaign without the distraction of primary opponents and can focus fully on his vision and program; once this becomes fully Obama's race, then the whupping of John McCain will begin in earnest, and the GOP will be on their way to an historic defeat.

So they choose the path of faith. They place their hope in what they see as Obama's greatest weakness. Not, as the original Roll Call article quotes a GOP strategist:

...farther to the left than Clinton, as a less-plausible commander in chief, as having a thinner résumé and therefore being easier to exploit politically, and as being weaker with key voting blocs, including women, senior citizens and conservative Democrats.

...but because he's black. And liberal. Oh the visions of 527 negativity dancing in the heads of Republican campaign strategists. Their true faith: Fear-mongering, hate-based attacks, and gut-level appeals to save your lilywhite ass from the pinko darkie scourge.

They'll make Willie Horton look like the Boy Scout you'd want helping Grannie across the street.

You put your faith in what you think will save you, and for the Republican Party, devoid of any moral standard and lacking candidates of substance, salvation has long lain in dirty politics and finding one key state where they can fix the vote. Against Gore's pathetic 2000 campaign (led by perennial losers like Terry McAuliffe and Donna Brazile) and Kerry's 2004 wimpathon, that faith was justified and victorious.

Against Obama? They haven't got a prayer.