June 11, 2009Raynard JacksonIn layman’s terms, cognitive dissonance is the inability to see what one doesn’t believe. Republicans have been suffering from this psychosis for many, many years. Below, I will play the role of “political” psychiatrist and try to help the patient work through their issues.The sole purpose of any political party is to win elections so they can implement their policy agenda. So, if that is the raison d’etre, the Republican Party is in bad shape.They want to win elections, but earlier this week on his radio show, Rush Limbaugh called President Obama a “fool.” Earlier this week at a major Republican fundraising speech, actor Jon Voight called President Obama a “false prophet.” In a recent editorial, former high ranking State Department official in the Reagan administrations, Frank Gaffney wrote, “The man (President Obama) now happy to have his Islamic-rooted middle name featured prominently has engaged in the most consequential bait-and-switch since Adolf Hitler duped Neville Chamberlain over Czechoslovakia at Munich….There is mounting evidence that the president not only identifies with Muslims, but actually may still be one himself.”They want to win elections, but they issue these highly personal attacks on the president of the United States. Regardless of your views on his policies, most Americans think our president should be shown respect in our public discourse. These personal attacks on the president are antithetical to Republicans winning elections. But, they are so blinded by their dogma, they refuse to accept the fact that he won the election. The inability to see what they don’t believe.Gaffney compared President Obama to Hitler; Newt Gingrich called Sonia Sotomayor (nominee for the Supreme Court) a racist; Laura Ingraham (radio talk show host) criticizes the president for taking his wife out to dinner and a Broadway play. Republicans are supposed to be a principled party. But, their rhetoric is not consistent with any of the party’s stated principles. The inability to see what they don’t believe.Republicans are supposed to be the party of less government and more individual freedom, until it conflicts with a belief they want to force others to accept. They want less government, but then want the government to tell a woman what she can/can’t do in the privacy of her doctor’s office. They want more individual freedom, until Terri Schiavo’s husband wants to take his wife off life support. The inability to see what they don’t believeTrue enough, President Obama inherited a plethora of problems from a Republican president and years of a Republican controlled Congress (they controlled 6 of Bush’s 8 years). But, in the nearly five months in office, there is no disputing the fact that President Obama has increased the size and scope of government, increased the federal deficit, and is threatening to raise taxes. If the Republicans will take their medication for their psychosis, President Obama has presented them an easy way of getting back to Republican principles.One of the most effective means of treating cognitive dissonance is with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a psychotherapeutic approach that aims to influence dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions through a goal-oriented, systematic procedure.President Obama and the Democrats have presented a great opportunity for Republicans to present their governing vision to the country. But, they must first decide whether they are going to continue the idiotic name calling or present a serious alternative to the president and his party.Republicans claim they don’t like what President Obama and the Democrats are offering. So, therefore it is incumbent upon Republicans to make their case directly to the American people. Republicans must first and foremost define who they are and what it means to be Republican.What is the legitimate role of the government in dealing with the financial crises? How will a Republican prescription affect the economy? If we are the party of law and order, why has there been no move to prosecute (or institute more congressional oversight based on Republican principles) corporate executives who violated their fiduciary obligations within their companies?Americans don’t necessarily want more government regulation, but they do want the assurance of knowing that our government is creating an environment where we can believe that a corporation’s financial documents are honest and accurate. What is the Republican plan to make this happen?What is the Republican solution to the tectonic shift in the political landscape? We can get 100% of the conservative white vote and still lose every national election. What is the Republican approach to building coalitions within the Black and Hispanic communities? And it cannot be based on irrelevant issues like abortion, affirmative action, or “reverse racism.”Detailed answers to the above questions will be a good start towards the Republican Party working through it’s cognitive dissonance. This type of disorder has to be treated over the long term, therefore, it’s imperative that the party honestly reflect on these questions and then put together a realistic plan. Implicit in this plan is the fact that President Obama (and the Democrats) won the election, he is an American citizen, he is a Christian (not Muslim) and he deserves to be respected.If Republicans are willing to accept these premises, then there is the possibility of getting beyond this cognitive dissonance. If not, we will relegate our party to irrelevancy.Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-based political consulting/government affairs firm. You can listen to his radio show every Saturday evening from 7-9:00 p.m. Go to www.ustalknetwork.com to register and then click on host, and then click on his photo to join his group.
https://theblacklist.net/
Comments