Unity not part of GOP platform
How can the state’s decidedly minority party gain support beyond its political base when it can’t even get along with a significant number of its own members?
The answer to that political conundrum remains elusive, as demonstrated by last week’s Republican gathering in Lowell.
Over 200 activists converged on the Athenean Corner restaurant to welcome
GOP hopefuls running for several statewide offices, but one candidate was notably absent.
Chris Doughty, the Wrentham businessman running against Geoff Diehl in the Republican primary for governor, wasn’t present.
Why? Because he wasn’t invited.
John Macdonald, a co- organizer of the rally, told the newspaper that Doughty didn’t make the cut because he doesn’t stand for Republican values — “fiscally conservative and socially conservative.”
“I don’t see Chris Doughty exemplifying the values of the Republican Party. … Voting for Chris Doughty, in my opinion, it’s the same thing as voting for (Attorney General) Maura Healey,” Macdonald added, alluding to the Democrats’ gubernatorial candidate.
But therein lies the problem. How do Republicans — who comprise about 9% of the state’s registered voters — expand their reach if they consider everyone beyond their party’s conservative wing Maura Healey voters?
Macdonald pointed out that his GOP get-together attracted a racially diverse lot. “We had several Latino candidates, African American, Asian, men and women, a real good representation of the other people in Massachusetts.”
However, they’re still part of an ideological minority.
Broadening support involves building coalitions — starting with your own political party.
As we just recently witnessed with gun control legislation, that can still occur between Republicans and Democrats when the national interest demands it.
And it would be in the state GOP’S interest — once the September primary occurs — to gather all Republicans under one tent before trying to convince Democrats and independents to join their ranks.
To paraphrase another prominent Republican, then U.S. Senate candidate Abraham Lincoln, a party divided against itself doesn’t stand a chance.