op-ed
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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November 18, 2004

When Bush/Cheney '04 pandered to the fears and prejudices of their party's evangelical base, they knew they'd deliver the votes. Now Republicans are faced with an empowered radical party base demanding the lynching of party moderate Arlen Specter.

What are Republicans to do? Do they publicly herald radical agendas of their evangelical base, or do they publicly isolate their evangelical base and support Specter? Oh, the choices Republicans face.

But how did this happen? What is fueling a looming specter of isolation and dissatisfaction of an emboldened evangelical base of the Republican party? Two words: EXIT POLLS.

When Senator Arlen Specter wins his judiciary chairmanship, he can thank all those Republicans scared to death that they'd appear to validate the suggestion by exit-polls that evangelicals own the Republican party. Republicans will be the first ones to embrace exit-poll data suggesting slight gains among women, blacks and others. If Democrats want to win, they will also seize the leverage provided by exit-polls that tell the American people who is really driving Republican policy proposals over the next four years.

"It's sounding like the Republicans are cutting a deal with Specter to allow him to become chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee despite his insult to the president, his 24-year liberal record, his double-speak and his core beliefs about judges and the Constitution, which conflict with the president's," said Jan LaRue, CWA's chief counsel.

"Do they think the people who are inundating them with calls and emails will be satisfied with that?"
[Why Specter? Conservative Group Asks - CNS - 11-18-04]