The Upside of GOP Intolerance

This post by Timothy Noah is highly worth reading. It illustrates the impossible task facing Mitt Romney as he proceeds to the general election - the task of moving back to the political center.

The problem, put simply, is that movement conservatives have become “open” extremists. They’ve convinced themselves that their views on social and economic issues reflect the majority of the country and, therefore, they no longer feel any need to disguise or soften their positions, or to brook any compromise.

Hence Romney’s endorsement of the Paul Ryan budget.

Hence Romney’s support for draconian measures at the state level to encourage self-deportation by illegal immigrants.

Hence Romney’s endorsement of Mississippi’s “Personhood Amendment.”

Hence Romney’s description of himself as a “severe conservative” (whatever that is).

I agree with Noah that this is a good thing. The fact that Mitt Romney did not feel free to denounce Rush Limbaugh for calling Goergetown law student Sandra Fluke a“slut,” the fact that Romney denounced a national health care reform law almost identical to the program he implemented in Massachusetts - and which he proclaimed was an appropriate model for national reform, and the fact that he is now unwilling to defend his openly gay policy aide, Richard Grenell, from anti-gay bigots, is great news. The GOP no longer believes it needs to hide who they are - and they won’t let Romney do it for them.

Best news I’ve gotten in awhile. Joe H.