As time continuous to tick down towards the 2012 presidential election, the woes of the Republican Party continue in their search for a clear and definite front-runner. Every time a candidate begins to pull away from the pack, he or she shows weakness in policies and character. With twelve Republican debates so far held, and fourteen more scheduled, plus constant twenty-four hour news coverage candidates are crumbling under the pressure.
Rick Perry, who had already begun to lose his front runner position due to previous failure to perform in debates, shattered his chances of becoming president with the now infamous “oops” moment. When asked what government agencies Perry would eliminate he remembered the first two yet could not recall the third. The entire incidence, so painful to watch, can be summed up by the just audible “oh my” issued from someone with a microphone.
The next front-runner was Herman Cain. Though a sexual scandal put his position in danger, his debate answers and presence in front of news cameras did nothing to help his campaign for presidency. In the same debate as Perry’s critical mistake, Cain referred to Nancy Pelosi as “Princess Nancy” when asked a question on health-care policy. With Cain already under fire from sexual harassment allegations the fact that he called one of the highest-ranking female government officials in the history of US politics, and the only female to become speaker of the house in such a degrading way is a huge blunder. Then later earlier this week, Cain pulled a “Perry” when asked about his stance on how President Obama handled the situation in Libya. Cain clearly does not know anything on the topic and tries to maneuver around the question with rhetoric. However, the overall video is awkward and painful to watch because the man clearly is not strong with foreign policy
The fact that either of these candidates is even being considered for a presidential run is astounding. Imagine a State of the Union address in which Rick Perry attempts to persuade Americans on the productivity and changes made by his cabinet but halfway through he simply ends up saying “oops” to an entire nation looking for confidence in him. Now onto Cain. In a world were everything seems smaller because of technology and globalization a strong foreign policy is key in order to be a successful president. Clearly Cain lacks this necessary skill if he cannot even remember the basics on an international crisis that literally ended a couple of weeks ago with the death of Moammar Gadhafi.
More infuriating is not the lack of suitable candidates but the Republican’s refusal to properly acknowledge the legitimacy of Mitt Romney. Here is a man who, apart from Newt Gingrich, has held the highest office out of all the candidates, as he was 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. Yet, because of his liberal stance on issues, especially health care, Romney has largely been ignored by mainstream media such as Fox despite his consistent numbers in polls.
A current CNN poll has shown Newt Gingrich is the current Republican front-runner. Gingrich has tough republican stances on most issues. The most recent debate showed exactly where he stood on foreign policy, as he promulgated his desire to increase defense. He also has taken to the Republican hobby of Obama bashing. Every opportunity he could in the past debate, Gingrich attempted to point out how every single on the candidates on the stage would have a better president than the current incumbent.
Romney’s liberal policies could provide exactly what the party needs right now a mover, a doer, with new and fresh ideas. Instead, in the face of economic troubles and international crisis, the Republican Party has slowly retreated into its turtle shell of conservative views.