If Republicans want to stand any chance at winning the White House in 2016, or ever again, they need to reunite. To outsiders, the modern image of the Republican Party is not one of conservative ideals or pragmatic policies, but of chaos and infighting.
As a college Republican who attends a mostly liberal school, I am constantly asked to represent the “other” point of view in class, and frankly, the biggest problem I see with the Republican Party is that there is no longer one clear, concise message or set of ideas to rally behind.
There are three main strains of thought dominating the Republican movement: Classical Conservatism, Libertarian Conservatism and Populist Conservatism. Over time, proponents of each ideology have only become stauncher in their beliefs, and it has caused (quite public) internal power struggles between groups like the Tea Party and the establishment.
As Republicans it is easy for us to be angry with the media for purporting this image of a divided party, however, it is necessary for us to also step back and realize that we have no one to blame but ourselves — even if that is difficult to do.
This presidential primary has been called everything from “unusual” to “gruesome” to “embarrassing” by outsiders looking in, and, frankly, I wouldn’t completely disagree with these notions.
As I continue to watch our presidential candidates ruthlessly attack one another, it has become increasingly clear that we, as a party, have learned nothing from 2012 when it comes to the dangers of damaging our own candidate beyond repair before they even get to the general election.
However, the solution to this problem may lie in one person: Hillary Clinton. While a Clinton candidacy would undoubtedly pose a challenge to the eventual Republican nominee, it could also serve as the long-needed unifying agent for the Republican Party.
While Republicans may not reach a consensus on every issue, one thing they typically agree on is the fact that Hillary Clinton must be kept out of the White House. The now almost inevitable Clinton candidacy may very well force Republicans to compromise with one another in an effort to defeat her.
Younger voters fit into this idea especially well, as they tend to be slightly more pragmatic and less ideological than their older counterparts. They are also granted the unique ability to perpetuate this idea of unity and keep this inner turmoil from resurfacing after the 2016 election, as they represent the future of the party.
If the GOP wants to once again be seen as a serious party that can actually get things done, the first step is to start compromising within our own party — and Clinton may very well be the catalyst we need in order to do so.
Whether they coalesce behind a specific candidate, or a certain set of policy goals, there is no denying that the Republican Party will not win, and may even cease to exist, if it can not reunite.
