Mitt Romney brings out strong feelings among Republicans. Some see him as the conservative exemplar, the man who can return the party to its pro-business, fiscal conservative roots. Others see him as an “establishment RINO” who says what needs to be said in order to win a political election. Unfortunately for Romney, this division has now appeared on two separate issues: abortion and health care. That suggests a larger problem with Romney that is worth exploring in detail.
To understand Romney’s dilemma fully, we have to go back deep into the history of the Republican party, to the historical split between the Northeastern, moderate wing and the Midwestern, conservative base. This cleavage dominated the first 25 years of party politics after World War II. It predates the emergence of the South as a major player in the party, and it was also a time when Western Republicans tended to be more progressive, as opposed to today when they are usually (but not always) more conservative.
