Don't Equate "Moderate" with "Bland"

In his latest post, E.D. Kain confuses “centrism” and “moderation” to mean a Republican that aims toward a bland middle of the road view. However, history shows us that moderate Republicans are a real faction with unique values and positions.

E.D. Kain’s latest post which is itself a retort of David Frum’s post on the need for moderates in the GOP to become active again misreads what moderate Republicans are all about. In some cases it seems like Kain confuses “centrism” and “moderation” to mean a Republican that aims toward a bland middle of the road view. However, history shows us that Moderate Republicans are a real faction in the history of the GOP with real values and positions on various issues from civil rights to the environment. One only has to read some of Geoffrey Kabaservice’s wonderful profiles on forgotten Moderate Republicans like Thomas Dewey, Thomas Curtis, and Arthur Larson to know that moderates in the GOP were anything but milquetoast.

I don’t think Frum was trying to lump everyone that is not in agreement with the current GOP agenda under the banner of moderate. Instead, he was calling on those specific Republicans who share the moderate Republican heritage to claim it once again and take the lead in the affairs of the party.

Of course there are many factions in the GOP and the wider conservative movement and all are important. But Frum’s call to moderate Republicans was a specific shout out to a specific community to stand up and get involved again in your party. It’s a call that all principled moderates in the GOP should listen to.

Originally posted at Republicans United.