Awaken, Republican moderates

The GOP needs a new Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower, 1952.
(Image credit: AFP/AFP/Getty Image)

Donald Trump won the presidency in large part because he successfully posed as a moderate.

When I say "moderate," I mean a bona fide Northeastern Rockefeller Republican-In-Name-Only squish — a "commonsense conservative" who won't cut Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid benefits, who won't break out in hives on the subject of single-payer health care, and might even raise taxes on the wealthy! Obviously, Trump has not governed as a moderate. And even during the campaign, he tangled up his economic moderation with often-nasty nativism that played directly to the prejudices of the white working class. But you have to admit, on the campaign trail, the bulk of his rhetoric on jobs, the welfare state, and innumerable economic issues was downright moderate. And it was awfully popular with Republican voters.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us
Scott Galupo

Scott Galupo is a freelance writer living in Virginia. In addition to The Week, he blogs for U.S. News and reviews live music for The Washington Post. He was formerly a senior contributor to the American Conservative and staff writer for The Washington Times. He was also an aide to Rep. John Boehner. He lives with his wife and two children and writes about politics to support his guitar habit.