British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli once said the purpose of the opposition is to oppose. So why doesn't the New Jersey Republican party oppose more effectively and often? The reality is that elected Republicans in the state legislature are a part of the establishment that enjoys the perks of public office that they and the Democrats put in place over the years.
Also the GOP is unable to capitalize on the Democrats’ considerable problems. They do not cultivate and field and most importantly fund young candidates of promise in enough districts to make a difference even if they have a good year. One should not have to self-fund a political campaign to be able to run for office especially in the beginning of a political career.
For its fundraisers in New Jersey it brings in people like Bush and Cheney, rather than nationally well known figures who do not have such high negatives in the state as the president and vice president. The national GOP benefited for years of intellectual work in conservative think tanks in Washington, D.C. They spun off ideas that became American policy. Where are the state conservative think tanks in New Jersey? Who is preparing alternatives on property tax relief, privatization of highways, pension investments and otter high profile issues? Tax cuts are not enough of an answer to every problem. Ideas are important.
The Republican Party is an amalgam of two groups: Main Street conservatives who believe in limited government and balanced budgets and evangelical groups who are deeply concerned about social issues and the perception of general cultural decline of the nation. The GOP in this state really appeals to neither. It is hard to argue that Republicans stand for limited government in New Jersey when they themselves voted for and even promoted expensive programs. To court pubic employee unions GOP leaders in the past have raised benefits, broadened eligibility and increased the overall costs. The unfortunate result for them, as onehas seenin the last two gubernatorial races, is that the public unions took moneyand then supported the Democrats anyhow. They can't be bought! Which I guess is a good thing for our state.
In terms of the once explosive social issues, the GOP in New Jersey is really quiet as a party onissues such as abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage, and the like. It just may be NewJerseyans are a rather remarkably tolerant people, a group of inhabitants jammed into a small congested state who have to get along.
It is interesting that New Jersey with its large Roman Catholic population has not seen much leadership from the hierarchy on these issues, as it has nationally and in places like Massachusetts, where the Catholic hierarchy is often an arm of the Republican Party, even using the pulpits to turn out the vote on those social issues. Evangelical churches and traditional Roman Catholics have been important allies for the GOP from Reagan to Bush. As Karl Rove knew, one mobilizes the votersthrough emotional, raw meat issues.
If the GOP in New Jersey does not have such allies either in the social areas or in terms of fiscal responsibility, what is its draw? There are of course still Republican counties and towns where peoplevote for the GOP as a matter of history. But even traditionally Republican counties like Bergen and Morris are showing shifts in allegiances. It may be that people moving from New York City are taking their Democratic colors with them.
Recent polls show that despite all the criticisms in the media in New Jersey over Governor Jon Corzine's performance, still a solid 54 percent support him. And despite the recent roundup by Chris Christieof 11 officials on charges of corruption (10 of whom were Democrats) the population still does not bear the Democrat party any negative feelings. They have become theteflon party to the chagrin of the GOP.
Michael P. Riccards is Executive Director of the Hall Institute of Public Policy – New Jersey.
