No election cycle would be complete without some real controversy, and after a slow start, the GOP’s getting a hefty dose in candidate Herman Cain’s sexual harassment allegations.
With a string of women stepping into the limelight in a way that is all too reminiscent of the Tiger Woods scandal not too long ago, Republicans are faced with a controversy that will force them to decide what a candidate looks like and what they’re looking for in a presidential nominee.
During the scandal of the ‘90s when President Bill Clinton was accused of extramarital affairs, Republicans pointed at Clinton, claiming that a politician’s personal life determines their character and therefore their ability to lead. Now, Republicans must deal with the same issue within their own party.
But this decision may create a new divide among Republicans, particularly those who are more socially moderate.
As of Tuesday, four women have stepped forward accusing Cain of sexual harassment while he was the CEO of the National Restaurant Association. Thus far, Cain has publicly denied all allegations and has instead pointed at media attacks.
In the meantime, Republicans are faced with the reality that “one of their own” has potentially done what they condemned just 10 years before. While there will always be those who hold true to their candidate, will other potential supporters back away from Cain because of these allegations?
Certainly some will, but it will be interesting to see whether or not the “superstar” candidate, who had been rising in polls leading up to the allegations, will lose a large following.
Young voters are less likely to distance themselves, and if they don’t it may mean a new look to the GOP in the not-so-distant future.
Young, fiscally conservative but socially moderate voters find themselves struggling to pick a party because the ideological rifts between the two are so severe. Without a strong Libertarian Party, these voters have to weigh the most important issues and make large compromises on Election Day while in the voting booth.
With such economic dilemmas, these voters have tended toward Republicans, making the economy a top priority. But with such scandal, conflicted voters are yet again forced to confront their party-line battle.
Traditional, conservative Republicans likely will disregard what’s left of Cain’s campaign because of his now questionable character, citing the importance of a candidate’s character in both his personal and public life.
But young voters will potentially change the face of the party. If Cain continues to gain support, especially from the youngest voting block, it will indicate a slight ideological shift in the Republican Party (or the need for a stronger Libertarian base).
Students often feel distanced from the political world, seeing no relevance and no room for change to fit our generation’s needs. Although changes such as this are small right now, the decision to continue to support a candidate (or not) will have long term effects on what the Republican Party looks like. Young conservatives and fiscally-minded voters have the opportunity to shape the face of the Republican Party and choose whether it keeps its traditional views which have appealed to voters thus far or whether it’s time for the party to reform.
The Cain controversy is not just an entertaining media byte to be played for the next year while we decide the next president of the United States. It’s a litmus test for the efficacy of the Republican Party in its goals and beliefs. This is not just a campaign mishap to be examined and debated in classes, it’s a teachable moment for the GOP as a whole.
Allie Bedell can be contacted at abedell@keene-equinox.com