The GOP's Struggle for Identity in 2012

The Cato Institute's John Samples and Michael D. Tanner evaluate the GOP's struggle for identity following the Iowa caucuses.

Video produced by Caleb O. Brown and Austin Bragg.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• iowa caucuses
• catoinstitutevideo
• ron paul
• mitt romney
• rick santorum
• newt gingrich
• obama
• limited government
• constitution

[CRAPCANNONS]

1:55

"...Ron Paul, who's probably peeked in terms of his vote possibilities..."

If that's true, it will be partly thanks to back-biting `conservative' institutions like this one.

You bemoan big government but expect to squeeze solutions for it from establishment big government candidates, which is like trying to milk a jackass and whining that it isn't a cow.

The guy you claim to want is right there. Show some balls and get behind him already. Or just keep losing credibility.

[ConorJNixon]

social conservatives are a joke. you honestly pick your president based on his religious views? so having a pro-life president is more important than one that will create small government and fix the debt? and having a president that's against gay marriage is more important than one who will fix the federal reserve and lower taxes. oh and I better vote for the candidate that will imprison marijuana users. give me a break as john stossel would say

how about we focus on the important issues

[jonescomplete]

@ConorJNixon They do not pick based on religious views. If they did, they would not distinguish Paul and Santorum - both are Christian. I would argue that Paul is the better of the two.

they differentiate based on their "social conservatism".

I understand the moral stance against abortion and homosexuality, but I do not know how the first contributes to their disdain for Ron Paul, as he is politically opposed to abortion...

I think they should try changing culture not law but who asked me ;P

[ThePythagoran]

what's worth mentioning: cato is 501c3. translation: they cannot out and out support a candidate. I cannot say for sure that's why they say Ron has "peaked", it's clearly not obviously true as Paul has come with double the support in Iowa and tripled support and beat expectations in New Hampshire.

[Shonenut213]

Correction

They are competing for Bush's 4th term. Obama was the 3rd.

[timkoren13]

Crapcannons is 100% correct. Cmon CATO...

[duhg599]

*everything they want

[duhg599]

Ron Paul stands for everything that Cato stands for - limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. The only reason they're not throwing their full support behind him is because they're wary of that racist newsletter BS from over twenty years ago that Paul didn't write. They're failing to support someone who's offering everything they way for such an inconsequential thing. I'm very disappointed in the guys at Cato who made this video right now.

[luftwaffle]

@CRAPCANNONS Although I understand and agree with the nature of your reaction, I think that they were merely making a cold and honest calculation, as opposed to an attempt to degrade his platform.

[hayesism]

@CRAPCANNONS In 20 years, Cato will talk about Ron Paul and how America missed its chance in the same way that they talk about Barry Goldwater right now.

[hayesism]

@zoticus1 *Reagan.

[flyinbry]

Did that guy just say Ron Paul has peaked??? WTF CATO?