Pennsylvania Political Parties in Turmoil

Both the GOP and the Dems have seen some interesting battles taking place for control. The direction each Party takes in the future depends on the outcome of these squabbles. The Young Conservatives of Pennsylvania (YCOP) are in the forefront of an effort to swing the Republican Party from centrist moderates to a decidedly more rightist philosophy. In the Democratic Party the liberals and progressives are trying to gain control from their centrists and "DLC machine" oriented leaders. It should prove to be interesting.

Chris Lilik, who write the blog GrassrootsPA.com is one of the leaders of the young conservative movement. They are primarily upset over taxes and spending. These are the GOP right wingers who never saw a government program or tax they liked. They favor minimal government. The Republican Party in Pennsylvania definitely has two different wings. Around metropolitan areas such as the southeastern area of the state you have many pro-choice Republicans for example. The "T" has many evangelical, very conservative members of the Party who are anti-choice. Who gains control will largely determine the types of candidates and campaigns voters will see in the future.

Democrats are in a similar situation. Their split isn't geographical however. The liberal/progressive wing seems spread throughout the state. Many county Party reorganization votes this summer were almost evenly split between the progressives and the centrists. The DLC Dems have been in control for many years and are entrenched in places such as Philadelphia. Groups like Neighborhood Networks, Progressive Democrats of America and Democracy for America are fighting for more influence and gettingit in many counties.

The liberals/progressives want candidates and campaigns that better reflect their values, just as the YCOP Republicans are doing. This could be interesting. If both upstart wings gain more influence the voters would likely see more differentiation between the people both Parties put forth for office. Now there sometimes seems like little difference. Both conservatives and liberals are jockeying for more influence and candidates that better reflect what they feel their Parties stand for, so this could actually be good. I often think we need more candidates who aren't afraid to actually say what their beliefs are. Too many consultants come into the state to run campaigns and tell candidates to fudge on the issues and don't say what they really believe.

I think voters are more likely not just to vote for whom they feel supports their issues but they'll also work and contribute to those campaigns. I keep going back to the 2004 presidential election where exit polls in some key Ohio precincts showed people voting for Bush because they knew where he stood on the issues. They had no idea where Kerry was. Many didn't even agree with Bush on these issues but they said the fact he actually stood FOR something got their vote.

At a recent press conference in Chicago one reporter asked Bush how to win elections. His answer: believe in something. I seldom agree with the man on anything but he nailed that one. These two wings of Pennsylvania's major parties are in struggles because their people want them to believe in something again. That can't be bad.