Amidst the highly politicized environment of President Donald J. Trump’s America, one of the defining divides in Congress is that of the Republican Party.
The issue is a troubling one, as splits between members of the GOP can significantly impede action on pertinent legislation. While most Republican members generally vote in unison on policy and issues, there are inherent divisions that still exist within the party.
The most prominent example of these divisions recently came to light during a speech from one prominent GOP lawmaker. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) spoke in front of the Heritage Foundation on February 6th, and instead of focusing on policy issues, he took the opportunity to highlight the continuing divides within his party.
“There’s a good bit of ‘this is the conference against the conference’ here in Congress,” Rep. Cole said, referencing the deep ideological differences between various members. While some members of the party still follow a more traditional conservative approach, others have been increasingly adopting more populist approaches in recent years, leading to an ever-widening gap among members.
This kind of “us-versus-them” dynamic has been a growing problem within Congress, with many legislators seeking policy-making victories through the promotion of partisan politics. This has caused much of the legislative process to become gridlocked and highly divided, creating an environment of frustration.
This divide is not just a problem for the GOP, but for the country as a whole. It furthers the deep political schism between the two major parties and stifles honest and productive debate. For the United States to move forward and succeed, policy makers, activist, and ordinary citizens alike need to focus less on their political differences and work together to build a better future for all.
“Divide and Conquer: GOP Conference Splits in Two!
