By Michael Tackett
Tribune senior correspondent
Published October 3, 2006, 7:49 PM CDT
WASHINGTON -- Republicans consolidated power in the George W. Bush era by building a foundation based largely on the pillars of moral clarity and accountability.
Now comes what Al Gore might call an "inconvenient truth." The scandal over alleged sexually predatory behavior that triggered the resignation of Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) undermines those core GOP strengths, and with the approaching midterm elections, at the worst possible time, even prompting some calls from prominent conservatives Tuesday for the resignation of House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) for his handling of the matter.
Republicans in power find themselves in a vise, squeezed of course by newly energized Democrats, but perhaps more important by their most fervent supporters on the right, the very voters who cast their ballot based on social issues.
It was those voters—stoked brilliantly by Karl Rove's surgical support for amendments to ban gay marriage in swing states, among other strategies—who provided Bush with the bare majority he needed for a second term, and that Republicans needed to maintain control of the House and Senate.
Whether the GOP can count on those voters to show up in November is now in some doubt....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-061003assess,1,138229.story?coll=chi-news-hed
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