Photo credit: Phil Roeder, Flickr Creative Commons
Political divisiveness is nothing new. But when did gridlock become the rule?
“There used to be a significant overlap between, say, the most liberal Republican Senator and most conservative Democratic senator but that doesn’t exist anymore,” says University of Maryland professor and Baltimore Sun columnist Thomas Schaller.
Thomas Schaller examines national Republican politics since President Ronald Reagan left office in his book “The Stronghold.” Schaller suggests that both parties conspired in redistricting efforts that bolstered the more conservative or liberal candidates.
The strategy has worked well for the Republican party over the last several years, bolstering the GOP in the House and also gaining the party Senate seats in states with lower populations. But Schaller tells Steve Fast the strength of conservatives in Congress has put any moderate Republican running for president in a difficult position.
“What works in congressional races and what works politics, particularly in the primaries,” Schaller says, “Is not going to help your presidential party nominee.”
Listen to the interview: Thomas Schaller on The Steve Fast Show
Follow Steve Fast on Twitter @SteveFastShow
