A commonly used ? but very accurate ? observation in politics goes "Only Nixon could go to China". It is a political slogan; the power of a leader, with a sterling status among political supporters for upholding their policy positions, to take an action that would otherwise draw the fury of supporters if it were taken by someone without such strong credentials.
Nixon?s credentials as an anti-communist were bullet-proof, so he had the political capital to risk by going to China, in 1972, and shaking the hand of the face of communism, Mao Zedong.
Senators and congressmen who have burnished their records ? conservatives and liberals alike ? can afford to highlight examples of moderation at election time.
Heller and Rehberg are two prime examples; supporters view their positions as unassailably conservative, so they can take some risk by reaching out to more moderate and independent voters with a message and vivid examples of their bipartisanship and magnanimity.?
We just saw this on vibrant display in the Arizona special election.?Mr. Barber will be a reliable liberal vote for President Obama and Minority Leader Pelosi in Congress; his supporters and his predecessor?s, Gabrielle Giffords, supporters knew this, so he ran as a moderate rarely mentioning in his campaign ads that he was even a Democrat.?He knew the liberals would fall in line behind his campaign, so he could risk some political capital to reach out to moderate Republicans and independents with a message.?Last Tuesday, he was successful.
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