GOP Club Unites to Stave off Liberals

The lesson Harvard's Republicans learned in the last two years might well be, "hang together or hang separately."

Compared to the mid-1990s, when internal struggles tore apart the Harvard Republican Club, campus conservatives say they are more unified than ever before.

In 1995, a group of dissident political moderates broke away from the Harvard Republican Club to form the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Alliance.

Moderates felt there was no place for them in an organization dominated by their right-wing counterparts, says Michael G. Housman '02, the Republican Club's current vice president.

"The Republican Club was viewed as very conservative," Housman says. "Some people would even wear coats and ties to meetings."

But about two years ago, members of the competing organizations found themselves against a wall of reality: There just weren't enough Republicans at Harvard to sustain two groups.

The clubs rejoined to form the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club in 1998. ("Radcliffe" was dropped last December.)

On a campus dominated by liberals, Republicans of all stripes tend to stick together, says Bronwen C. McShea '02, publisher of the Salient, a conservative magazine.

"Ideologically, we're a minority, and generally we don't feel animosity," she said.

Regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum, students on the right can sometimes feel isolated, she says.

"There are a good number of conservative students on campus, but it's difficult socially to let people know you're very conservative," McShea said.

A conservative "coming out" dinner last December, which was billed as a chance for Republicans to socialize together, drew 60 students.

Because of the opposition they face, Housman says, conservative students on campus may be more willing to compromise on ideological questions.

"We're pretty tolerant," says Housman, who considers himself a moderate conservative. "A lot of members tend to lean very far to the right. But members pretty much span wide across the spectrum and represent many different views."

That means the club hasn't been torn apart by divisive issues like abortion, even though Harvard's Republicans have a range of opinion on the subject.

"We have debates within the club and no one feels left out," Housman says.

Officially, however, the club's constitution requires it to adopt the anti-abortion stance of GOP's national platform.

Social issues may not be a barrier--but what about elections?

Club president Jason P. Brinton '01 says the group's top priority for the year is campaigning for the presidential election. But the primary season has potential for dividing Republicans.

At Harvard, student supporters of Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Arizona Sen. John S. McCain have organized committees to back their candidates--each under the Republican Club's umbrella.

Does the bitter competition between Bush and McCain extend to Harvard?

Brinton says the Republican Club will remain nonpartisan in the primary race so members can make up their own minds.

"But when there's one nominee, the whole club will get behind him," he adds. "We all have the same basic beliefs, and we're good at putting our differences aside."

It's easy to label candidates "conservative" or "moderate," says Robert R. Porter '01, head of Harvard Students for Bush. But in the end, he says, students make their choices based on issues, not labels.

According to Mattie J. Germer '03, coordinator of Harvard Students for McCain, the senator's backers span the spectrum as well.

But Germer says that the rivalry between the Bush and McCain camps is a friendly one.

Supporters of the two candidates drive to New Hampshire together to attend debates, she says.

"Whoever gets nominated, be it Bush or McCain, I'm sure we'll all be able to get together and support that candidate," she says.