Beware of conservative magazines bearing cover stories

By Jennifer Rubin

Haley Barbour has gotten himself in a heap of trouble. By praising White Citizens' Councils, appearing clueless about the history of racial injustice in the South, giving the Democrats a free swing at him and reviving recollections of another shockingly inappropriate racial statement, Barbour has gone a long way toward blowing up his presidential candidacy before it began. Other than the amazing propensity of seemingly sophisticated politicians to say remarkably self-defeating things, the episode is noteworthy in several respects.

First, this is the second Republican contender who was profiled by the Weekly Standard, afforded an in-depth and largely positive treatment focusing on his success as a governor, and who wound up making a mess of his debut on the conservative national stage. The first was Gov. Mitch Daniels, who let on that he wanted a "truce" on social issues, thereby inflaming social conservatives. The lesson here is that governors may be experienced executives, but they don't necessarily navigate well (or take direction from nervous aides) when thrust into the national limelight.

Second, this recalls the race for the Republican National chairmanship in 2009, when Katon Dawson, the South Carolina state party chair and the leading contender at the time for the RNC, got himself in hot water with the revelation that he belonged to a whites-only country club. That, frankly, is how Michael Steele got the job -- the most formidable opponent imploded and the party couldn't face the prospect of a PR disaster just months after Barack Obama was elected as the first black president. It also recalls Rand Paul's mega-gaffe on the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (Many conservatives, including myself, roundly criticized him for that one, but he recovered.)

In sum, when Republicans misstep on the issue of race, they are rightly and roundly lambasted. Some complain about a double standard (Harry Reid said dumb things, too!), but the fact remains that the vast majority of modern conservatives don't tolerate this sort of thing, and it can be fatal to one's political aspirations. The notion that this is all part of a "Southern strategy" (which Greg Sargent tells us is being discussed in the left-leaning blogosphere) is tinfoil-hat sort of stuff that reminds me how little the left understands today's conservatives.

Third, it is fortunate for the GOP and possible candidates that some early coverage affords potential supporters, donors, volunteers and the candidates themselves time to consider their options and understand fully what the bright glare of presidential politics is all about.

And finally, this is a reminder that candidates who look promising in 2010 may not be around for long, and those who stay out of the fray for as long as possible may be the savviest contenders.