“Haley Turns Heads: Bipartisan Appeal Draws Critics of Playing Both Sides

The election of 2012 kicked off with a new face to the Republican party’s platform – South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. With her unique background as the daughter of Indian immigrants and a self-professed fiscal conservative, Haley immediately attracted a wide base of support. Despite her popularity within the Republican party, Haley’s presence as a component of the Republican party platform has been an object of criticism from both sides. For instance, some Democrats have accused her of playing both sides of the political fence, particularly with her stances on certain issues such as taxes and immigration. Meanwhile, some Republicans worry that her presence has alienated more traditional supporters of the party. Although Haley’s presence in the GOP may have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, it has also helped to bring in an influx of new voters. For example, non-traditional Republican voters, including minority voters, have flocked to the party in recent years and Haley has been a driving force behind this influx. It can be argued that Haley’s presence in the Republican party marks a sea change in the traditional identity of the GOP. However, it can be argued that it is a welcome change that may have the potential to fix many of the issues that have plagued the party in recent years. After all, if the party is to remain a viable force in American politics, it must be able to appeal to a wide range of people – not just the same traditional voting coalition. At the end of the day, regardless of one’s opinion of Haley’s involvement in the GOP, it is difficult to deny the impact that it has had. Whether or not it will be considered a net positive or negative in the eyes of party members and voters remains to be seen, but it is safe to say that the presence of the Governor has at least helped to make the Republican party a more inclusive one.