The Republican Party has always been afraid of…everything. That’s why Trump is whipping their candidates in the primaries and that’s why Trump will spank the GOP Establishment if it tries to wrest the nomination from him.
Republicans are afraid of the media, Obama and Democrats. They’re afraid to offend Independents. They’re afraid of getting blamed for a government shutdown. They’re afraid of unions and illegal aliens. They’re afraid of Latinos and Blacks. They’re afraid of their own shadows. It’s a wonder Republicans can get out of bed in the morning and probably don’t walk past cemeteries at night.
The only people Republicans don’t fear are Conservatives and the Tea Party.
Fear is also why Republican candidates didn’t attack Trump during the primaries; they were afraid to offend his supporters who they coveted in case he collapsed. While that might have been a valid concept, it just confirms they always operate out of fear. Although Bush pushed back weakly and Cruz slapped him lightly, Trump traveled through all the debates unsullied until last week.
At long last Cruz and Rubio are stepping on the gas and not acting like they’re afraid. Finally. But it might be too late. Many people (especially Trump voters) will see this aggression as acts of late-term desperation rather than new-found courage.