--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As we watch Republican candidates like…" description: "\"As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and even Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, guys who a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg" --- # As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and… ![“As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and even Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, guys who are either out or who are really struggling to stay in, it might seem like the Republican Party is no longer a very strong party. There may be…” quote by Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg) > “As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and even Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, guys who are either out or who are really struggling to stay in, it might seem like the Republican Party is no longer a very strong party. There may be people who use the Republican label, but the party itself might feel like it's in a bit of disarray.” [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests the GOP appears fragmented and weakened, with many candidates struggling or exiting, leading to a perception of disarray. **In simple terms:** The Republican Party seems divided and weak. Key Takeaway Recognize internal challenges and consider reform. Themes politics party dynamics leadership election cycles fragmentation Mood concerned analytical critical Type political observational commentary When to use this quote - campaign analysis - party reform - voter outreach - media commentary - political strategy Key Concepts party cohesion electoral strategy public perception Questions to Reflect On - How can the GOP rebuild unity? - What factors sustain its base despite visible struggles? A Different Perspective The analysis may overlook strong grassroots support and regional successes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disarray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarray/) [Labels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labels/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republican party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican-party/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [I do feel like there's this Republican Party establishment is in disarray. That's the story that the Donald Trump surge seems to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-do-feel-like-there-s-this-republican-party-establishment-is-in/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan. They'd all fit more under the Libertarian label than the modern day Republican label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/abraham-lincoln-teddy-roosevelt-richard-nixon-ronald-reagan-they-d/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Donald Trump is an independent presidential candidate who ran on the Republican label. He really did. He took it over. He transformed it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-an-independent-presidential-candidate-who-ran-on-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [While the establishment Republican candidates are busy doing this, attacking each other, and doing everything they can to bring each other down, they seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/while-the-establishment-republican-candidates-are-busy-doing-this/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ The leading non-establishment Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, is just sailing past \[establishment Republican candidates\] in the polls. He is still surging. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-leading-non-establishment-republican-candidate-for-president/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ If there's very strong civic unrest you can see a strong party of the Right emerging, whether it's UKIP \[The UK Independence Party\] or… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-there-s-very-strong-civic-unrest-you-can-see-a-strong-party-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There is nothing wrong in aligning with a regionally strong party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamilisai-soundararajan/there-is-nothing-wrong-in-aligning-with-a-regionally-strong-party/) [Tamilisai Soundararajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamilisai-soundararajan/) > [I believe in a strong two-party system, and when one party is losing so spectacularly, it emboldens the other party to overreach and become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-believe-in-a-strong-two-party-system-and-when-one-party-is-losing/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [We have a complete void of progressive politics in this country right now. The will of the people goes ignored and unrealized. I'm searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-have-a-complete-void-of-progressive-politics-in-this-country-right/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [A big part of the Republican 2016 race is now basically a bunch of establishment Republicans going after each other. Jeb Bush going after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/a-big-part-of-the-republican-2016-race-is-now-basically-a-bunch-of/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [The term 'serious actor' is kind of an oxymoron, isn't it? Like 'Republican party' or 'airplane food.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/the-term-serious-actor-is-kind-of-an-oxymoron-isn-t-it-like/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'd like to expand the base of the Republican Party. I would like the Republican Party to be more inclusive, not less inclusive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-scaramucci/i-d-like-to-expand-the-base-of-the-republican-party-i-would-like-the/) [Anthony Scaramucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-scaramucci/) > [If you want to live like a Republican, vote like a Democrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-live-like-a-republican-vote-like-a-democrat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd like to see a Republican Party that embraces a lot of the libertarian ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/i-d-like-to-see-a-republican-party-that-embraces-a-lot-of-the/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) > [Would I like to see the Republican Party be the dominant party for whatever time history gives it the chance to be? You bet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/would-i-like-to-see-the-republican-party-be-the-dominant-party-for/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) ## More by Melissa Harris-Perry > [I learned that you can't write a book in the margins of your life. I'd forgotten how much uninterrupted time it takes to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-learned-that-you-can-t-write-a-book-in-the-margins-of-your-life-i-d/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ The debate was a chance for senator \[Bernie\] Sanders to have a game-changing moment to recapture the news cycle and build momentum going into… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-debate-was-a-chance-for-senator-bernie-sanders-to-have-a-game/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Having a white parent undoubtedly makes for a different childhood experience than having two black parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/having-a-white-parent-undoubtedly-makes-for-a-different-childhood/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Drink lots of water, and nap. I've made some really big messes along the way, whether on the academic side or on the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/drink-lots-of-water-and-nap-i-ve-made-some-really-big-messes-along/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Terrifying mass shooting and high-profile officer-involved incidents have dominated the national conversation on gun violence in recent years. But most deaths by gun are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/terrifying-mass-shooting-and-high-profile-officer-involved-incidents/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Stereotypes work to help divide women from recognizing their common interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/stereotypes-work-to-help-divide-women-from-recognizing-their-common/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I would agree if the race were today, most likely, our nominee would be Donald Trump, but it isn't today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-would-agree-if-the-race-were-today-most-likely-our-nominee-would-be/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [The Republicans don't need black folks to vote Republican, they just need them to not vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-republicans-don-t-need-black-folks-to-vote-republican-they-just/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I had a friend say to me the other day, I hate when I see Jonathan Metzl on your show because I know it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-had-a-friend-say-to-me-the-other-day-i-hate-when-i-see-jonathan/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I am a supporter of much of the Arab Spring, as a matter of indigenous self-determination. So, I see the United States' role in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-am-a-supporter-of-much-of-the-arab-spring-as-a-matter-of-indigenous/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [ The leading non-establishment Republican candidate for president, Donald Trump, is just sailing past \[establishment Republican candidates\] in the polls. He is still surging. He… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/the-leading-non-establishment-republican-candidate-for-president/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [I think the idea that you're somehow rejecting whiteness if you don't identify yourself as biracial is odd because everybody engages in whiteness. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/i-think-the-idea-that-you-re-somehow-rejecting-whiteness-if-you-don-t/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Popular films are so powerful and compelling that it's often easier to accept their versions of history than the much more complicated true stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/popular-films-are-so-powerful-and-compelling-that-it-s-often-easier/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Donald Trump has changed the rule and so have the stations and the media coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/donald-trump-has-changed-the-rule-and-so-have-the-stations-and-the/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) > [Bill Cosby no longer on Temple University's board. His name has been removed from various college scholarships and buildings. Two dozen colleges and universities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/bill-cosby-no-longer-on-temple-university-s-board-his-name-has-been/) [Melissa Harris-Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) [Explore all 65 Melissa Harris-Perry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/) ## More Bits quotes > [ Brad \[Dourif\] would tell himself that he was not intentionally trying to mimic Jack Nicholson in any way. I think that actually bothers him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirschner/brad-dourif-would-tell-himself-that-he-was-not-intentionally-trying/) [David Kirschner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirschner/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I became a bit of a teacher's pet, and it became known in the school by both faculty and students that I really excelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-became-a-bit-of-a-teacher-s-pet-and-it-became-known-in-the-school/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [He referred to me as an 'insufferable puffed-up prat'. This is a bit rich coming from a man who actually married his own mother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-morrissey/he-referred-to-me-as-an-insufferable-puffed-up-prat-this-is-a-bit/) [Steven Morrissey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-morrissey/) > [It won't do you a bit of good to know everything if you don't do anything with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-fitzhugh/it-won-t-do-you-a-bit-of-good-to-know-everything-if-you-don-t-do/) [Louise Fitzhugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-fitzhugh/) > [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/) [Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/) > [I think that's the beauty of the current setup, is that Legends is meant to be a bit of a revolving door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-the-current-setup-is-that-legends-is/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [We, as pop stars, are people not androids. We’ve got views. I’ve got opinions and I don’t see why I shouldn’t use a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-meddows-taylor/we-as-pop-stars-are-people-not-androids-we-ve-got-views-i-ve-got/) [Roger Meddows Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-meddows-taylor/) > [In terms of style, too, I think I've been working with a somewhat limited -- although intentionally limited -- set of tools. So I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/in-terms-of-style-too-i-think-i-ve-been-working-with-a-somewhat/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [ Donald Trump has opened \[ politically correct enforcement\] up wide. He's made a very bold statement and he's backed it back just a little… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/donald-trump-has-opened-politically-correct-enforcement-up-wide-he-s/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When my name started popping up I was quite irritated and a little bit in shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-snow/when-my-name-started-popping-up-i-was-quite-irritated-and-a-little/) [Michael Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-snow/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) Browse all 5,709 Bits quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and even Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, guys who are either out or who are really struggling to stay in, it might seem like the Republican Party is no longer a very strong party. There may be people who use the Republican label, but the party itself might feel like it's in a bit of disarray.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Melissa Harris-Perry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-scott-walker-and-rick-perry/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bits" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-scott-walker-and-rick-perry/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/melissa-harris-perry-10452_bits_as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-s_941026.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As we watch Republican candidates like Scott Walker and Rick Perry and Bobby Jindal and George Pataki, and…” — Melissa Harris-Perry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Melissa Harris-Perry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-harris-perry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As we watch Republican candidates like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-scott-walker-and-rick-perry/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-harris-perry/as-we-watch-republican-candidates-like-scott-walker-and-rick-perry/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```