If some in the media view the public disputes over the Indiana and Arkansas legislation as the kind of divisive conflict that alienates voters — a setback for the Republican Party — I would argue that the battle is unavoidable and may actually work to the party’s advantage. Intraparty conflict is not always destructive.

The case for this is strong. Dwight Eisenhower won in a landslide after a divisive, Wall Street versus Main Street fight for the 1952 nomination with Senator Robert Taft of Ohio. Richard Nixon and a resurgent Republican Party emerged from the landslide defeat of Barry Goldwater in 1964 when the party was riven over desegregation. Ronald Reagan won an ideological battle for the 1980 nomination against George H.W. Bush who was, at the time, perceived as a Wall Street Republican. Bill Clinton’s 1992 primary campaign – focused on “responsibilities” and welfare reform — was premised on challenging liberal Democratic orthodoxy.

The Republican Party in 2016 will need to persuade the general electorate that it is not locked into a moribund belief system. If Republican positions are subject to vigorous debate, past dogma will not stifle the party’s growth, especially if Republicans can demonstrate their willingness to consider a multiplicity of candidates and a diversity of views. In these circumstances, the airing of the party’s dirty linen and the exposure of its internal schisms have the potential to enhance the party’s prospects, not diminish them.