Read the following passage from Senator Smith’s “Declaration of Conscience”:
As a Republican, I say to my colleagues on this side of the aisle that the Republican Party faces a challenge today that is not unlike that it faced back in Lincoln’s Day. The Republican party so successfully met that challenge that it emerged from the Civil War as the champion of a united nation - in addition to being a party which unrelentingly fought loose spending and loose programs.

What effect does this comparison have on Smith’s credibility?

A. It shows that her expectations for the Republican Party are too high
B. It conveys technical information that Smith uncovered in her research
C. It shows that she understands the importance of the Republican Party’s decisions at this moment
D. It offers the Republican Party a specific plan for pushing back against McCarthy