A 'purity test' for GOP candidates?
Some Republican bigwigs are proposing a 10-point "litmus test" to ensure only ideological conservatives receive party support
Will Michael Steele's 'purity test' help Republicans?
(Reuters/Corbis/Molly Riley)
With the Republican Party hoping to win congressional seats from the Democrats in 2010, a group of conservative RNC members is pushing a 10-point conservative "litmus test" to establish the ideological bona fides of all GOP candidatess. The 10 "principles" include opposition to cap and trade legislation and government-funded abortion, and support for the Defense of Marriage Act and a troop surge in Afghanistan. GOP candidates who are out of step on more than two of 10 positions would not be eligible for party funding. Is ideological purity a good strategy for GOP success in 2010? (Watch MSNBC apply the "purity test" to some famous Republicans.)
Purity is great for a minority party: “On the face of it,” this proposal for fealty to 10 principles seems pretty reasonable, says Alex Knapp in Outside the Beltway. If candidates don’t buy into a party’s “core issues,” why should the party support them? The problem is that all 10 of these “could be opposed by a principled conservative,” and have been. If the RNC backs this proposal, expect more GOP splintering and fewer electoral victories.
“Republican purity and conservatism”
This is what rank and file Republicans want: A majority of Republicans—51 percent—say they want ideological purity, says Taegan Goddard in CQ Politics, even if it means their pure GOP candidate has “a poor chance of beating the Democratic candidate,” according to a recent CNN/Opinion Research poll. As for Democrats, 58 percent want a winner, purity be damned.
“Most Republicans choose ideological purity”
What about Reagan’s 'big tent'? The backers of the purity proposal cite Ronald Reagan, says Rob Bernstein at FrumForum, but “Reagan’s Republicanism was that of the big tent—the kind where contrasting opinions, even on matters like abortion, were tolerated.” Reagan won by drawing together social conservatives, fiscal libertarians, and neocons. Ideologues like Sarah Palin would have been in Reagan’s tent, but not his inner circle.
“Reagan never went rogue”
You call this 'purity'? What’s all the fuss? asks Allahpundit in Hot Air. “For a ‘purity test,’ they’re not demanding much purity”—even John McCain, “the maverickiest Maverick of them all, would hit nine out of 10.” There’s not even a pro-life requirement. This is so big-tent, I thought at first it was RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s updated “Contract With America” messaging strategy.
“RNC members circulating 10-point “purity test” for candidates”
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24 Comments
Posted by Aaron, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:03 pm It's high time to disband the GOP and let the checked pants and cigar smokers go off on their own and remember the good old days, while the newly founded Conservative Party supports its members' ideals and wins elections.
Posted by Aaron, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:03 pm Oh, and Michale Steel is a tool.
Posted by Dennis, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:07 pm This litmus test can only be good news for the party that is Progressive Conservative. That is to say the Modern Whigs.modernwhig.org. The owl is our symbol!
Posted by Pam, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:10 pm Hilarious! Reminds me of the Great Loyalty Oath Campaign in Catch22 undone by Major __ de Coverly.....
Posted by Intentionally Anonymous, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:14 pm Sadly, I have distant relatives who consider black people an inferior race. The majority of these relatives and millions like them are Republican purists. Michael Steele is considered by these relatives to be the token nigger that the GOP offered up to appeal to the black community just the same as when the McCain campaign offered up Palin as their token woman to try to lure the women vote.I for one am glad to see anything that could splinter the GOP. Go purity test!. Rah Rah Rah.
Posted by Richard, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:40 pm Nuts. Purely NUTS.
Posted by Adam, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:42 pm Steele is in the wrong place at the wrong time. So it BHO, so each party has its 'token,' right?
Posted by Rickie Lee, Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 1:44 pm Why can't these people get it together? It's really pretty easy. DON'T CONTINUE TO SELL OUT. How difficult is that? This Litmus Test is so lame, and embarrassing. Ideological conservatives? How about if they walk the walk, and talk the talk? That would be a monumental change.
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