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The Republican National Committee is considering a litmus test of party members so they can financially blacklist any candidate who strays too far from their line.
According to the NY Times, some of the committee's 168 members want the party to strive for ideological purity in its platform and choice of candidates. Others want to make it official policy. The committee has put together a list of 10 principles; if you don't agree with eight of the 10 planks, you get no endorsement or campaign money. The ten planks:
We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama's "stimulus" bill
We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare
We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation
We support workers' right to secret ballot by opposing card check
We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants
We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges
We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat
We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act
We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion
We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership
The chief sponsor of the proposal, National Committeeman James Bopp, gained fame earlier this year when he sponsored another resolution, one that would have officially declared President Obama's agenda socialist. The committee didn't go along with that idea.
Conservative and liberal bloggers alike criticized Bopp's proposed resolution. Some pundits remarked that even Ronald Reagan wouldn't pass.
In response, Mr. Bopp defended the use of a 10-point list on key positions like fiscal conservatism, gun rights and abortion. He found it predictable that Democrats would be critical, saying they “relish criticizing the Republican Party for not being true to our conservative principles, which was unfortunately true with regard to support for spending, deficits and bailouts during the Bush administration, which I publicly criticized at the time. They will attack any effort to reassure voters that we are serious about restoring our conservative bona fides."
He called it an "effective way to regain trust with conservative voters that has been undermined” by GOP financial support for "liberal Republican ticket-switchers."
This from a guy who gets his health care from his employer. What'sa matter there, you self-accountability types? Can't get health care on your own? Gotta suckle off the employer's money? Socialist!
--Calling someone a "socialist" means little to those under 40. Draw your own conclusions about political savvy of your average RNC member.
--I like how they want smaller government but they want the government to tell you who you can marry by establishing a government definition. I also like the idea of opposing health care rationing while supporting the revocation of reproductive health services to women. The GOP wants to have it both ways, which is why I suspect that most these people are secretly bisexual.
Other planks for the RNC purity test:
Ability to instill fear in voters
Drill Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for loose change
Insist that President Obama flies coach on Air Force One
Every other Saturday, everyone in America has a yard sale to help raise money for unnecessary wars
Most things seem better after half a bottle of Jim Beam
Donations to Republican Party now declared a charitable contribution
Make Dick Cheney pay for his own medications
Seriously...
It's very illuminating that the Republican litmus test includes a number of items that "good" Republicans should be against. This party continues to define itself in negative terms and by those things it does not like.
I seem to recall a certain German movement in the 1930's that was all about purity, which is especially ironic given that those Republicans who now want "purity" in their party are the same ones who continually accuse our president of being just like the head of that dark period in German history.
Any chance these mini-Stalinists in the People's Republican Party will put on show trials for us?
How can the GOP be against abortion, but for war and executions? How can it be against health care reform, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, et. al., as these programs help those who are least fortunate in our society, as Christ preached in the Sermon on the Mount? It's what Christ put above everything else. Under the "purity test" Jesus Christ would fail it.
How can the "purity test" support war, but at the same time reduce taxes which are needed to pay for it? How does the GOP propose to pay to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and start new ones with Iran and North Korea?
No political party should be judging people on moral or religious principles; that violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Purity of thought? No descent allowed? Does the GOP care whether it's members are afforded the basic rights of all American citizens? Purity of thought doesn't jive too well with the Bill of Rights.
Our founders wrote it to protect citizens from just this sort of behavior. We had smart forefathers who understood the dark side of human impulses. Good riddance purity oaths. They are un-American to the core and exactly the reason why our founders fled to America.
The Republican Party has two choices: Either get rid of the extremists and religious zealots and back to its roots of fiscal conservatism and government efficiency, or cast out its moderates and unabashedly become the marginalist fanatical wing of America.
The moderates, progressives and "Blue Dogs" should form their own party leaving the liberals in the Democratic Party and the conservatives in the Republican Party. Then, the majority in this country will finally get represented, as opposed to being tossed around like baggage between the rhetoric of the two failed parties.
It's time the United States create what already exists in most western democracies: A viable third party. The two party system is an abject failure, because both parties represent the extremes in the United States, and not 70 percent or more of the views of the American population.
We need a vigorous and thoughtful opposition, not one based on the lowest common denominator fueled by self-righteous illogical anger and hate. There are many fiscal conservatives who believe in abortion rights, gay rights and civil rights, and smaller government. They're not extremists; they don't march at tea parties, they don't carry guns to political appearances. Like many of their Democratic counterparts, they are moderate and reasonable individuals just trying to get food on the table and put some money in the bank. This should be the core of the party, not the four million fanatics who believe every misinformed word of their favorite opinion journalists. Let the moderates reign and let the party and kick out the kooks; we'd be much better off as a nation.
If the Republican leadership hasn't the testicular fortitude to do that --and sadly, they don't-- maybe they'll have the guts to form a new party, and let them do it on the wings of intolerance to anything. I hope they succeed in the formation of such a party so they can find out how pathetically unrepresentative they are of moderate Americans, who don't just live in Middle America, they live all over America.
Someone needs to hand Mr. Bopp a copy of John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty." He'd probably burn it.
I seem to recall a certain German movement in the 1930's that was all about purity, which is especially ironic given that those Republicans who now want "purity" in their party are the same ones who continually accuse our president of being just like the head of that dark period in German history.
Any chance these mini-Stalinists in the People's Republican Party will put on show trials for us?
How can the GOP be against abortion, but for war and executions? How can it be against health care reform, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, et. al., as these programs help those who are least fortunate in our society, as Christ preached in the Sermon on the Mount? It's what Christ put above everything else. Under the "purity test" Jesus Christ would fail it.
How can the "purity test" support war, but at the same time reduce taxes which are needed to pay for it? How does the GOP propose to pay to fight the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and start new ones with Iran and North Korea?
No political party should be judging people on moral or religious principles; that violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Purity of thought? No descent allowed? Does the GOP care whether it's members are afforded the basic rights of all American citizens? Purity of thought doesn't jive too well with the Bill of Rights.
Our founders wrote it to protect citizens from just this sort of behavior. We had smart forefathers who understood the dark side of human impulses. Good riddance purity oaths. They are un-American to the core and exactly the reason why our founders fled to America.
The Republican Party has two choices: Either get rid of the extremists and religious zealots and back to its roots of fiscal conservatism and government efficiency, or cast out its moderates and unabashedly become the marginalist fanatical wing of America.
The moderates, progressives and "Blue Dogs" should form their own party leaving the liberals in the Democratic Party and the conservatives in the Republican Party. Then, the majority in this country will finally get represented, as opposed to being tossed around like baggage between the rhetoric of the two failed parties.
It's time the United States create what already exists in most western democracies: A viable third party. The two party system is an abject failure, because both parties represent the extremes in the United States, and not 70 percent or more of the views of the American population.
We need a vigorous and thoughtful opposition, not one based on the lowest common denominator fueled by self-righteous illogical anger and hate. There are many fiscal conservatives who believe in abortion rights, gay rights and civil rights, and smaller government. They're not extremists; they don't march at tea parties, they don't carry guns to political appearances. Like many of their Democratic counterparts, they are moderate and reasonable individuals just trying to get food on the table and put some money in the bank. This should be the core of the party, not the four million fanatics who believe every misinformed word of their favorite opinion journalists. Let the moderates reign and let the party and kick out the kooks; we'd be much better off as a nation.
If the Republican leadership hasn't the testicular fortitude to do that --and sadly, they don't-- maybe they'll have the guts to form a new party, and let them do it on the wings of intolerance to anything. I hope they succeed in the formation of such a party so they can find out how pathetically unrepresentative they are of moderate Americans, who don't just live in Middle America, they live all over America.
Someone needs to hand Mr. Bopp a copy of John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty." He'd probably burn it.
Comments
Omaba is a socialist...
Does anyone in the MSM do any fact checking?Maybe that's why you are going broke.I noticed you did a lot of fact checkin on Sarah Palin,did you ever think of anyone else.It's a lot easier to just keep making things up.Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
tony, who's Omaba?
"Does anyone in the MSM do any fact checking?"
Why do idiots always scream this stupid complaint without ever pointing out what they think is a falsehood. Why do they insist that the so-called "mainstream media" lies about everything when the biggest bullsh**ters on the planter reside at Fox News and never are they called out for their crap? Get a grip.
checktothepower, your post reminds me of the story about the king who asked his advisor for a remark that would be appropriate for any occasion. The response he received was as follows: "This too shall pass."
Like that phrase, your comment could as easily be directed at any news story, regardless of content or source.
In other words, you haven't added anything to the discussion.
When I read unspecific and unsupported criticisms such as yours, I can only remark: "This too shall pass."
1. Agreed, all congress personnel should NOT recieve a health
care plan not offered to all. They should not have any more privilege than WE do.
2. Talk about show trials, how about wanting to try SKM in a civilian court and not in a military tribunal.
3. Against ABORTION but for war and executions? How in the world can you compare those? There is no comparision between KILLING an innocent and protecting our country and relieving our society of individuals that have committed a most aggregess crime.
4. Taxes for war? One of the VERY FEW constitutional authorities given the federal govn't IS to protect this country which may require war.
5. DESCENT? No where is it suggested that the 1st admendment rights are to be compromised. And by the way, re-read what our founding fathers had to say and compare that to what is happening right now in our country. You want to talk founding fathers and the constitution?!?!?
6. Extremists! HOW ABOUT THE MOAIST LOVERS ADVISING THE PRESIDENT NOW!!
Torquemada says: Why do idiots always scream this stupid complaint without ever pointing out what they think is a falsehood.
THEN said: the biggest bullsh**ters on the planter reside at Fox News.
THEN FAILS to do what he slams another for NOT doing!
HYPOCRITE? Or just a lib? Whats the difference?
TORQUEMANA,
You must not read much! It has been pointed out many times by many people the absolute BIAS the MSNM offers. Take a look at Bernard Goldberg's book "BIAS". He was there, he was part of it.
And I challenge you to offer examples of the "CRAP" that Fox News has put out. And you have to ask yourself, why haven't they been called out? Maybe because, it's not "CRAP", it's fact!!!
Love to hear from you
Another garbage article from a nut job liberal. Funny spin on words 'reproductive health services to women'. You liberals really know how to spin it. What really gets me is, you guys are heck(sensors) bent on protecting some of the most useless animals, like polar bears (w-t-f has a polar bear ever done to benefit this world anyways) but you are OK with killing babies. Maybe your mother should have aborted you and spared us all this stupid article and any others you may write in the future.
No wonder Brucie got canned this article is hysterical....
The purity test seems to confirm the republicans as childish, delusional, pedantic nuts with a strong need/desire to run other peoples lives while supposedly believing in 'freedom and liberty'. Love the double tsandard of being 'for' small government while supporting endless military actions that cost trillions.
Bernard Goldberg is as biased as anyone else writing about journalistic bias. His first book was good but since then, he sees what pays the bills: Attack journalism cheered on by people who do little more than root for their home teams.
Bottom line: Both extremes are full of it. If you watch cable news, you're not interested in information; you're interested in someone repeated and re-enforcing your opinion. Cable news is junk, absolute wasted material trying to appeal to your emotions instead of your intellect because they know it sells to a gullible audience: YOU. If you depend on a cable news network for your news, you're a sap. Fox IS the biggest B-S-er, but their counterparts are hardly a distant second. If you're prone to calling people "libs" because you think it's an insult, you're a fool, and people who do the opposite are fools of equal measure. The country needs grown-ups, not people like Slacker who think insults are how to have intelligent discourse about serious issues
Is this supposed to be news, an op-ed rant, or just a waste of my time to read? Right, a waste of my time. I'm glad most journalists make even less than the police, but it sure puts them in a bad mood all the time. Maybe if they laid brick on the side they would have more money, be in a better mood, and find a better way to express themselves.
The Gop seems suicidal.
I suppose the compassionate thing to do would be to facilitate an intervention, but...
Nah, it's too much fun watching them implode.
"Is this supposed to be news, an op-ed rant, or just a waste of my time to read? Right, a waste of my time."
The best way to express your belief that something is a waste of time is to not waste your own time on it. Apparently, it's not the waste of time you claim it to be since not only did you read it, but you found additional time to comment on it. That may be more of a reflection on you than the writer. (and I write opinions, not news articles, but they are opinion columns based on news.
Tracy B Ann says: "The GOP seems suicidal."
THIS Republican Party seems suicidal. There are lots of Republicans terrified to say anything because the tyrannical leaders of the party cow-tow them into submission. My hope is that the extremists split from the GOP, formed their own party and lift a huge burden off the shoulders of moderate Republicans who, sadly, are too spineless to tell the extremists to go to hell. Then perhaps moderate Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats can form a new Republican Party that represents true libertine ideals: Common sense fiscal discipline and individual social liberty.
"No political party should be judging people on moral or religious principals; that violates the first amendment..."?
How does a private group defining itself through religious and moral definitions violate the first amendment? If Republicans can't decide that republicans = christians (or whatever), then it should be illegal for Christians to define themselves as christians. Republicans are NOT the government, they are a group of people who RUN for government.
Getting money from a private employer is by definition NOT socialist. Getting money from your government, when the 9th and 10th amendment clearly state that the federal government does not have the power to do so, IS by definition socialist.
I'm amazed at the inability of writers today. For F's sake, learn to distinguish between public and private. Also, read the constitution a few times.
Mr Hailey, your post raises some questions.
Item 2. Why not try KSM in a civilian court? McVeigh and Nichols got civilian trials. What's different?
Item 3. First, there is no consensus in this country that a fertilized egg is a person. Second, you are not morally superior to MOST of the people killed due to the war in Iraq. The vast majority were civilians, killed by us or because we disbanded the Iraqi army and police. Iraq was not an immediate threat to the U.S. We weren't defending ourselves. And finally, what makes you think that the people executed in this country are guilty? We regularly execute innocent people here.
Item 4. You missed the point. War is expensive. You have to pay for it. George Jr's solution was to cut taxes and borrow the money. 5 trillion dollars.
Item 5. It's spelled 'dissent'. The author was suggesting that, within the Republican Party, "ve vill haf ORDUR, anyvon how duss nott toe zie line VILL BE SHOT"
Bruce Maiman, if you aren't happy in the republican party, feel free to leave. My suspicion, however, is that you are a lifelong democrat just running his mouth.
Bruce,
I agree. Most of the wingnuts I've come across on the Web have no clue as to the real difference between the terms liberal and conservative or how it applies to either party or no party at all.
And the ones who like to use cutesy ad hominems like "libtard or repubtard are really both the same people, they just don't see it themselves because they are so immersed in self-imposed ignorance.
It was a really stupid move to even create something that could be called a "litmus test" and for "purity" no less; I agree with you there as well.
The Republicans have a party platform, apparently that is not good enough and they need a short cheat sheet because keeping up with the whole party platform is just too tough?
Gary says: "if you aren't happy in the republican party, feel free to leave. My suspicion, however, is that you are a lifelong democrat just running his mouth."
I've never been a member of either party. And if certain Republicans aren't happy with their party, let THEM have the balls to get out and form their own brand of extremists. I'd love to see that experiment take place so it could fall flat on its face and we could be down with at least ONE set of extremists. Be gone and good riddance. Or let the extremists have the Republican name, split the conservative voters between moderates and extremists and let Democrats win every election hereafter. It's your nose and your face to spite, and a pyrrhic victory it will be. No doubt, in typical victimology fashion, you'll blame someone other than your own damn fool selves.
BBSNews -- I appreciate your thoughts; it's exactly where I'm coming from. I am tired of the 10-percenters screaming at each other, and I have a feeling quite a few more Americans agree, than don't. The nasty, rancorous belligerence of such extremists is the reason why. Anyone ranting in demand to get their way because of their absolutist position is guaranteed disappointment. I worry about the casualties that may come as a result, including our own country.
Tom from Colorado -- Hi Tom. Actually, there is a medical consensus on the viability of a fetus: Appx 22 weeks. My answer on this front is that if you oppose abortion, you must agree to adopt an unwanted child. We have about half a million kids in foster care nationwide. Adopt one, or quit griping about abortion. Additionally, you must agree to shoulder exclusively, the burden of all children born out of wedlock who were raised in an ill-equipped home of irresponsible or negligent parents who ended up raising a child ill-equipped to deal with society without society intervening --drug counseling, prison, etc. Let pro-lifers pay for that, too.
Same with the war. The hawks who want to send troops to Afghanistan must figure out how to pay for it. Let them pay the tax. And send their children. Watch how fast support dries up. Throw in a national draft and support will dry up even faster.
People have to put up or shut up. Clearly what we have are a lot of people who can do neither.
See 100 Communists and Socialists in US Government in 60 seconds here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye6fRx4gZV8
Then see the details on each at this reference site: www.commieblaster.com/progressives/index.html
No surprise there "CommieBlaster" they've been in there since the turn of the century and really picked up after WWII. There plan all along infiltrate print, financial, government, and media. With the election of Obamao to prove how brainwashed the public has become they'll really come out of the RED woodworks.
CommieBlaster: Here's the deal: Until the people you worship in political circles form their own party, they need to STFU. All the list makers, all the litmus testers, all the tin-foil hatters and the tea party baggers, get your asses up, form your own political party --call it the Tea Party if you want-- and see if you can actually make a go of your rhetoric. Anyone you don't like won't belong to your club. See where it gets you. If you succeed, fine; if you don't, take the message to heart: America's not interested. But if you don't try, you'll never know. It's like Burgess Meredith said in Grumpy Old Men: "You can wish in one hand and crap in the other, then see what you have more of at the end of the day." Never mind what anyone else is doing who's already in government; form your own party, get IN government and fix it. Otherwise, you and your symbolic leaders are just a bunch of cowards who haven't the guts to really take action. As you've proven, anyone can blow smoke.
They should start with their food, they're still living like the primitives, eating loads of raw pork, yes RAW PORK grounded with onions and spices spread over bread. Raw Pork? Their toilets in Germany were specifically designed to check for worms, b/c every one used to be infected with worms, The Trichina worms!!!
People scream that the MSM is biased, then they put up a link called commieblaster.com, as unvarnished truth. Are you that stupid or that biased? That's why no one can take you seriously, but keep screaming, yelling, ranting and raving. You guys will continue to be this era's political version of the carny worker.
Well raw pork sounds more appetizing than lame matzah balls, carp, and goats milk.
Galloping Gourmet says: "Well raw pork sounds more appetizing than lame matzah balls, carp, and goats milk."
Are we gearing up for Krystalnacht, next?
Matzoh balls are good. Matzoh ball soup rocks. I'll pass on the carp and the goat's milk, though some folks in West Virginia might want the goat. (Hey, I KID West Virginia!)
The Dems have to love the GOP purity test.
For example:
9(GOP purity test)- Protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion;
Current law allows denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, setting ceilings on annual and life-time health care benefits, restricting drug prescriptions to company formularies all of which are medical rationing. These measures and the pricing of 43 million Americans out of health care coverage would be stopped under President Obama's reforms of American Health Insurance. The House of Representatives, the more liberal chamber passed Health Care Reform with a well-publicized provision forbidding federally funded abortions. Only one Republican supported the amendment when it came for a vote.
The GOP purity test puts purity before good sense.
There's an old Japanese proverb, Robert: Never murder a man who is committing suicide. What's being missed here is that this country needs a legitimate third party, not two, but if the GOP insists on pushing this extremism envelope, we may end up with only one viable party. You can be sure conservatives don't want that and while some may not admit it, liberals shouldn't want it, either.
Bruce,
Actually, goats milk is indistinguishable from cows milk and what really makes it special is that people with lactose intolerance can drink it with no problems.
And on the matzoh soup, mmm good.
BBS -- never had goat's milk though the goat's cheese I've had left me a little wanting. But I'd try it just to taste it, and I can see the advantage for the lactose impaired. I put real heavy cream in my coffee (can't figure out that 2% crowd!). Also, I do a lot of cooking and I'll bet some things cook better with goat's milk than with moo milk. I'll have to check Trader Joe's to see if they sell it. --B
I definitely agree that they need to get rid of the religious zealots in the Republican Party. The definition of being a Republican has become so obscured, I don't even recognize this party anymore. Being Republican once stood for freedom and progress, following the constitution and being non-intervetionist. Ever since the Bush era being a conservative isn't the same thing. All the principles that we once stood for have been diminished. Now the right wing who always proclaimed personal freedom infringes them.I say the Grand Old Party needs to go back tp its old Grand beliefs and go back to representing the values that are founding fathers lived on. When that happens the Gop WILL again rule Capital Hill, until then we will just have to witness the death of the once great Republican Party and its core beliefs.
It seems dishonest. To spend so much money on the military, and engage in nation building and adventurism abroad. Its not conservative. I don't care who is shoveling it.
Sarah Palin indicate she will run in 2012, and push for a war in Iran and main platform issue.
It also seems dishonest, because the Nanny State Neocons, want more government intrusion in our lives while saying they want smaller government. The New Drug War is predicated on the idea of more funds and restricting gun ownership. There is nothing conservative about the GOP. And I should add that the NRA sold out its contributers.
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