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Religious right group upset over GOP abandonment
The Hill ^ | 23 Oct 2008 | Sam Youngman

Posted on 10/23/2008 4:34:36 PM PDT by BGHater

The Family Research Council's (FRC) political arm ripped Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) Thursday for withdrawing ad spending on behalf of two endangered Republican candidates.

FRC President Tony Perkins said in a letter to Cole, chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), that the committee "is abandoning social conservative candidates" by pulling ads from the reelection races of Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) and Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.).

Bachmann has come under fire recently for stating -- then denying -- her concern that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and other members of Congress hold "anti-American" views.

Musgrave is considered to be a reliable champion of socially conservative causes and one of the most outspoken members on the issue of gay marriage. The Colorado congresswoman is in an uphill battle to retain her seat against Democrat Betsy Markey.

Perkins, an influential conservative leader, said in his letter that he believes Cole, whose committee has been hemorrhaging money in an uphill battle against Democratic congressional candidates, "made a grave error in judgment" by pulling ads from Musgrave's and Bachmann's districts.

"The left is attacking both of these outstanding women because they are true conservatives," Perkins said. "They vote pro-life and pro-family."

Perkins wrote that both candidates are in "winnable districts," and that "pulling funds from their campaigns sends the wrong message to their supporters and gives their opponents a chance to produce headlines that the NRCC has undermined these campaigns."

"This is no time to cut and run from a fight," Perkins wrote.

He added that he will "urge supporters" of the FRC to stop contributing to the NRCC "until it starts supporting and fighting for conservative candidates in close races."

Bachmann appeared to be on relatively safe ground until she made her comments about Obama and congressional Democrats on MSNBC’s "Hardball with Chris Matthews" last week. Since then, her opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg (D), has seen a flood of campaign contributions and polls show the race tightening.

The NRCC disputed the characterization that it has pulled ads from Bachmann's race, arguing that because of the way campaign finance laws are structured, Cole actually has no control over what gets funded.

Karen Hanretty, an NRCC spokeswoman, wrote in a memo that the NRCC's Independent Expenditure is "a segregated unit, firewalled off from the rest of the NRCC."

What's more, Hanretty argued that the NRCC never ran ads in Bachmann's district, but the independent expenditure unit "reserved a time and chose not to purchase it."


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Colorado; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: 110th; 2008; bachman; bachmann; christianvote; frc; gop; musgrave; nrcc; politics; thestupidparty; tonyperkins
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1 posted on 10/23/2008 4:34:36 PM PDT by BGHater
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To: BGHater

I am going to say something controversial...calling substantial sections of the American public un-American is hurting the right. Being divisive hurts us. Controversial statement over.


2 posted on 10/23/2008 4:37:52 PM PDT by itsPatAmerican
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To: BGHater

Musgrave is in trouble?

Her district has got to be one of the more reliable GOP seats in Colorado.

I wonder why she’s losing. It surely can’t be completely tied to her strong opposition to gay marriage.

Does she have problems with constituent services?


3 posted on 10/23/2008 4:40:23 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: BGHater

This is despicable behavior. Colorado is key and leaving Musgrave and Bachmann to hang is outrageous. Also, these are beautiful women as well. Anyone up for driving to help out Bachmann or Musgrave? As long as I can have a couple of soda pops in the car, I’m game. Oh and I have to get my wife’s permission too. If not, looks like it’s donation time instead.


4 posted on 10/23/2008 4:40:28 PM PDT by GerardKempf (Let's Get Over This)
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To: itsPatAmerican

1. It’s true that the left is un-American.

2. They say terrible things about us all the time and get away with it.


5 posted on 10/23/2008 4:41:49 PM PDT by puroresu (Enjoy ASIAN CINEMA? See my Freeper page for recommendations (updated!).)
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To: MplsSteve

Not sure, was she for the bailout? Lot’s of people are getting hammered on that alone.


6 posted on 10/23/2008 4:44:03 PM PDT by BGHater (The GOP, the new DNC.)
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To: puroresu

The NRCC would rather help save a RINO than a real Republican like Bachman.


7 posted on 10/23/2008 4:44:54 PM PDT by Comparative Advantage
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To: BGHater
"This is no time to cut and run from a fight," Perkins wrote.

When you're one of the lacy-pantied Mandarins of the National Republican (sic) Committee, there is never a time not to run from a fight. After all, if you're a member of the RNC, you got yours; now let the rest of the country get theirs. Off to the Club for drinks with Nancy and Harry before dinner.

8 posted on 10/23/2008 4:46:12 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Comparative Advantage

Perhaps the working definition of “real Republican” has been redefined by the “Party”? Just a thought!


9 posted on 10/23/2008 4:47:18 PM PDT by ImpBill (Proud little "r" republican!)
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To: itsPatAmerican
Being divisive hurts us.

BTW, can you explain why it isn't considered divisive to belong to an anti-American, racist church for twenty years, but is considered divisive to call such church membership anti-American? Or why it isn't considered divisive to work hand-in-hand with an unrepentant Weather Underground terrorist who proudly stomped an American flag for a photo spread, but is considered divisive to call such an association anti-American?

10 posted on 10/23/2008 4:48:02 PM PDT by puroresu (Enjoy ASIAN CINEMA? See my Freeper page for recommendations (updated!).)
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To: itsPatAmerican
What's divisive is the Democrats calling everyone a “racist” who doesn't believe in the false hope and change of their false savior. Substantial sections of the American public are un-American or worse...out and out Socialists and Communists... and they deserve to have their un-American views exposed by those who put American democracy and freedom first.
11 posted on 10/23/2008 4:50:43 PM PDT by 444Flyer (HELP SAVE MARRIAGE!!! Vote YES on Prop 8, amend the Calif. State Constitution this November.)
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To: Comparative Advantage

The Republican elite party bosses are determined to make the party a moderate-to-liberal party that just sort of sits around, waits for the Democrats to propose one ultra-leftist outrage after another, and then to surrender.


12 posted on 10/23/2008 4:51:34 PM PDT by puroresu (Enjoy ASIAN CINEMA? See my Freeper page for recommendations (updated!).)
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To: itsPatAmerican

A substantial section of the American public IS un-American (along with being brainwashed and incredibly ignorant, naive, and racist — pretty much the bulk of the rodent party base).


13 posted on 10/23/2008 4:51:49 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: itsPatAmerican

She shouldn’t back down from the truth.

The Democrats want to end the secret ballot for shop union elections, that is in fact unAmeerican.

The Democrats want to cut and run from a war that is almost won, that is unAmerican.

The Democrats want to stop free speech using the fairness doctrine, that is unAmerican.

The Democrats want to shred the second amendment, that is unAmerican.

The Democrats want to render the US as satrappy to the UN, and that is certainly unAmerican.

Americans have gone way too soft if they can’t stand to hear that.


14 posted on 10/23/2008 4:52:28 PM PDT by Hawk1976 (It is better to die in battle than it is to live as a slave.)
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To: itsPatAmerican

yes it was a big mistake and what was she thinking appearing on MSNBC?


15 posted on 10/23/2008 4:55:37 PM PDT by ari-freedom (It's the socialism, stupid.)
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To: MplsSteve

Musgrave has been targeted by Tim Gill, a very rich gay activist here in CO. They are putting up ads that lie about her record, saying she is not pro-life. Gill and his cronies are a despicable bunch who are putting millions of dollars into CO to advance gay-friendly candidates (dems). Their money has changed the face of CO politics.


16 posted on 10/23/2008 4:55:42 PM PDT by keepitreal (Obama brings change: an international crisis (terrorism) within 6 months)
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To: MplsSteve; jan in Colorado
Musgrave is in trouble?

Her district has got to be one of the more reliable GOP seats in Colorado.

Unfortunately, the Left has targeted her heavily.

17 posted on 10/23/2008 4:57:38 PM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: itsPatAmerican
I am going to say something controversial...calling substantial sections of the American public un-American is hurting the right. Being divisive hurts us. Controversial statement over.

Conservatives seem to have forgotten that the actual conservative President who WON the Presidency did so by promoting conservative values with a smile, humor and common sense.
18 posted on 10/23/2008 4:59:01 PM PDT by Arkinsaw
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To: BGHater

She was very vocal in her opposition to the bailout.
She is a Ronald Reagan conservative, just what the party needs so desperately.


19 posted on 10/23/2008 4:59:38 PM PDT by psalm126 (Psalm126 For the Lord has done great things for us, And we are filled with joy!)
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To: BGHater

Filed under *one thousand reasons the GOP is dead.*


20 posted on 10/23/2008 5:04:15 PM PDT by EternalVigilance (Tell us again why you thought the "lesser of two evils" would lead you somewhere other than to hell?)
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