Posted on 05/17/2009 9:20:34 PM PDT by reaganaut1
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democratic Party underscores the clout of Club For Growth, a conservative group that targets Republicans it brands insufficiently committed to low taxes and small government.
The move also has inflamed a debate within the party: Are the group's tactics good or bad for Republicans? [welcome to the club]
Mr. Specter fingered Club For Growth as the key factor behind his decision, saying he would have lost the Republican primary to a Club-backed rival. His decision has prompted some Republicans to turn on the organization, saying it backs those who are so conservative that they then lose to Democrats.
"If their goal is to increase the Democrats' numbers in Congress, they're doing a very good job," said Rep. Steven LaTourette (R., Ohio), a moderate who won his seat in 1994. "Do they want a permanent minority of 140 people as pure as Caesar's wife, or a Republican majority that can get them 70% of the issues that are important to them?" (Republicans hold 178 of the 435 House seats and 40 of 100 Senate seats.)
The group's leaders insist its actions only help the party.
"The Club focuses on issues that are the Republican brand -- economic-freedom issues," said Chris Chocola, a former Republican congressman from Indiana who now heads the organization. "I don't think we lost the majority because we stuck to those issues. We lost the majority because we strayed from those issues."
Pat Toomey, the previous Club president, jumped into the Pennsylvania Senate race after Mr. Specter became one of only three Republicans in Congress to vote for President Barack Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I suport the Club for Growth. Specter was a traitor and just not very swift in general. We are a better party without so many “nice old men”.
Club for growth wears on most rinos.Fixed
BUMP
Yeah...NO one likes low taxes or limited power in government...
Amerika, what were you thinking?
The only Republicans complaining are the RINOs. But their whining is a good thing, as it makes them easier to find and target for electoral abortion.
BINGO!!!!
Regardless what anyone thinks about the Club for Growth - they are a pro-fiscal conservative group (something that the RINOs claim to be) so precisely what is the problem?
Either RINOs aren't really "fiscal conservatives" (like they also aren't "social conservatives")-- or they are liberal, in which case, they belong to the DemocRAT Party.
End of subject - good bye!
Specter is scum. I used to contribute to Club for Growth until Steve Moore started writing pro-illegal immigration editorials in the WSJ.
No, Mr. LaTourette, it is the ineptitude of your type that has hurt the GOP brand. For goodness sakes, if we can't even agree that smart economic policies and limited government are worthy causes, then conservatives and moderates will never agree on anything. What the CFG champions is hardly controversial if you are an American that believes in the free market system that made this country great. But now people like that are extremists, apparently.
Proud member. Good riddance to bad repubs. If we had ANYTHING to do with Specter becoming the (har har,) junior dem on all his committees, well that is just icing.
Economic issues are never what the GOP loses on. It's really secondary issues like stem-cell research, Terri Schiavo, teaching creationism, and being painted as poor stewards of the environment that sink the GOP.
Yes, there are a few loons that get elected to the local school board then try and teach the book of Genesis in high school science class. That should not be what defines the GOP and those nuts should be repudiated.
Isn’t laTourette a syndrome?
The Congressman obviously fails to understand why the Dems' numbers increased, and it has nothing to do with the CFG. Why would conservatives want to support tax-and-spend Republicans?
Between Bush and McLame agreeing with the 'Rats who needs enemies. The big tent RINOs doom the GOP and the economy. They deserve to be fired. Socialism fails every time it's tried. If you don't believe in the free market and small govenment then you are a Democrat. End of discussion.
More like how the GOP lost the will to fight and rolled over to line their pockets like Democrats do.
Thing is, the CFG does not even address social issues like abortion, guns, marriage, etc., which are supposedly the issues on which Republicans are “out of touch with voters” on.
Technically, a “moderate” could be liberal to his heart’s content on social issues and still win the CFG’s endorsement.
My point is that if a Republican can’t be principled on issues like spending and the growth of government, then what could he possibly be principled about? There’s nothing left.
“Economic issues are never what the GOP loses on.”
WoW... Ever hear the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid?”
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