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Club for Growth Wears on Some Republicans
Wall Street Journal ^ | May 18, 2009 | Naftali Bendavid

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 ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: chocola; clubforgrowth; specter; toomey
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In Specter's case, it was his stimulus vote that drove his polls so low among Pennsylvania Republicans, not some media campaign by the Club for Growth. Even if the Club was responsible for his departure, he was hardly a Republican in the first place.
1 posted on 05/17/2009 9:20:35 PM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

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”.


2 posted on 05/17/2009 9:22:38 PM PDT by Maelstorm (Those that have nothing to hide welcome debate.)
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To: reaganaut1

Club for growth wears on most rinos.Fixed


3 posted on 05/17/2009 9:25:56 PM PDT by HANG THE EXPENSE (Life is tough.It's even tougher when you're stupid.)
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To: imahawk

BUMP


4 posted on 05/17/2009 9:26:47 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: reaganaut1
a conservative group that targets Republicans it brands insufficiently committed to low taxes and small government.

Yeah...NO one likes low taxes or limited power in government...

Amerika, what were you thinking?

5 posted on 05/17/2009 9:26:58 PM PDT by NorCoGOP (Recession: friend loses his job. Depression: You lose your job. Recovery: Obama loses his job.)
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To: reaganaut1

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.


6 posted on 05/17/2009 9:27:17 PM PDT by rabscuttle385 ("If this be treason, then make the most of it!" —Patrick Henry)
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To: reaganaut1
"I don't think we lost the majority because we stuck to those issues. We lost the majority because we strayed from those issues."

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!

7 posted on 05/17/2009 9:27:29 PM PDT by zerosix (native sunflower)
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To: Maelstorm

Specter is scum. I used to contribute to Club for Growth until Steve Moore started writing pro-illegal immigration editorials in the WSJ.


8 posted on 05/17/2009 9:28:07 PM PDT by Frantzie
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To: reaganaut1
The Berlin wall fell. The Democrats are building a Berlin wall and the GOP helps them brick by brick. The GOP is spineless. Small government and the free market works. The big tent RINOs are morons.
9 posted on 05/17/2009 9:28:44 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Throw the bums out who vote yes on the bail out)
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To: reaganaut1
"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.

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.

10 posted on 05/17/2009 9:28:45 PM PDT by Major Matt Mason (The Democrat Party is a criminal enterprise.)
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To: reaganaut1

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.


11 posted on 05/17/2009 9:30:26 PM PDT by MestaMachine (From Cogs to Castles...)
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To: reaganaut1
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.

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.

12 posted on 05/17/2009 9:30:37 PM PDT by Birch T. Barlow (Go Mariners! Certain 2009 AL West champions!)
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To: Major Matt Mason

Isn’t laTourette a syndrome?


13 posted on 05/17/2009 9:32:09 PM PDT by MestaMachine (From Cogs to Castles...)
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To: reaganaut1
"If their goal is to increase the Democrats' numbers in Congress, they're doing a very good job,"

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?

14 posted on 05/17/2009 9:32:12 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist ("President Obama, your agenda is not new, it's not change, and it's not hope" - Rush Limbaugh 02/28)
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To: reaganaut1

15 posted on 05/17/2009 9:34:29 PM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: roses of sharon

16 posted on 05/17/2009 9:36:37 PM PDT by roses of sharon
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To: Birch T. Barlow
Economic issues are never what the GOP loses on.

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.

17 posted on 05/17/2009 9:37:26 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Throw the bums out who vote yes on the bail out)
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To: roses of sharon

More like how the GOP lost the will to fight and rolled over to line their pockets like Democrats do.


18 posted on 05/17/2009 9:39:31 PM PDT by VRWC For Truth (Throw the bums out who vote yes on the bail out)
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To: reaganaut1

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.


19 posted on 05/17/2009 9:40:32 PM PDT by denydenydeny ("I'm sure this goes against everything you've been taught, but right and wrong do exist"-Dr a)
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To: Birch T. Barlow

“Economic issues are never what the GOP loses on.”

WoW... Ever hear the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid?”


20 posted on 05/17/2009 9:41:54 PM PDT by MestaMachine (From Cogs to Castles...)
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