Delegates clash over abortion at GOP gathering [Bob Packwood RINO Alert]

The Oregonian ^ | 03/07/04 | DAN HORTSCH

[JohnnyZ]

I don't have terms of condemnation strong enough for Bob Packwood's actions.

Interesting to hear that Boquist isn't going to run this year -- that's pretty expected, given the tone of his comments recently. He lost in 2000 and 2002 to Darlene Hooley -- time to give Jackie Winters or Jim Zupancic a shot.

[farmfriend]

ping

[Prime Choice]

In an unexpected and, at times, rancorous showdown, delegates to the Republicans' annual Dorchester Conference voted Saturday to recommend removing any mention of abortion from their state party platform.

How much longer before these sell-outs start insisting that the Republican platform have no mention of Second Amendment rights as well?

Someone needs to show these Democrats-in-Republican-clothing the door.

[GeronL]

BUMP PACKWOOD BACK TO MARS

[KantianBurke]

It seems like all over the country each and every segment of the GOP is taking down the conservatives and boosting the moderates.

[fire_eye]

(1) Peckerwood is a blithering, irrelevant has-been,
(2) Mannix is a shifty-eyed ex-Demonrat thug,
(3) The party platform is not nearly as relevant as individual candidates' commitment (if any),
(4) Too bad about Brian Boquist - he's been overseas in Iraq (and probably Afghanistan), and hasn't been able to campaign. Neither Zupancic nor (particularly) Winters can hold a candle to him, as a committed conservative. (He's not enough of a campaigner, though...).

[JohnnyZ]

There's been a long-raging battle that quiets down at times and then flares up. 1992 was the last big battle, when the Kean-McKernan-Wilson-Packwood contingent tried to take out the pro-life plank in the national party platform.

But this vote was a repudiation of Packwood and a vote of confidence in Mannix, who's conservative.

212 - the Mannix position, abstain, not even consider a change
86 - the Packwood position, in favor
58 - to keep the pro-life plank

That's 270 votes -- over 75% -- for a conservative position.

[GeronL]

The 86 got their way.

[GeronL]

There are FReepers who will take Packwoods side and say those darn 'unappeasables' are destroying the party.

[tame]

It seems like all over the country each and every segment of the GOP is taking down the conservatives and boosting the moderates.

If the GOP were to drop a pro life position from the platform, I would probably change my party registration to the Constitution Party. No joke. The Republican party is moving farther and farther away from me with the illegal immigrant thing, social issues (David Drier's rant against a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, etc.)

If the GOP were to take up two of Colin Powell's terrible positions, pro-abortion, and quotas for minorities, thenI would certainly change registration. Quotas for minorities, and abortion are two of the great evils in my mind. Gay marriage is another great evil. Man, if the GOP went for those three issues I would be outta here.

As a conservative I feel sooooo taken for granted by the GOP. At this point I fear it's only a matter of time before the GOP goes too far, and I'm left the decision to change registration.

[JohnnyZ]

If the GOP were to drop a pro life position from the platform, I would probably change my party registration to the Constitution Party. No joke.

Of course, so would a lot of people.

I wouldn't make too much of a non-binding resolution whose "approval" was clearly opposed by the vast majority of those present. We've beaten back the Whitman-Snowe-Packwood crowd a couple of times and we'll continue to do so. They probably have less power today than . . . well, a long time. The Connie Morellas of the world go down to defeat, the Marge Roukemas get replaced by pro-lifers like Scott Garrett, and the GOP continues to absorb socially conservative southerners to the ranks.

[bybybill]

It is truely amazing the # of Freepers that hate winning elections. Run for ANY office in Oregon with pro-life the first thing on your lips and see what happens. You won`t be calling the movers. ( I know, smith is pro life but gets away with it because he doesn`t shout and being a Mormon)

[JohnnyZ]

It is truely amazing the # of Freepers that hate winning elections.

LOL! You're not seriously supporting the Peckerwood position, are you???

[GeronL]

The Republicans would become the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada if they did that. (It has 3 members in the 301 member Canadian Parliament)

[Texasforever]

There are FReepers who will take Packwoods side and say those darn 'unappeasables' are destroying the party.

Not many. Pro-life is the vast FR consensus. Having said that I thought Packwood was dead.

[tame]

It is truely amazing the # of Freepers that hate winning elections.

Oh, brother. The # of freepers you refer don't hate winning elections, they hate pyrrhic victories. You win nothing by giving up the core of your beliefs.

It is truly amazing the # of freepers that love winning pyyrhic victories.

It's precisely this whorehouse-sell-your-beliefs-for-victory attitude (as well as the Rino's constant bashing of the real conservatives because we stick by our principles) that got me to even considering re-registering with the constitution party.

[GeronL]

Packwood is dead - politically. Except in the minds of 86 delegates of this non-official group, apparently.

[Texasforever]

Well given the idiot's background I can see why he might be in favor of abortion.

[Texasforever]

It's precisely this whorehouse-sell-your-beliefs-for-victory attitude (as well as the Rino's constant bashing of the real conservatives because we stick by our principles) that got me to even considering re-registering with the constitution party.

Here is a stark reality. In the blue states Olympia Snowe is a "right wing extremist". It is fine to bemoan all of the rinos but when it comes to a governing majority the GOP has to put up with them just as the Dems have to put up with guys like Zell Miller. In congress it is a numbers game and it dictates who heads committees, and who controls the agenda.

[tkathy]

Disgusting moderates are needed in any election.