In 1978, Ronald Reagan campaigned to reelect Senator Charles Percy who was a RINO from Illinois who makes McCain look conservative. Staunch conservative Phyllis Sclafly was poised to challenge Percy in the GOP primary but could not secure Regan’s backing an did not make the race. One of Percy’s chief contributions afflicts us to this day. He recommended John Paul Stevens to both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Percy was an enthusiastic supporter of federal funding of abortions, the ERA and the Panama Canal Treaty, all of which Reagan vehemently opposed.
According to your logic, Reagan’s endorsement of Percy made him suspect as a Conservative candidate in 1980. The fact is that even conservatives sometimes support RINOs for various reasons. I am sure Reagan had his reasons for supporting Percy when Schlafly was available. Similarly, Palin has her reasons, which are self evident. I am not going to let something as relatively insignificant as this affect my support for her any more than I let Reagan’s support for Percy (which I disagreed with much more)affect my support for him.
Your argument fails in three aspects, two of which are contained in your own argument:
1. In your own words:
“One of Percy’s chief contributions afflicts us to this day. He recommended John Paul Stevens to both the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Percy was an enthusiastic supporter of federal funding of abortions, the ERA and the Panama Canal Treaty, all of which Reagan vehemently opposed.”
Q.E.D.
2. “According to your logic, Reagan’s endorsement of Percy made him suspect as a Conservative candidate in 1980.”
Correct. He was suspect as a Conservative candidate. He later proved otherwise, but at that time, he was suspect as a Conservative candidate. You can only judge with the information you have at the time.
3. Reagan’s 11th commandment is outdated. We can’t afford to not speak ill of a fellow Republican. Not any more. Its become a necessity. Let all Republican candidates be scrutinized, held accountable, and tested by the public. Otherwise you end up with Lindsey Graham, who shouldn’t be able to exist within the Republican party. Republican is just a word. A Republican can spend the country into oblivion just as well as the next person. If you give them a pass, that’s part of the problem.