Moderate Vies for GOP House Post

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 11/12/2002

[GeneD]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ohio Rep. Deborah Pryce is the front-runner to become the new Republican Conference chairman, which would make her the highest ranking woman in the House GOP leadership.

Pryce, 51, is in a contest that also includes Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, a conservative former sports broadcaster, and Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas, another conservative best known as the former world record holder in the mile.

Republican aides said Pryce appears to be ahead, although her two rivals continue to pursue uncommitted lawmakers. The party's leadership elections will be Wednesday, with Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois retaining his post, Tom DeLay of Texas becoming majority leader and Roy Blunt of Missouri succeeding DeLay as party whip.

The Republican Conference chairman, responsible for communicating the party message, is ranked fourth in the GOP hierarchy. The post is currently held by Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, a former star quarterback at the University of Oklahoma and the only black Republican in Congress. He is retiring from Congress, as is the current majority leader, Rep. Dick Armey of Texas.

Pryce, who is backed by moderates in the party, is currently vice chairman of the conference and serves on the Rules Committee, the panel that sets guidelines for floor debates. While generally loyal to the party agenda, she has on some issues, such as gun control and abortion rights, taken a more moderate posture.

``I believe I am the candidate who is best qualified to work with the other members of our leadership team to create, manage and drive the message of House Republicans nationally and in your respective districts,'' she said in a message to fellow Republicans.

Earlier this month she won a sixth term to her seat representing western Columbus with 67 percent of the vote.

A former prosecutor and judge in Ohio, she has been active in adoption and health issues, reflecting her adoption of two daughters, one of whom died of cancer in 1999 at age 9.

Aides said Pryce, if elected, would be the highest ranking woman ever in the House Republican leadership. House Democrats are expected to make history on Thursday by choosing Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California as their party leader.

[Cicero]

When the NY Times calls a Republican a moderate, it's a very bad sign. Is she a pro-abort? If so, it would be a seriously bad idea to make her the party's spokesman . . . er, spokesperson. Every liberal newspaper in the country will be after her to make provocative statements that would split the party and alienate the voter base. And you can hardly ask the Republican PR chief not to talk to the press.

Once again, the last election demonstrated that pro-life Republicans win elections. Pro-abortion Republicans divide the party (often deliberately), drive away voters, and lose elections.

[Mannaggia l'America]

The press would never call anyone who is pro-life a "moderate". We're all crazy right-wing Nazis.

[Princeliberty]

Yes she is pro-abortion and against
the 2nd Amendment.
I bet Bush wants her in the leadership
post and therefore she will win.

[Irish Eyes]

I do not know much about Debora Pryce. I think that J.D. Hayworth would make a great Republican Conference Chairman.

[Gophack]

Aghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! We can't allow this to happen. This is the position that will be battling it out for our platform. Isn't there an articulate, pro-life woman (if having a woman is so important) that can take this position!?!?!

[Gophack]

While generally loyal to the party agenda, she has on some issues, such as gun control and abortion rights, taken a more moderate posture.

Says it all.

[B Knotts]

J.D. would be a much better choice.

[holyscroller]

Nix on any "moderate" (spell that Liberal) for ANYTHING!

[RAT Patrol]

Go Ryun!

[madprof98]

This from Human Events:

Many pro-life leaders bitterly recall how, when she first sought the Republican nomination for her House seat in 1992, she won support from abortion opponents by calling herself pro-life. Once she had wrapped up the GOP nomination, however, she reversed field and declared herself pro-choice. She even said she would support the Freedom of Choice Act, which would enshrine the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in federal legislation.

Pryce’s abortion flip flop prompted Ohio pro-life leader Linda S. Reidelbach to run against her as an independent that year. Reidelbach drew nearly 18% of the vote in a campaign focused almost exclusively on Pryce’s abortion stance.

I'm really sorry to learn this.

[RAT Patrol]

They favor partially birthing babies, stabbing them in the back of the neck, and sucking their brains out, yet we are the extremists.

[Wait4Truth]

The President has nothing to say about who the members vote for. That is not his job. Don't be an idiot.

[barker]

Go Hayworth! Wish he was my rep.

[Johnny Shear]

Good news, IMO. It's good to have a mix of leadership. Not all of our leaders need to be polar opposites of Nancy Pelosi. We're big kids, we can handle it...Not everything has to come down to a litmus test of abortion.

[Sal]

Gun grabbers lost BIG all across the country (except CA). Now the Stupid Party wants to promote one as a leader--a loss leader IMO. They just can't stand success so they are going to flush it away.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Shouldn't that be "Run, Ryun, Run!"?

[RAT Patrol]

Shouldn't that be "Run, Ryun, Run!"?

Oh yeah, that's it.

[Princeliberty]

The President can behind the scenes have
his people put out the word which way
he wants it to go and it will go that
way.
Don't be stupid that happens he is the
head of the party.

[goldstategop]

A "moderate" is a "centrist" is a liberal. That pablum doesn't fly with Rush and it won't work on FR either.