In 1996, there was a Republican conservative running in my state assembly district who was pro-choice, against a VERY liberal Democrat. We had a solid shot at the seat...
Until the local "pro-life" activists decided to push for a American Independent candidate who had NO chance of winning the election, but managed to split the vote. The result was that we got a pro-abort, pro-gay-marriage, tax-and-spend maniac in the statehouse.
The pro-life crowd then had the gall to BRAG about what they had accomplished--they said that they "sent a message" to the local GOP.
Well, the message that the local GOP got was that the pro-life community were a bunch of spoiled children, and began working diligently to purge these folks from any important position in the party.
Meanwhile, the homosexual and abortion agenda continues to advance smartly in the statehouse.
Nice move, guys! With friends like y'all, we don't need enemies...
Blame the voters for not voting for a candidate that they didn't want? How about the local party apologizing for failing to select a better candidate? Or how about not selecting a candidate that repulses a critical voting block? I won't vote for a gun grabbger or gun grabber-lite. Don't bother to blame me or people like me when you select one to run for office.