The Difference between an Insurgency and a Purge

The American (AEI) ^ | May 7, 2010 | Marc Thiessen

[FTJM]

Over at TNR, Jonathan Chait snarks at my post “A Conservative Insurgency, Not A Purge,” where I explain that “far from a ‘purge movement’ aimed at accumulating ‘RINO pelts,’ [Senator Jim] DeMint is leading a carefully targeted effort to elect a handful of real conservatives who will help him fight for fiscal discipline and conservative values in the Senate.”

Chait writes:

What, you may ask, is the difference between a purge and an insurgency designed to elect real believers in your side’s ideology? Obviously, when your own party is doing it, it’s the latter. When the other party does it, it’s a purge. Joe Lieberman was purged. Arlen Specter was simply the loser of a targeted effort to elect a handful of real conservatives who will help fight for fiscal discipline and conservative values in the Senate.

Let me explain the difference for Jonathan. It is not a “purge” for a conservative senator to put his name and resources behind conservative candidates, just because the party leadership is putting its resources behind more moderate candidates. It is not a purge to support the Republican Speaker of the Florida legislature against the Republican governor. It is not a purge to support an Indiana state legislator against a former GOP senator. It is not a purge to support a conservative doctor in Kentucky against the Republican Secretary of State simply because the Senate Republican leader backs him. It’s not a purge to support a California State assemblyman against the former CEO of Hewlett Packard. It’s not a purge to support a Colorado district attorney against the former lieutenant governor.

It’s called democracy.

As for Specter and Lieberman, there is a critical distinction between the two cases: Lieberman was a loyal, down-the-line Democrat who voted with his party on all the major issues save one: Iraq. For his apostasy in supporting the surge in Iraq, this loyal Democrat was purged. Despite the effort to drive him out of the party, Lieberman did not join the GOP—he stayed a Democrat and fought for his party’s nomination. Then he ran and won as an “Independent Democrat” and continues to remain a loyal member of the Democratic caucus in the Senate to this day.

By contrast, Specter was anything but a loyal, down-the-line Republican who voted with his party on all the major issues save one. His apostasies were manifold—so much so that as soon as he faced a primary challenge, he bolted from the GOP and seamlessly joined the Democrats. He is as comfortable on the Democratic side of the aisle as he was on the GOP side—in fact he is arguably more comfortable with the Democrats.

Specter was not “purged.” He defected. Big difference.

And apparently Pennsylvania Democrats may not want him. Rep. Joe Sestak is gaining on Specter in the Democratic Senate primary. Is Sestak leading a Democratic “purge” of Specter?

What Jim DeMint is doing is trying to help the little guy—the grassroots conservative who cannot attract money or attention because the GOP establishment comes in and puts its prestige and resources behind the establishment candidate. DeMint is evening out the playing field and injecting some funding and fairness into these primaries. That’s an insurgency, not a purge. The difference is obvious, even if Chait can’t see it.

[Publius6961]

The Difference between an Insurgency and a Purge

Why does it matter what it's called? I sure don't care.

Those who live and die by propaganda might care, they have nothing else to contribute; but I respectfully refuse to waste my time and play that game.

Clearly, the official "party" leaders have not gotten it yet, and I don't care. So how they characterize it is irrelevant.

Conservative adults are desperately needed, and career politicians need not apply. For me that is not negotiable.

Runaway spending across the board, runaway "compassion" must both be reined in permanently. There is no point in applying a band aid and not expecting a repetition of current crisis.

For instance, the cutesy mindless poster, "There is no limit to caring" must be permanently banned from society as a coerced imposition.
Yes, there is a limit.

As individuals, anyone can embrace the sentiment; as a law, it is intolerable under any circumstances.

[Doug Loss]

The difference is, a purge is something those in power in an organization do to rid the organization of their opponents. An insurgency is something those not in power do to rebel against the control of those in power and with any luck to remove them from power. Geez, this isn’t rocket science. The left is trying to redefine simple unambiguous words again...