POLITICS - Purity for Dummies

"G.O.P. Considers ‘Purity’ Resolution for Candidates" by ADAM NAGOURNEY, New York Times

The battle among Republicans over what the party should stand for — and how much it should accommodate dissenting views on important issues — is probably going to move from the states to the Republican National Committee when it holds its winter meeting this January in Honolulu.

Republican leaders are circulating a resolution listing 10 positions Republican candidates should support to demonstrate that they “espouse conservative principles and public policies” that are in opposition to “Obama’s socialist agenda.” According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues– in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire – would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement.

The proposed resolution was signed by 10 Republican national committee members and was distributed on Monday morning. They are asking for the resolution to be debated when Republicans gather for their winter meeting.

The resolution invokes Ronald Reagan, and noted that Mr. Reagan had said the Republican Party should be devoted to conservative principles but also be open to diverse views. President Reagan believed, the resolution notes, “that someone who agreed with him 8 out of 10 times was his friend, not his opponent.”

Hence the provision calling for cutting off Republicans who agree with the party on fewer than eight of 10 items. The resolution demands that Republicans support “smaller government, smaller national deficits and lower taxes,” denial of government funding for abortion, and “victory in Iraq and Afghanistan.” It calls on candidates to oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants and repealing of the Defense of Marriage Act.

The development is going to put pressure on Michael Steele, the party chairman, as he tries to maintain a balance between those in his party who have been saying the road to victory is to include divergent views, and those who say the party needs to embrace conservative principles that have been at its core.

Mr. Steele managed, at his party’s last meeting, to steer clear of potentially contentious resolutions, including one that equated Democrats with socialists.

Gail Gitcho, a spokeswoman for the committee, said it was not clear what Mr. Steele would do.

“The deadline for submitting resolutions for the R.N.C. Winter Meeting is more than 30 days away,” she said. “At this point, we do not what resolutions will be submitted nor what the final language of any resolution ultimately submitted may be.”

Here is the resolution’s list:

1. We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;


2. We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;


3. We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;


4. We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;


5. We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;


6. We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;


7. We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;


8. We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;


9. We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and


10. We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.

Hummm... Sorta puts the GOP in a Straight Jacket.

Hay! They ARE crazy!