Take The RNC Litmus Test
November 26th 2009 -
MSNBC’s First Read is reporting that a resolution is floating around that could be interpreted as an official litmus test as to whether or not the Republican National Committee should support a candidate. The resolution, called “Resolution on Reagan’s Unity Principle for Support of Candidates” lists 10 principles that candidates should adhere to.
This includes:
(1) Smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill
(2) Market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run healthcare;
(3) Market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
(4) Workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check
(5) Legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
(6) Victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
(7) Containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat
(8) Retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
(9) Protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
(10) The right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership
The supporters of this resolution cite Ronald Reagan in saying that if one supports 8 of the 10 resolution, then they are considered friends, not enemies. However this list is clearly a tactic to get rid of “squishy” moderates and is the exact opposite of what the GOP needs to do right now: open itself up to seek converts not followers.
What if someone only agrees with seven of the ten? Then, the supporters of this resolution call for the RNC to withhold financial assistance and endorsement. This resolution has not yet been voted on, but it might be taken up at the Winter meeting of the RNC come January.
Rob Bernstein notes that Reagan wanted a Big Tent GOP; a party that had people of differing views. It was that Big Tent that lead Reagan to impressive victories in the 1980s and ushered in a Conservative Age in America. However gone is the spirit of wanting to be a movement that welcomes everyone; in it’s place is a spirit of exclusiveness that somehow believes that a pure party can be a winning party.
But I am curious how others feel about this. How many of these 10 principles did you agree with? I’m for 8 of 10. The Defense of Marriage Act is a private matter and not the Govt’s place to pry and I differ from the GOP on how illegal immigrants should be handled. I say make them citizens, charge them for back taxes and tax the money they send “home.”
