Split Between RNC, Party Committees?
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein reports: As Republicans vent over the departure of Sen. Arlen Specter from their party, and as GOP leaders plot a new messaging strategy, an intriguing series of fissures is appearing inside the GOP. As I explore HERE, there’s a debate raging now about whether the Republican Party should be emphasizing breadth or depth — in terms of ideology, messaging, and geography. And it looks like there’s something of a split inside party leadership over what kind of candidates the GOP is hoping to run in 2010 and beyond. Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is suggesting that the party pursue moderates in blue and battleground states. He told The New York Times’ Adam Nagourney that he was impressed by the recruiting efforts in the past two election cycles of Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who picked up seats in red states with relatively conservative candidates. Cornyn, a conservative Republican from Texas, shoots this across the bow of party activists who are clamoring for purity: "Some conservatives would rather lose than be seen as compromising on what they regard as inviolable principles." In that same vein, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, another conservative Republican, told us on ABCNews.com’s "Top Line" yesterday: "This is not a time to purify; it’s a time to multiply." Then there’s Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Steele is leaving significantly less party wiggle room. "I’m not going to stand at the door with a little checklist and say, well, you can be a Republican and you can’t," Steele told NPR Wednesday. "But understand, it’s like — you know, when I come to your house for dinner, all right, and I sit down at your table, what do you think of me when I look at your wife or look at you and go, you know, ‘This is a nice meal but I would have preferred chicken. And if you could take this plate off, I think I’d like a different type of china.’ It is what you serve." Steele is speaking to an important segment of the party base. Cornyn and company, meanwhile, are coming from the perspective of actual lawmakers, where numbers trump ideology. This debate hits at a time where Steele’s leadership is being challenged from inside and outside the party. What do you think? What’s the best way forward for the GOP?
Santorum: Money Will Not Defeat Obama, Ideas Will 
Rick Santorum's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
RIP……..GOP.
As long as the extremist, radical, religious, lunatic fringe, right-wing is in control of the Republican Party, nothing will change for them.
Republicans, apparently, are more interested in holier-than-thou ideological purity, than they are in finding practiceal solutions to America’s problems.
Until solutions to problems are more important to Republicans than a morally and intellectually bankrupt ideology……RIP…………GOP. America is better off without you.
Posted by: Sammy | May 1, 2009, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
RIP IN GOP
Hope you come Back soon GET SOME MODERATES!Lose Hannity,Beck,Limbaugh,Cheney,Rove,Coulter and Mayby will see ya in 2016!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | May 1, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm
Clearly,to remain relevant, the GOP has to expand towards the center right area of the politcal spectrum,the sooner the better,if not , the party may go the way of the WHIGS and FEDERALISTS ..as it stands now , were Abraham Lincoln around, would he be allowed to join todays republican party..think not
Posted by: Ted Jones | May 1, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Real Conservatives are interested in one thing,especially at this time of Judge Souter’s Retirement.
That is to promote and protect individual rights and freedoms as set forth in the United States Constitution, and to limit the scope of government to the authority set forth in the same.
Posted by: Sam Gallo | May 1, 2009, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
If they want to be identified with the far right continue on as they have been. Their numbers will continue to drop as the moderate conservative come to awareness that they can’t get what they want with those extremists.
Posted by: Thinking | May 1, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
I think the two Party system is dead. There will be those who get angry with the Democratically controlled Congress and executive branch, but they will be loathe to back the Republicans again, after this disasterous eight year right wing reign.
Those folks who are ticked off at the Democrats will form an Independent Party, and they will put up nominees from outside Washington D.C., like our former Independent Governor of Maine, Angus King. Especially, if the economy gets worse, I believe you will see more Independent candidates from different fields putting themselves forward for public office.
Posted by: Amy B Maine | May 1, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
HaHA, the GOP is dead as long as their leader is Rush and their preacher is Dobson!
both want a GOP idealogy litmus test to be a member of their party.
The GOP remainds tied to their individual idealogy cannot see beyond their personal believes. Here in NC, we have a senator who stated their reason for not support the new HHS secretary was that she supported legislation that the anti pro choice voters did not support.
He was chair of their platform committee. I was leaning towards supporting him, but not think I will support the democratic nominee. We have an “esteemed” member of of the NC congressional delegation who think that Matthew Shephards death was a hoax and bad things should happen to gay people.
With spokespeople like this, the GOP cannot emerge to represent people of differing faiths, values and believes who believe in the true meaning of limited government.
What a shame that the modern GOP did this to the party of Reagan.
Posted by: scott jeffries | May 1, 2009, 5:52 pm 5:52 pm
Extremes on the Right – Extremes on the Left! The Majority of Americans Are Moderates! The Good Book even says All Things In Moderation! This Nation is Failing Because Of No Good Common Sense Extremes! The Corruption and Lack of Concern For National Laws And The Well Being Of This Nations Citizens Has Started a SnowBall Rolling That Won’t Stop Untill There Is Respect And Adherance To The Immigration Laws, Financial Laws, & Provisions For The Workers, and Homeowners, For Jobs & Interest Rates,ect. Those Who Only Consider a Vested Interest In Themselves Will Continue In Corrupt Ways That Hurt This Nation And Others WithOut Concern Of The Reactions Of Their Actions, Should Be Proscuted For Treason!!!! It Seems These UnLawful, Corrupt UnPatriots Are Mostly Members Of The GOP!!! The Party Is Over And The GOP Needs To See The Greed And The Missdeeds Of Its Ways – And Dump Their Agenda, And Get The Dawn Of The New Day – Or The DNC Will Continue To Take This Country Further Down The Sewer With Their Far Left agenda. The People Will Support The DNC For They Hope To Get The Crumbs, Cause Any Crumbs Is Better Than No Crumbs! Wake Up Someone!!!! Neither Extreme Has Done This Country Or The People Any Good!!!
Posted by: OhioModerate | May 1, 2009, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm
The Republicans seemed doomed to split. It started during McCain’s candidacy and is continuing at full speed. David Brooks said today on NPR that the GOP is out of it for 3 election cycles minimum. I say they won’t make it that long with this civil war between the moderates and the taliban-like conservatives at each other’s throats. I hear the RNC is trotting out the same tired losing past Presidential candidates in some sort of forum for renewal. Good luck with that. The GOP is getting it’s due after subjecting the nation to the last 8 years of their blight. I’m getting some popcorn and a good seat. This is going to be a great show.
Posted by: bebop | May 1, 2009, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
America is tired of the Rabid Rhetoric of the RNC and their fanaticism.
Once the folks who are now protesting at the Tea Parties find out who is funding and sponsoring these events…they will become part of American history…past history.
Posted by: Rick | May 2, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
“Once the folks who are now protesting at the Tea Parties find out who is funding and sponsoring these events…they will become part of American history…past history. -Rick”
Hilarious how the left is suddenly anti-protest, especially after 8 years of doing nothing but. Hate to break this to you, but the Tea Parties are true grassroots events, and will only strengthen this summer as the lefward lurch continues to send this country into a downward spiral.
Posted by: Bjohns | May 2, 2009, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
Sam Gallo wrote: ”
Real Conservatives are interested in one thing,especially at this time of Judge Souter’s Retirement.
That is to promote and protect individual rights and freedoms as set forth in the United States Constitution, and to limit the scope of government to the authority set forth in the same.”
So, real conservatives support a woman’s right to decide for herself and her own body regarding abortion over state-sponsored bans or limits on abortion? Who knew…..
Posted by: SearamblerOne | May 3, 2009, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Bjohns wrote: “Hate to break this to you, but the Tea Parties are true grassroots events, and will only strengthen this summer as the lefward lurch continues to send this country into a downward spiral.”
Hate to break this to YOU but the Fox Tea parties were NOT grass roots. They were sponsored by Fox News, promoted by Fox News, hosted by Fox News, led by Fox News, and mega-hyped by Fox News. Not grass roots at all, more like astro-turf…..
Posted by: SearamblerOne | May 3, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
It is the duty of both parties to serve the country, regardless of who is president. Neither party seems to recognize this, and this “my team against your team” approach the parties now utilize is simply disgraceful.
Posted by: James B. | May 3, 2009, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
“Hate to break this to YOU but the Fox Tea parties were NOT grass roots. They were sponsored by Fox News, promoted by Fox News, hosted by Fox News, led by Fox News, and mega-hyped by Fox News. Not grass roots at all, more like astro-turf….. SearamblerOne”
Once again, repeating leftwing lies does not support your contention one iota. You see, you have to provide some evidence to back up your claims, and since there isn’t any, it is no surprise that you do nothing but repeat nonsense. In fact, it just makes you look like the brainless leftwing sheep that you are.
Perhaps you are confusing organizations like Moveon, which are financed by George Soros and other leftist rich?
Posted by: Bjohns | May 3, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm