GOP Strategist Predicts “Purity Test” Resolution Fails at RNC
EmailABC News' David Chalian Reports: Republican efforts to enforce a purity test for GOP candidates on 10 various policy positions in order to get the formal endorsement and direct financial backing of the Republican National Committee are not being universally embraced by the party faithful.
Republican strategist and former executive director of the Republican Governors Association Phil Musser predicted the resolution would go down in defeat at the RNC winter meeting.
"Well, there are a lot of good people who are putting forth good ideas. My personal view is we've got a party platform that the convention votes on every couple of years and that's a chance for the grassroots base of the Republican Party to talk about what we should be for," Musser said on ABC News' "Top Line." "I've also been in the position where I've had to run a big political committee and party committee and flexibility is an important thing. So my sense is at the end of the day this resolution represents a lot of intensity inside the RNC but ultimately doesn't pass." Musser has been advising Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) in the early "invisible primary" stages of his likely 2012 bid for the Republican presidential nomination and heads up the political consulting firm "New Frontier Strategy." We also chatted about Obama's Afghanistan policy rollout plans and the ongoing political battle over health care reform. You can watch our entire interview with Phil Musser HERE:
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
This is directed to the Republican leadership. I am a registered Republican so you better listen up.
If I find that a candidate has committed him/herself to toe some pre-determined party line to the detriment of the nation, that candidate will NOT get my vote.
My elected officials better be ready to work for the common good of Americans. If that means bi-partisonship and voting for ideas from the other side of the aisle, then that’s what I will expect.
Posted by: malcat | November 25, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
If the party wants to keep any credibility with the voters, that has to fail!
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 25, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
I wouldn’t expect it to pass, quite unlike the democrats long litmus tests.
Posted by: jonny | November 25, 2009, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm
Many Americans have been looking for a third party. For me, it involves fiscal conservatism and limited government (not that I’m for drowning government in a proverbial bathtub, Mr. Norquiest) moderated by a social ideal that supports the concept of a right to privacy. In other words, a party that didn’t include all the radical right busy bodies trying to tell me how to live my life. That said, a schism in the Republican Party could well be the best thing that ever happened to American politics. For all you nay-sayers, just let me dream.
Posted by: catmustea | November 25, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
I agree they should have some sort of standing on issues. Thats why I left the democratic party who have no cosistenecy within the party. They have control and spend freaks like Pelosi and Obama to the working type dems like Nelson and Lincoln. Thats why I became an independent and vote for the best candidate.
Posted by: Pam | November 25, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
Republicans and Democrats alike have a platform, or list of principles and ideas that they stand for.
This is nothing new.
Democrats want to spin this as some sort of ‘purity test’ and pretend that they don’t do the same thing.
If the media wasn’t so friendly to the Democrats, they’d admit as much.
Posted by: Joe White | November 25, 2009, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Purity, yes, the master race. Where have we heard that before??
Posted by: rightbehind | November 25, 2009, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm
This is just typical intra-party wrangling, not too big a deal unless it passes. And I don’t think it’ll pass. It basically puts Republicans on the record as against Medicare, a long held philosophical position they are trying very hard to deny right now.
Posted by: jhw539 | November 25, 2009, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
“jonny” Do you even know what a litmus tests (sic) is???
“joe white” Democrats didn’t have anything to do with this “JOKE.” The Republican’ts hatched this “rotten egg” all by themselves.
Wait until you see the eventual outcome of this Major “Purity Test Blunder.” RNC leadership better be ready; the Resignations and Substitutions have ALREADY BEGUN!
Posted by: bobj72 | November 25, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
“Musser…. heads up a political consulting firm, “New Frontier Strategy”.
Would someone tell Musser and Pawlenty that plagarism by right-wing Repubs of Pres. Kennedy’s “new frontier” trademark is particularly hypocritical, intellectually lazy, and offensive.
Posted by: B. Bear | November 25, 2009, 6:31 pm 6:31 pm
Without the much sought call for a Constitutional Amendment requiring lethal injection for those apprehended hogging the left lane; the list has little chance of passage.
Posted by: ACR | November 26, 2009, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm