So a frequent complaint by the leftists is that the GOP alienates people by insisting on "purity" of message or somesuch. And they alienate "centrists". Never mind the GOP nominated the Republican who always polled well with Democrats, McCain, and he got slaughtered. That's in the past.
But let's look at what happens to RINOs when they go off the reservation.
Arlen Spector. Six years ago Spector faced a tough primary fight with Pat Toomey. Pres Bush threw a lifeline and campaigned for Spector. He won. Then he opposed many of Bush's policies and when the going got tough he switched to the Democrats, where he provided key votes for many of Obama's programs. Mercifully Sestak dispatched him in the primary and Toomey ended up as senator.
Charlie Crist. Crist was just the kind of "centrist" Democrats always claim Republicans need to be to win. When he lost the primary to Rubio he jumped ship to run as an independent. Everyone swore he was sure to win because Rubio was an extremist. Crist would appeal to both moderate Republicans and Democrats and coast to victory. Last week, his campaign in trouble, Crist declared he would caucus with the Dems if elected. Rubio put him out of our misery.
Lincoln Chaffee. The term RINO was invented with Chaffee in mind. Not only did he end up endorsing Obama but Obama endorsed him over his Democratic rival. I guess treachery does pay.
So my question is, when we have RINO's who will sell out their party for a primary win at the drop of a hat why not run them off pre-emptively?
But let's look at what happens to RINOs when they go off the reservation.
Arlen Spector. Six years ago Spector faced a tough primary fight with Pat Toomey. Pres Bush threw a lifeline and campaigned for Spector. He won. Then he opposed many of Bush's policies and when the going got tough he switched to the Democrats, where he provided key votes for many of Obama's programs. Mercifully Sestak dispatched him in the primary and Toomey ended up as senator.
Charlie Crist. Crist was just the kind of "centrist" Democrats always claim Republicans need to be to win. When he lost the primary to Rubio he jumped ship to run as an independent. Everyone swore he was sure to win because Rubio was an extremist. Crist would appeal to both moderate Republicans and Democrats and coast to victory. Last week, his campaign in trouble, Crist declared he would caucus with the Dems if elected. Rubio put him out of our misery.
Lincoln Chaffee. The term RINO was invented with Chaffee in mind. Not only did he end up endorsing Obama but Obama endorsed him over his Democratic rival. I guess treachery does pay.
So my question is, when we have RINO's who will sell out their party for a primary win at the drop of a hat why not run them off pre-emptively?