Update, 5/20: John Hawkins at Right Wing News has posted the following petition to the NRSC (to which I have added my name at the end):
Dear Senator Cornyn,
We the undersigned believe that the National Republican Senatorial Committee should be committed to serving ALL the members of the Republican Party.
Additionally, the NRSC should be focused on defeating Democrats, not Republicans. Towards that end, we believe it was completely inappropriate for the NRSC to endorse a candidate in the Florida primary race.
Therefore, we request that both you and the NRSC alter your position on the Florida Senate race, maintain neutrality, and promise to spend no money directly or indirectly in that race.
Sincerely yours,
Ben DeGrow
Mount Virtus
Colorado
Apparently convinced the group still possesses too much respect and credibility, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) chairman John Cornyn this week endorsed Charlie Crist over Mario Rubio in Florida’s open primary — more than a year before the decisive election (and the chance for other candidates potentially to enter the race).
Jim Geraghty has it right: “It’s up to Florida Republicans. Let them decide.”
I sincerely hope that NRSC isn’t foolish enough to try to throw its weight around in Colorado’s developing U.S. Senate primary. But given this latest announcement, it’s hard not to be skeptical.
Let me echo Geraghty with a friendly memo to the NRSC: It’s up to Colorado Republicans. Let us decide.
I seem to recall that you were content when McInnis was pushed out of the race by the NRSC in favor of Schaffer.
You have to be consistent to be credible. Sometimes you don’t meet that standard.
McInnis was never in the race for 2008, so it would have been hard for him to be “pushed out”. Did the NRSC persuade him not to enter? Perhaps. I would be pleased to refresh myself with the details of what happened a couple years ago to comment further — if you have a relevant link to share.
In any case, there was no open primary like we have setting up for 2010, here in Colorado or in Florida. If McInnis had entered the race in 2008 I would have worked for Schaffer against him. And I would have told the NRSC to butt out.
I don’t see the inconsistency, but am left to wonder why you’re going after this bone to pick.
McInnis was in the race for about two days. Huttner’s outfit went after him. McInnis was asked politely to withdraw. If you want me to dig it up, I can.
Who asked him politely to withdraw, and for what reasons? Feel free to dig it up.
He dropped out because Schaffer told the NRC that he wouldn’t run if he had a primary.
It sounds like the NRSC wasn’t left with the option of staying neutral then — unlike Florida & Colorado in 2010.
I personally think Rubio is a better candidate than Crist. You may disagree with me on that point, and my mind could be changed. But I don’t see what good it does for the NRSC to come in and endorse in an open primary. Especially when the party is at a low ebb for credibility and power, it would be best for national party organs not to impose a top-down endorsement like this one.
My position is consistent about the NRSC.
I don’t know either one of them.
Hey Tom, I seem to recall you ranting and raving against anyone who would suggest a primary as breaking your “tranquility” and damaging the party even though you’re actively primarying a sitting State Senator in a hopeless race and advocating for the removal of Rep. Stephens.
I also notice all your rants about social conservatives damaging the party, even though you have carried water non-stop for Doug Lamborn who was elected only because those very social conservative groups you complain about ran a smear campaign against Jeff Crank in 2006.
Do you really think you have any standing to criticize anyone here?
As you well know, our country is off track and we’re losing freedoms at an alarming rate. So I looked around for someone who was running in the next election that might help us turn this around.
I found and met a good candidate, Cleve Tidwell, who is running against US Senator Michael Bennet, who is in lock-step with the big bailout voting.
Cleve Tidwell is not a lawyer or a career politician. He’s a proven, successful businessman who understands sound financial principals — which are the opposite of what is going on in DC now.
He also respects the Constitution and is not afraid to admit it!
Take a minute to check him out at
http://www.tidwellforsenate.com
If in November 2010, people in EVERY state get rid of just one tax-raising freedom-tossing politician, we could see things turn around quickly.
-Dusty Foster, Colorado