The Trouble with
Moderate Republicans

Details on 13 Liberal Republicans

The political cognoscenti of the Republican Party have always said the best way to get and keep power in Washington DC is not to get hung up on ideology. Too much conservatism, they say, frightens away the moderate and independent voters Republicans need to win majorities in congress. And to a certain degree, for the ruling class, reaching across the aisle seems to have become a goal in itself.

The political consequences of this kind of "go-along-to-get-along" groupthink have been disastrous for America – a fact the voting public is waking up to. Our own eyes tell us that the more accommodating Republicans become, the more aggressively Democrats press their own agenda (the fact that supporters of traditional marriage have to explain themselves shows how far left the culture has gone).

Moderate Republicans like to claim their governing philosophy is more practical than that of true-believer conservatives. But to what end? Looking back over the last fifty years at how much bigger and more expensive and more intrusive government has become begs the question: What have Republicans – what has America – got to show for constantly turning the other cheek to liberal Democrats on policy? Have liberals grown more receptive to core conservative values? Have they reined in the extremists in their own party? Have they moderated their own views after seeing us moderate ours?

Take a look at the list below and ask yourself what the fruits of our moderate labors have been. It's far from a comprehensive list. But it should help you understand why the 2010 elections are shaping up the way they are. This is a time of political purification for the Republican party. It is fiery, it is profoundly unsettling for some, and it is not pretty to watch at times. But it is exactly what we need, if we are to restore the vision of the Founding Fathers and save this great Republic from the statists.

	Republican Presidential Ticket, 1976 Edition: Gerald Ford-Robert Dole The Republican establishment finds Ronald Reagan too extreme for its tastes. It endorses middle-of-the-roaders Gerald Ford and Bob Dole for the presidency. The Carter-Mondale ticket defeats Ford-Dole. Four years of American decline begin. Economic stagflation afflicts the country at home. America's enemies abroad are emboldened by President Carter's pacifism. Iranian terrorists seize the American embassy in Tehran and hold Americans hostage for 444 days, releasing them only when Ronald Reagan assumes office. The Soviets invade Afghanistan. President Carter, who had recently kissed Soviet Premier Brezhnev on the cheek at a superpower summit, confesses he is shocked at the Soviets' behavior.
	Republican Presidential Ticket, 1994 Edition: Robert Dole-Jack Kemp Ruling class Republicans again choose establishment middle-of-the-roaders in their bid for the presidency. Bob Dole is back, this time at the top of the ticket. The Dole-Kemp ticket loses to Clinton-Gore. But Republicans capture congress for the first time in 40 years. They act as a curb on President Clinton's more liberal political impulses. Welfare reform is passed. Conservatism becomes a rising force in American politics.
	Maine's Jr. Senator Susan Collins Is pro abortion (83% NARAL rating). Voted in favor of factoring global warming into federal project planning. Favors the continuation of federal funds for sanctuary cities. Voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Voted to confirm Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. Is ranked #2 on the Human Events list of Top Ten RINOs. Lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 20 (out of possible 100).
	Maine's Sr. Senator Olympia Snowe Opposed the Bush tax cuts. Is pro abortion (83% NARAL rating). Is pro gun-control. Voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Voted to confirm Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. Voted for the Obama stimulus. Is rated 9% (out of possible 100%) by the Club for Growth on economics issues (stunningly low for a Republican) Is ranked #1 on the Human Events list of Top Ten RINOs. Lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 12 (out of possible 100).
	Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich, Global Warming Crusaders Newt Gingrich was one of the architects of the 1994 Republican congressional takeover. Nancy Pelosi was (and still is) one of the most extreme members of the hard left. Taking a page out of John McCain's RINO handbook, Gingrich decided to "reach across the aisle" to Pelosi. Gingrich lended his name and respectability to the global warming hoaxers. Global warming became a far more acceptable, mainstream idea after Gingrich's endorsement. As a political issue, global warming (later called 'climate change', now called 'global climate disruption') has been very good for Democrats and very bad for Republicans.
	Former Vermont Senator James "Jumpin' Jim" Jeffords Lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 25 (out of possible 100). The only Republican congressman to oppose the Reagan tax cuts in 1981. Supported gun control, including the Brady Bill and the Assaults Weapon ban. Opposed the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. Supported Hillarycare in 1993. Voted against bans on partial-birth abortion. Left the Republican party (hence his nickname) in 2001, calling himself an Independent. He caucused with the Democrats. Voted against authorizing the use of military force in Iraq in 2002.
	Republican Presidential Ticket, 2008 Edition: John McCain While John McCain is a strong and reliable conservative on national security and government spending issues, he falls woefully short in other areas. Until recently McCain was a supporter of amnesty for illegal aliens (he authored the illegal alien amnesty bill with Ted Kennedy in 2007). His recent political conversion to pro-border hardliner, in an election year, is suspicious. McCain has opposed drilling at ANWR, and is a believer in the global warming hoax. McCain was the ringleader of the infamous "Gang of 14" Senators who stopped Republicans just as they were about to fight (and likely defeat) Senate Democrats over their outrageous use of judicial filibusters. Together with hard left Democrat Senator Russ Feingold, McCain authored the blatantly unconstitutional campaign finance "reform" bill. Is ranked #7 on the Human Events list of Top Ten RINOs. Lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 63 (out of possible 100). In the 2008 election, McCain fought Obama with one hand tied behind his back, in an unneeded and self-defeating display of political chivalry. McCain's pick of Sarah Palin for VP was the single best decision he made in the campaign, and the only thing that kept it from being an electoral blowout for Obama.
	Pro-Obama-Republican Colin Powell Served three Republican Presidents. Urged Republicans to nominate a moderate Presidential candidate in 2008. Endorsed Barack Obama in the closing days of the 2008 election. Has claimed that Americans are looking for more government in their lives and are willing to pay higher taxes. Supports the Ground Zero Mosque. Supports Harry Reid's DREAM Act, which would open the floodgates for illegal immigrants. Has made contradictory statements on employing illegal aliens to work on his house.
	Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter Warned President Bush not to nominate judges who would vote to overturn Roe v Wade. Took GOP money to beat back a strong primary challenge from Pat Toomey in 2004 elections. Switched parties in 2009 when it became clear he would lose a new primary challenge by Toomey. Voted in favor of factoring global warming into federal project planning. Favors amnesty for illegal aliens. Favors the continuation of federal funds for sanctuary cities. Voted in favor of the Obama stimulus. Voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. Voted to confirm Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court. Is ranked #3 on the Human Events list of Top Ten RINOs.
	New York 23 House Candidate Dede Scozzafava Is pro abortion (endorsed by NARAL in 2009 special election in NY-23... was also a Planned Parenthood award winner). Supports federal funding for abortion. Supports gay marriage. Supported union card-check legislation. Supported the Obama stimulus bill. Supported Democrat Bill Owens instead of Republican Doug Hoffman after withdrawing from the NY-23 election. Supported Obamacare.
	Florida Governor Charlie Crist Supported the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill. Opposed offshore oil drilling in his gubernatorial campaign. Supported the Obama stimulus bill. Supports gay marriage. When it was becoming clear he would lose the Florida Senate Primary to insurgent Tea-Party candidate Marco Rubio, Crist made public assurances he would not leave the Republican party. He left the Republican party soon afterward to continue his Senate run as an Independent. Promised financial backers he would return their campaign donations (since they'd been given to Crist when he was running as a Republican). Reneged on his promise to return the money.
	Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski Lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 68 (out of possible 100). Does not support banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence. Favors the continuation of federal funds for sanctuary cities. Voted in favor of Obama stimulus spending. Has chosen to continue running as a write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary election to tea-party candidate Joe Miller.
	Delaware Senatorial Candidate Mike Castle Supported TARP. Supported Cap and Trade. Supported Cash for Clunkers. Supported the auto bailout. Voted to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Voted to increase taxes on oil and gas companies. Favors increasing the minimum wage. Opposes ANWR drilling. Opposed restrictions on eminent domain abuse. Supported the Medicare drug benefit. Supported McCain-Feingold. Voted NO on waiving Davis-Bacon labor rules to more effectively fight the Gulf Oil Spill. Has refused to endorse Christine O'Donnell after losing to her in the Republican Senate primary in Vermont. Has refused to rule out continuing to run against O'Donnell as an independent or write-in candidate.