Establishment — Not Tea Party — Hurting GOP

Increasingly, we hear that the tea party is hurting Republican chances this fall by “hijacking” the GOP and not working within the party’s parameters. In fact, it’s just the opposite — establishment Republicans who fared poorly in the primaries are jeopardizing GOP success.

For these people, it's never been about issues, but power for the sake of power. And it's about “the club,” where the rules don’t apply to them.

These losers — “moderates,” they call themselves — either have no convictions, or worse, abandoned their principles long ago to hold on to elected office.

There is a more apropos term: hypocrite.

Historically, these people emerged victorious in primaries, expecting, and usually receiving, the endorsement of their vanquished rivals. But the new GOP is held in such disdain by the establishment that it’s willing to selfishly sacrifice the party’s growth.

Make no mistake. This is a concerted effort to keep the tea partyers (read: common-sense Americans demanding accountability) from achieving success.

Perhaps the best known hypocrite is Congressman Mike Castle, who refused to endorse tea party-backed Christine O'Donnell. Why? She hurt his feelings. How so? O'Donnell exposed Castle’s ultra-liberal voting record.

Karl Rove continues to criticize O'Donnell openly, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee stated that it was abandoning the race (but was embarrassed into an about-face).

Castle’s effort is a direct insult to the party that served him so well for his nearly a half-century in political office. How’s that for loyalty?

In Alaska, defeated Sen. Lisa Murkowski not only won't endorse winner Joe Miller but also is waging a write-in campaign. The only thing she can accomplish is handing the seat to the Democrats — helping them maintain control.

In Utah, Sen. Bob Bennett threatened a write-in campaign after his loss.

Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (formerly Republican) is jeopardizing rising star Marco Rubio by running as an independent.

Rubio stands a much better chance to win in November, but Crist, rather than doing the right thing, has energized Democrats by giving them an opening that shouldn’t be there. Because of Crist, Florida Republicans may snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

And let's not forget the GOP suicide tactics occurring in Pennsylvania.
No, we’re not talking about Arlen Specter, who, rather than going independent against Pat Toomey, realized the GOP wasn't for him, and switched.

The biggest potential derailer of the Republican effort is the so-called “conservative” Sam Rohrer. The 18-year state representative and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate has refused to endorse the GOP nominee Attorney General Tom Corbett.

Worse still, Rohrer has tacitly endorsed an organized write-in campaign for his candidacy, which, in a close election, could prove decisive.

Why would Rohrer do such a thing? Good question. The answer seems rooted in personal animosity or sour grapes, but it’s most certainly NOT because of Corbett’s Republican credentials.

Rohrer’s entire campaign was based on his being a “constitutional conservative” committed to limited government and fiscal responsibility. But ironically, his most tell-tale vote was for a secretive pay raise — in a deal with the now-indicted former speaker. Because the legislators took the increase immediately, it was blatantly unconstitutional.

So much for his “constitutional conservatism.”

Rohrer also voted for the huge pension grab, which, in addition to boosting his lucrative lifelong pension, is the biggest factor in Pennsylvania's pending fiscal Armageddon.

In contrast, Corbett has steadfastly promoted his no-new-tax pledge, dedication to school choice, the opening of Pennsylvania’s natural gas fields, and resolve to dramatically cut spending, regardless of the consequences.
Rohrer’s actions are nothing but a pathetic attempt to stay relevant and posture himself with a significance he never had.

When Ronald Reagan lost to Gerald Ford, he didn’t run third party, unlike “moderate” Congressman John Anderson in 1980, who almost erased the Reagan legacy before it began.

Likewise, moderates George H.W. Bush and John McCain weren’t challenged by the conservative wing in the general election.

The most disconcerting aspect of today’s GOP is that so few openly criticize the establishment when it attempts to destroy candidates who earned their nomination fair and square — in accordance with the party’s own rules!

Despite headlines that tea party candidates are radical, most adhere closely to the traditional Republican platform on topics such as illegal immigration, fiscal restraint, free market healthcare solutions, taxes, and America’s manufacturing base.

In most cases, when a tea party candidate loses a primary, he works with the party to ensure a Republican victory.

But the same cannot be said of the establishment types who believe more in coronations than elections.

Hopefully, true Republicans will send a message next month that they won't be duped by the selfish tactics of sore losers who care about only one thing: themselves.

Chris Freind is an independent columnist, television commentator, and investigative reporter who operates his own news bureau, FreindlyFireZone.com. He can be reached at CF@FreindlyFireZone.com