Thread: US Chamber Vow to Take on Tea Party a Stupid, Divisive Move

US Chamber Vow to Take on Tea Party a Stupid, Divisive Move

Matt Towery | Jan 02, 2014



Could there be a group that looks more insular, elitist and out of touch than the U.S. Chamber of Commerce? One strategist for the chamber says they want "no more fools" nominated for office by the Republicans. By "fools" he meant Tea Party candidates and their ilk, and the chamber is readying to spend $50 million to defeat them in 2014.This, from an organization that has launched a thousand sinking ships. Recall that this is the same crowd that helped Mitt Romney and John McCain win GOP nominations for president. (They also supported Fred Thompson, who turned out to have the energy of a tortoise.) And the strategist who is credited with this new U.S. Chamber strategy is famous for running Bob Dole's presidential effort in 1996. Now, that was a real winner.)
What these inside-the-Beltway retread political strategists continue to miss is that Mitt Romney's loss to Barack Obama was due in part to a decision by millions of conservative voters to stay home on Election Day 2012. They felt no compelling reason to fight hard for Romney, who seemed good and decent, but lacked fire and had no real connection with most Americans.
Make no mistake: It's not the worst gig in the world to try to nominate sane GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate in states where Republicans are either trying to hold seats or they have a real shot at unseating incumbent Democrats. But the chamber's goals seem at odds with the "average" voter, without whose allegiance few Republicans will win next year. This chamber perspective is both elitist and divisive. And it's likely to backfire.
Consider the U.S. Senate race in Georgia. Incumbent Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss is retiring. One might presume that any Republican who manages to win the GOP nomination in this Red State will automatically cruise to victory against the Democrat.
It's just not the case. Republican incumbents aren't polling so great in Georgia. And while Democrats remain at a disadvantage, partly because of President Obama's high disapproval rate in the state, they will still pose a credible threat with Michelle Nunn, the daughter of former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, as their Senate nominee. And they will enjoy a "ticket effect" with the combination of Nunn and gubernatorial candidate Jason Carter -- who is Jimmy Carter's grandson.
The most likely nominee for the GOP Senate nomination is longtime Republican Congressman Jack Kingston. He earned his political stripes decades ago and, by most measures, he has good conservative credentials. It's no secret that most "chamber-types" in Georgia and in D.C. are supporting Kingston in hopes that his amiable personality and understanding of the more sophisticated side of public policy will trump the qualifications of any Tea Party types who are running.
But if the chamber's litmus test for Republican nominees is "no more fools," then Kingston might not qualify right now, thanks to his recent suggestion that kids who receive government subsidies for food in public schools should work for what they get.
When considered in context, Kingston's comments are harmless enough. But as political marketing, his words have flown like a lead balloon with Georgia voters. Even the most conservative of talk show hosts ripped Kingston for singling out poor kids and forcing them to "sweep the cafeteria floor" in view of their more affluent peers. If Kingston wins the GOP nomination, his words will be used by Democrat Nunn in TV ads that will help sway especially moderate, independent women voters away from the Republican.
Kingston's ace up the sleeve against Nunn would normally be the fierce and nearly automatic support of ultra-conservative voters. But with groups like the U.S. Chamber picking and choosing who is worthy of joining their "inner circle" of power in D.C., the chance that some miffed conservatives might sit out the race against Nunn, just as they did with Mitt Romney for president, is more likely.
The example of Ronald Reagan is often invoked in situations like this, and with reason. Does anyone who was actually around in 1980 doubt that these out-of-touch political snobs would have labeled him a "fool" before he went on to kick the butt of the Republican establishment by winning the nomination?
Memo to all D.C. geniuses: Think about it.

http://townhall.com/columnists/mattt...0587/page/full

Karl Rove Announces Republican Unity in 2014: Will TEA Partiers Help?

Many TEA Partiers are determined to expose Republican establishment corruption, perhaps over-zealously so. But defeating corruptors in the Republican Party is not the only battle. Indeed, there are more important battles than “cleaning house” when robbers and rapists are banging the front and back doors down. Additionally, TEA Partiers cannot have victory without the Republican Party, and the TEA Party is not a majority of the Republican Party.......

KARL ROVE ANNOUNCES REPUBLICAN UNITY IN 2014: WILL TEA PARTIES HELP?

By Timothy N. Baldwin, JD.
December 28, 2013
NewsWithViews.com

Karl Rove released his 2014 forecast on his website. TeaParty.org was not happy with Rove's statement, but why? Rove said about 2014 elections, "Every Republican senator and virtually every representative challenged in a primary as insufficiently conservative will win. In reaction to ObamaCare, GOP political divisions are giving way to unity." In response, TeaParty.org said,

Karl Rove, the voice of the Republican donor class, is predicting that tea party-backed primary candidates will lose nearly all their primary fights against business-backed GOP politicians during 2014…

Rove's business vs. tea party prediction is somewhat self-serving - he's positioned himself as a leader of the GOP-affiliated donors and businesses who are facing criticism from the tea party's populist advocates of small government.

TeaParty.org felt slighted by Rove's statement that people deemed "insufficiently conservative" will win, even though Rove said nothing about the TEA Party or particular factions within the Republican Party. Clearly, TeaParty.org "read between the lines" and identified themselves as those who will criticize primary and general candidates as not being TEA Party enough.

The implications of TeaParty.org's interpretation of Rove's statements means that they know they will not help less-than-TEA-Party Republicans defeat the liberal Democrats, Socialists, Monarchists and Statists running against them in the general election. What is worse, they will blame the runaway federal government on those who are "not conservative enough." They will avoid any and all responsibility of helping the greater political enemy get elected.

Is Rove's statement really insulting? Moreover, is it really unsound? The answer should be, no, to both. Rove simply states a reality of our political condition after the implementation of Obamacare, and TEA Party favorites like Senator Mike Lee (AZ-R) are preaching the same message of unity.

Those who see Obamacare as a political, economic and medical disaster are willing to put aside other minor political differences to help repeal or defund Obamacare. If Obamacare opponents do not accomplish their objective soon, the costs of doing this in the future will increase exponentially; meanwhile, millions of Americans will continually lose insurance coverage, their doctors and preferred healthcare.

Many TEA Partiers are determined to expose Republican establishment corruption, perhaps over-zealously so. But defeating corruptors in the Republican Party is not the only battle. Indeed, there are more important battles than cleaning house when robbers and rapists are banging the front and back doors down.

Additionally, TEA Partiers cannot have victory without the Republican Party, and the TEA Party is not a majority of the Republican Party. So, TEA Partiers must be wise in how they attack establishment Republicans while staying in good standing to accomplish TEA Party goals. If they do not play their political cards right, they will be left with worse than they bargained for.

If the TEA Party refuses see the importance of unifying on this monumental issue, it will reveal that political purism can cause more harm than good. If TEA Partiers would help other Republicans defeat Obamacare in 2014, it could do a lot to repair and improve not only the Republican Party but also the TEA Party.

In other words, victory will prove beneficial for all conservatives.

But this requires TEA Partiers to understand that principles of tactics are as true as principles of liberty.

Instead of taking offense at Rove's comment perceived to undermine the TEA Party, TEA Partiers should accept the truth of his statement and join forces to elect people who will repeal or defund Obamacare.

© 2013 Timothy N. Baldwin, JD - All Rights Reserved

Timothy Baldwin, born in 1979, is an attorney licensed to practice law in Montana (and formerly Florida) and handles a variety of cases, including constitutional, criminal, and civil. Baldwin graduated from the University of West Florida in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English and Political Science. In 2004, Baldwin graduated from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, AL with a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree. From there, Baldwin became an Assistant State Attorney in Florida. For 2 1/2 years, Baldwin prosecuted criminal actions and tried nearly 60 jury trials. In 2006, Baldwin started his private law practice and has maintained it since.Baldwin is a published author, public speaker and student of political philosophy. Baldwin is the author of Freedom For A Change, Romans 13-The True Meaning of Submission, and To Keep or Not To Keep: Why Christians Should Not Give Up Their Guns–all of which are available for purchase through libertydefenseleague.com. Baldwin has also authored hundreds of political articles relative to liberty in the United States of America. Baldwin has been the guest of scores of radio shows and public events and continues to exposit principles which the people in America will need to determine its direction for the future.

Web site: libertydefenseleague.comContact Tim Baldwin

http://www.newswithviews.com/Timothy/baldwin201.htm