How Sarah Palin and Tea Partiers Are Blowing Up the GOP

Wingnuts of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but election ... after election ... after election.

That's the lesson from the far right's stinging defeat in yet another Republican congressional district this week. Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman harangued GOP Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava into dropping out -- hailed as a huge victory for Real Republicans -- and then the clueless teabagger-cum-carpetbagger went on to lose the upstate New York seat to a little-known Democrat.

Brilliant strategy.

But it's one we've seen from Republicans over and over again, thanks to the shadowy anti-tax group Club for Growth. Its first scalp was in Michigan -- moderate former U.S. Rep. Joe Schwarz (R-Battle Creek), who was ousted by preacher Tim Walberg in the 2006 primary.

For the extreme right, victory was sweet. And short-lived.

Walberg managed to do two years later what Republicans thought impossible when they carved out the 57-percent GOP district -- relinquish it to a Democrat. And not some Blue Dog, Dem-come-lately, but Mark Schauer, the pro-choice minority leader of the state Senate with a penchant for voting for tax hikes.

But that was just the beginning. Obsessed with hunting RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), CFG has bagged an impressive list, including U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Md.), U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) and now Scozzafava.

There's just one problem. All of these seats are now held by Democrats, who thank their lucky stars that there are 40,000 gullible conservative ideologues willing to bankroll a group that's done almost as much to help their cause as silver-tongued President Obama.

So what is Club for Growth, really? Think of it as the spiritual godfather of the Tea Party movement -- they were baggin' before baggin' was cool (and sponsored by Fox News).

Officials claim ad nauseum, as President Chris Chocola did recently to The Atlantic, that there's no litmus test on social issues, but that seems laughable. It's worth noting that both he and former CFG Chief Pat Toomey (whose greatest accomplishment is turning Sen. Arlen Specter into a Democrat) were religious right darlings in Congress.

Like Hoffman and Walberg, Club-endorsed candidates almost unfailingly are anti-abortion hard-liners who will rant about the evils of gay marriage all day long if you ask. Besides CFG, their biggest backers are Right to Life, the Minuteman groups and gun-rights organizations who (coincidentally, of course) all launch strikingly similar attacks.

Hoffman went into Tuesday the odds-on favorite. Pundits were already crowning him the Tea Party King and a sign of impending doom for the Dems next year. Club for Growth officials puffed up their chests let it be known that they were a-comin' for GOP Gov. Charlie Crist down in Florida.

But a funny thing happened. Hoffman lost, thanks in no small part to Scozzafava's endorsement of Democrat Bill Owens (just as Schauer can thank Schwarz for his seat).

But you'd never know it from the alternate-reality universe of the extreme right. Erick Erickson of Redstate.com immediately declared Owens' win a "huge victory for conservatives."

Yes, there's nothing like the convoluted wisdom of someone who fails to realize Orwell was being ironic in "1984" with the slogan, "Ignorance is strength."

But no one can top the scatological acrobatics of Rush Limbaugh, who accused Scozzafava of "widespread bestiality," adding that she's "screwed every RINO in the country." Now that's quality programming for the family values set.

Of course, it was the rabid, pitchfork-waving horde of Rush, Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Dick Armey and the once-respectable Tim Pawlenty that screwed the party here. Blather all you want that Scozzafava and Owens are one and the same, but those of us in the real world know that the average member of Congress will vote with his or her party at least 80 percent of time.

Ronald Reagan knew that. But then again, he was interested in winning and governing, not leading a conservative circle jerk.

Club for Growth is uncowed, ready for jihad against Crist, Carly Fiorina in the California Senate race and a host of other Republicans whom leaders deem insufficiently batty. Being fundamentally nihilistic, CFG disciples don't care if they lose 10 races, so long as they eventually win one.

Their intimidation campaign is working. Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele quickly warned the anemic GOP minority in Congress to "walk a little bit carefully" on votes. Translation: Vote for ideology, not your districts' interests or feel the purge, baby.

Although centrist Illinois U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk knows he'll never get the Club's blessing for Obama's old Senate seat, he's scrambling to lock down an early Palin endorsement to inoculate himself against right-wing venom. It's a curious twist, since when the Chicago Tribune asked him in '08 if the sassy former Wasilla mayor (population 6,700) was qualified to be a heartbeat from the presidency, Kirk sagely replied, "Quite frankly, I don't know."

This is a game moderates are bound to lose. The deck is stacked against them in primaries dominated by pro-lifers and Tea Partiers. They exercise outsize influence, not just because their obnoxiousness makes for good tee-vee, but because centrists inexplicably don't vote in primaries.

But reality sets in come the general election, when extremists are a minority -- and typically a small one at that. Suddenly, reasonable Republicans and independents come out of the woodwork. And to the spoils go the Democrats, who look comparatively sane.

There is a way for moderates to fight back, but it's a nuclear option. Why not let CFG puppets take GOP primaries and then run well-known moderates as independents in the general? They might not win, but they'd at least guarantee the Kool-Aid drinkers would go down.

Bet that would grab the party poobahs' attention. Kind of hard to ignore folks with their finger on the button.

 

Follow Susan J. Demas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sjdemas

Comments

[hischagal]

Susan,

Brilliant blog on the plight of the ruinous republican party. They should read this blog to educate themselves. Unfortunately, they are completely uninterested in creative, positive solutions, healthy introspection, self -growth or doing the jobs that they were elected to do.

Can't teach an old elephant new tricks!

[hischagal]

Yes, a truly brilliant strategy. It seems that the republicans leave their brains by the door before embarking upon a day of work.

[snoopjohnny]

Sarah's support for candidates on the right continues to work the same magic it did for McCain........and liberals enjoy watching her scatter moderate republicans like big game beneath a helicopter. I guess it's pretty entertaining; I just wish her antics could somehow encourage bi-partisan support of healthcare reform or a strategy to reduce our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[hischagal]

snoopjohnny,

I would settle for the permanent reduction of her presence in the media or anywhere else...FOREVER.

[IllinoisTexan43]

It's bad enough they're purging moderates, they're replacing them with candidates that are totally unappealing to 80% of America for one and they aren't interested in reaching out to those 80%. How are they going to connect with blacks with a lily-white following? How are they going to connect to the Hispanic/Latino community with their vociferous anti-immigrant stance? How are they to relate to women or young people? The LGBT community?

There are more issues that concern Americans than just low taxes and flag waving. The conservati­ve/liberta­rian candidates need to address the cultural and demographic shifts in this country and have relevant discourse or solutions pertaining to those issues and I just don't see it. Their circa 1950's rhetoric will not go over well for a increasingly media-savvy populace.

[AxelDC]

That's why they are also in favor of guns.

[AirForce Vet]

The other day I saw a bumper sticker that said “Sarah Palin 2012.” What was strange about the sticker was the fact that it had a moose where the elephant would be. The moose was red and blue. I didn’t know she was starting a new party. Has anyone seen this sticker before? I thought that the party should be called:

1. The Bullwinkle the Moose Party
2. The Moose Hunters Party
3. The Wilderness Wanderers Party
4. The Mavericky Moose Party
5. Sarah Palin the Moose Hunter Party
6. The U Betcha Moose Party
7. The Winki-Winki Moose Party
8. The Moose Goddess Party

[madhattah]

I am voting for number 4
though winki winki is very hard to pass up

LOL!

[crwells]

HAHA! I like #4 too!

[jeanwny]

Me too

[drlouise]

How can you pass on #6? U betcha is her campaign slogan!

[RealityBaseCamp]

The Moose Bull Party?

[ThirdSection]

Yes, that's the one!

[michelesda]

Seconded.

[AxelDC]

How about the Federalist Whig Party, just to remind them that US political parties do die off if they become culturally irrelevant.

[ThirdSection]

They could resurrect the name of the now-defunct American Know-Nothing Party...

[Neal Jansons]

It's typical monotheistic, religious thinking. Since everything is governed by their god, and their god is on their side, then if they don't win it must be because they were insufficiently pure or otherwise angered their god. Purges and sacrifices follow, as they double-down and try to win their god's favor again. Whether it is a religion or ideology, their response is the same: double-down and purge!

[Pem3]

I have felt that way at a casino, Double Down, drink to much then Purge.

[balrog221]

Okay I agree with you... and just as flat earthers were eventually banished so should these narrow minded folks. The question is this... how can they persist not in their beliefs but in their influence?Science has long ago refuted their devout beliefs...

[Neal Jansons]

The notion that it is rude to demand evidence from those who make religious claims or would attempt to sway public opinion or law with religious claims. This effort to be "polite" and "respectful" has led to them generally not being required to cope with the refutations of their beliefs. Flat-earthers had to deal with a constant influx of traders going around the world, other countries and civilizations who were quick to point out that no, they didn't hang upside down, and no, no one was falling off, thank you. Eventually they had to deal with basic education, which showed them how to calculate the curvature of the Earth using its shadow on the moon. And finally there were satellite photos.

When religious beliefs come up, people get uncomfortable, claim to be offended, etc, and the sum effect is to silence dissent. Of course, any religion with a real god to defend it shouldn't have to worry about any questions, should be able to answer all paradoxes, and certainly shouldn't be afraid of little ole me, so the idea that their god needs my respect astounds me...and proves their god to be either non-existent or weak and insecure.

[sippewissett]

So what is Club for Growth, really? Think of it as the spiritual godfather of the Tea Party movement -- they were baggin' before baggin' was cool (and sponsored by Fox News).

When was the Tea Party movement EVER cool? Mercifully I know no one who looks like the kooks in photos with tea bags hanging from hats and apendages, carrying signs that are inflammatory and un-American. I hope I never meet one of these wingnuts. They represent no one but their own ignorant selves.

[mcmutter]

Teabaggers wearing suits instead of cutoffs and tshirts

[lizt]

He was just being funny and didn't really mean he thought teabaggers were cool.

[Nonpartay]

Probably being ironic. I must say there is quite a bit of irony in the Club for Growth moniker. They seem to be having exactly the opposite effect. Do you suppose anyone in it notices?

[plow]

It's time to boycott Verizon and there subliminal (NOT!) commercials!

[harobamason]

Please stop giving Sarah Palin props ... she no longer deserves it.

[Mikecoatl]

Sarah Palin may single-handedly bring down the Republican Party. I'll definitely give her props for that!

[ebanks84]

By the way, Sarah who?

[Hammerofthor]

Sensational Sarah Palin.

[ebanks84]

I truly hope Scozzafavra can sue Limbaugh for maligning her character and reputation. That would blow me away for sure if she did.

[Nicholas Roy]

The GOP has come to the conclusion that their loses in 06 and 08 were due to "the enemy within", they figure that their ideology is right so there must someone to blame for their losing Congress and the White House. Thus we have the Great Purge of Moderates and Intellectuals from the GOP. Somehow it never dawned on them that they had led the country into disaster over the last eight years and people won't trust them as far as they can throw them.