The National Republican Senatorial Committee's Dishonest Endorsement
Written by CHQ Staff on June 03, 2009, 04:47 PM
If there ever was a paradigm for the GOP's post-Bush administration identity problem, the Florida Republican primary for Senate is it.  In the primary race to fill the seat being vacated by Republican Mel Martinez, moderate/liberal Republican Governor Charlie Crist is running against young, politically successful Hispanic conservative Marco Rubio.

However, to the chagrin of conservatives across America, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)—a national committee that helps elect Republicans to the Senate—endorsed Crist.

NRSC Chairman Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has a lot of explaining to do.

For an organization that supposedly champions curbing spending, lowering taxes and controlling debt, the endorsement of Crist, who among many controversial moves hailed President Barack Obama's disastrous stimulus plan, is hypocritical and dishonest. Rather than staying out of the race as it traditionally does in races without a Republican incumbent, the NRSC is taking money from conservative donors to fund a moderate/liberal candidate running against a conservative.

Rubio's record as Florida Speaker of the House is one of a conservative working to limit the size and influence of government.  Conversely, Crist's time as governor is marred by what Club for Growth spokesman Andy Roth calls a "liberal record on fiscal issues," which is so bad the Club for Growth believes Crist "could easily become the new Specter."

But, the NRSC missed this bit of irony when endorsing Crist.  In fact, if you've visited the NRSC homepage recently, you're immediately presented with a solicitation to "Support the NRSC and Stand Up Against Former Republican Arlen Specter." 

Why would conservatives want to help an organization take down one moderate/liberal while it seeks to replace him with another?  I doubt many conservatives expected their donations to be used to defeat a fellow conservative, yet that is exactly what is occurring. 

Instead of taking a step towards rebuilding the shattered image of the GOP from years of unprincipled leadership, Cornyn's NRSC—with conservatives' donor contributions—is helping a moderate/liberal defeat a proven conservative and an exciting candidate.

As conservatives, we have nothing to loose and everything to gain by working to change the Republican leaders and replacing them with principled conservatives.  And we can do this by withholding financial support from all national GOP committees, and withholding financial support from most state committees.

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Blog Comments

Steve Webber
This is exactly why I have ceased all contributions to the NRSC and NRCC. All my future contributions will go directly to candidates that I approve of -- or to the Club for Growth.
Donald F. Ford
When are we Christian COnservative going to relize that we are the only idealogic answer to restore America as our forefathers create America and we need to be serious about the creation of a conservative party and movement that does define America as A Christian Nation and will rule per God word and Character relizing that we are entering the age of separation of teh wheat from the shaft.
Mike
So, in addition to getting depressed over this stuff, what do you propose we do? My republican congressman does not respond, no one in congress is generating much excitement by condemning the rapid move to liberalizm, and it appears we are doomed to go all the way to the bottom before there's enough of a conservative uprising to be successful. I hope I'm wrong. If the constitution is to be disregarded, and congress will not act, what are the options.
Timekeeper
If the "R" party does not get back to the Core conservative principles what occured in 2008 will continue. Crist is not the "conservative" in the contest and should not be supported or endorsed as one when compared to Rubio. Keep up - I'll be changing parties myself if this continues.
Gordon Daggy
That was the last straw! No more money for the NRCC!
Steven
Call the NRSC and tell them that you will not be supporting them because they are getting involved in Florida's primary. Telephone: (202) 675-6000
Benjamin Napier
Hutchinson and Cornyn of Texas are both socialist/liberals as evidenced by their vote for the first communist, immoral, unconstitutional and insane bailout package. We are led by traitors and criminals. I was an alternate delegate at the Texas State Republican Party Convention this past year and I can tell you there was little, if any, conservatism or fealty to the United States Constitution there. No Ron Paul supporters were allowed to speak and a complete delegation that was legally elected was thrown out and replaced with a docile one. If one wishes to be intellectually honest, one must admit tht republicans and democrats are so nearly alike as to eliminate any further need for the pretext of a two party system. That is why I have shosen to call the two the republicrats and the democlicans.
Russell D. Pratt
Thank God I don't give to the RNSC. Just another outfit for we conseratives to overcome.
Thomas Turner
Come on George, you get the message. I agree with Steve and have also ceased donations. Which entity will foster the support for Reagan conservatives as future candidates?
FRANCIS MCCAUGHEY
THESE JOKERS WONDER WHY WHEN THEY CALL FOR MONEY I LET THEM HAVE IT, NOT THE MONEY. THESE IDIOTS WILL NEVER LEARN.
Gary M. S.
I haven't given 1 cent to the GOP in several years and this is exactly why. Christ has said he'll be just like Arlen Spector (COWARD, FOR SALE, SCUMBAG, TRAITOR and those are his good points). We don't need scum like that in the GOP.
Jim
I wonder how many times Republican conservative sycophants will continue trying to kick the football the GOP leadership enticingly holds, only to see it yanked away just as they make the kick and go sprawling, a la Charlie Brown? They'll never stop yanking the football until there is a real threat from a truly conservative party. It's time to be part of the effective resistance by joining the Constitution Party.
Carol White
My husband and I have refused for years to give to the official Republican committees...and we tell them so when they call. We donate directly to conservative Rep. candidates. Unfortunately, in Hawaii, we only have "pink" Dems in our Congressional delegation, including one of the biggest porkers in the Senate, Daniel Inouye.
Pizza God
This is exactly why all my contribution go DIRECTLY to the Candidate and not to a group that says they support candidates. Michael Williams in TX Rand Paul in KY Pat Toomey in PA will all be getting contributions from me in this next year. (I have not looked up Marco Rubio, but if he is a true Conservative, I might send him a few bucks too)
GB
No to the GOP! But I have been saying that ever since before the 1st G. Bush betrayed gun owners 4 months after going into office. For the remainder of my life they will not see one wooden nickel, as all my funds go towards conservative and Constitutional candidates and organizations. But it is going to take more then that... It is going to take a few million of us marching in the streets. Time to burn down a few traitors buildings, time for tar and feathers on a few of the traitors and to ride them out on a rail. It is past time to act! Our forefathers are crying in shame that we have failed to perform our sacred duties.
Donny
This is also why I will never give a penny to the GOP -- only to conservative individual candidates. Why would we as conservatives work to defeat the leftists in the Democratic Party and then turn around and work to elect leftists in the Republican Party? It simply ain't gonna happen!
Donny
The Constitution Party of Arizona is organizing in Glendale on Saturday, June 6!
Adrian Salsgiver
Conservatives are fascist war mongers who want to legislate morality and increase the size of government until it controls every aspect of our daily lives. Conservative is not good these days. You have to be in favor of the brutal rape, torture and killing of innocent women and children by US government authorities to be a conservative. You cannot change the Republican Party. It is run from the top down, not from the grassroots up. It is like the Democratic Party, it is controlled by the New World Order Conspiracy. It is not a theory.
Lt. Guidestone
Mr. Ford; I am wondering if you have ever heard of the Constitution Party. It is a group of conservatives who believe in restoring Constitutional government in America. As for dedication to Christian ideals, perhaps you may have heard of our 2008 Presidential candidate, Baptist minister, Chuck Baldwin? Why do people on this forum constantly banter as if no alternative to the GOP exists, therefore you need to create one. This mentality is why we are living in Marxist State. You should have followed Ron Paul's lead on everything, including his endorsement of Baldwin.
Erik S
What is especially lame is now that Obama has nominated a Latino to be a judge on the Supreme Court, backing Marco Rubio in Florida would show the obvious — that opposition to Sotomayor is in no way opposition to anybody of the Hispanic race…
robert bussey
CRIST IS A DEMOCRAT. IN FACT HE AND SENATOR MARTINEZ ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MCCAIN BEING NOMINATED. TOGETHER THEY ENDORSED HIM FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE FLORIDA PRIMARY WHEN ROMNEY WAS LEADING THE PACK BY 18%. AFTER 90% OF THE PAPERS RAN THE STORY ON THE FRONT PAGES, MCCAIN WON BY APPROXIMATELY 5000 VOTES. HE IS ALSO AN AL GORE GLOBAL WARMING PROPONENT AND AGAINST OFFSHORE DRILLING EVEN THO THE CHINESE ARE DRILLING 70 MILES SOUTH OF KEY WEST. PLEASE HELP US GET A CONSERVATIVE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
James Groce
Until the RNC moves to right of center,conservative,NO one should be supporting this party.If the RNC doesnt go right.I will become a registered independt.
John Henry Maui GOP Chair
I called the #for the RNSC, and the mailbox is full. I know longer send $$ into the RNC. On Maui, we are changing the direction of the GOP, and will not support a Moderate. We need to support the true Conservative leaders like Palin, Sanford, Jindal. mauiconservatives.com
1qaz
Tried the phone to NRSC. General mailbox full. Tried Cornyn's mailbox. Full. No way to leave any messages. Gosh, where do I send my next check....??!!
Gil Neumann
I refuse to give to the NRSC or the national party anymore. I prefer to give directly to the conservative candidate while they have a record of endorsing the "democrat lite" Republican. That is why when the GOP held the Senate Majority, it was never able to get conservative things passed and why our courts are full of people like Souter.
Wonder Woman
Republican's are done. I can't support them any more. We need to start fresh. If I ever had to pick a party, it'd be Libertarian.
Bryan Björnson
A real Conservative Republican said that "Government is not the solution to our problems. Government is the problem." The solution is the reduction of the size of our government. Those in government, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), are part of the problem. To solve the problem of a government that is too big we must not look to those who are part of the problem. A good first step is to make the members of the NRSC people who are not in government! http://conservativerevolutionary.org
John Heckel
Crist is a RINO just like McCain. Every day I am reassured that my forsaking the GOP for a third party a year and a half ago was the right thing to do. The Republicans have no spine and lacking in cojones for quite some time. Time for them to head for the dinosaur graveyard.
Kathy B
Well, folks I believe it will take marching in our Tax Paid streets for anyone up in DC to realize we mean business. I am sick to my stomach more each day with what is happening in our country. We have a marxis in the White House, and nobody wants to say the King Has No Clothes ON. The people around the world are begging us to stand up and save our country. Wrong is Wrong and Right is Right.
Jaded
Redstate helped raise 10K for Rubio in 24 hours and he will be attending the Redstate Army gathering in Atlanta August 1st which I will be at so I will let you know what he is like and has to say and really WE CONSERVATIVES are going to have to give and continue to giving to BEAT Crist and the NRSC at the same damn time.....that is when WE will know that Conservatism is the name of the game and not that freaking "big tent", "moderate" "liberal Republican"! This is our chance to shine and WIN BIG!
Barbara Morgan
This is exactly why I no longer donate to the Republican Party. I am sick and tired of so called 'conservative' Republicans acting like liberals and, worst of all, caving in to liberal demands. Currently, I don't consider myself a Republican, though I will ALWAYS be a conservative! I now think of the current Republican party as worse than the Democrats, mostly because they appear to be conservative and when elected, they become no different than the Democrat they opposed......we need some conservative Independents to run for office! They would get my vote. God help this wonderful Nation if we don't get better leaders!
Florida Republican
We watched Charlie Crist sneek into office on Jeb Bush's coattails. (Not that Jeb was always a conservative's dream, but he was some miles closer to the mark than Charlie!) How many times since then has he turned conservative stomachs?Lots! This is always the way with the national committees. They are convinced that Charlie's popularity with all those "citizens" so firmly attached to the government teat will make him more electable. In the end it is about majorities in the Senate and who controls committees. That is a valid concern, but Charlie's popularity over Rubio's may prove to be severely overestimated by Mr. Cornyn and his Washington pals. Rubio is well-known AND conservative, and would make a strong statement of principle AND be a winner! My money goes straight to Marco!
Jerry McConnell
George Reed: The word Moderate explains it all: When you are such, you are not a conservative or a liberal. Hence, whether you say moderate liberal or moderate conservative you're still talking about the middle, or that they go either way. I agree and have been writing the NRSC and telling them that when they stop being like Democrats and liberals I will start contributing again and by that I mean, CONSERVATIVES not moderates or liberals. No conservatives - no money.
Linda Rapoza
As a Republican State Committeewoman in the state of Massachusetts, I can tell you that if these clowns in Congress don't get their act together, the National Republican Party will look like the Massachusetts Republican Party - invisible!
Russ Laycox
The essential point in all this is: the NSRC should stay out of a primary and let the people decide. Then support whoever wins. Like a previous comment, I too and many more Republicans, do not contribute direct to the NSRC because we will support the candidates we feel worthy. Pat Toomey will be getting some support from me and several other candidates too, possibly Mr. Rubio after I check him out. If Rand Paul is a carbon copy of his dad(he is Ron's son isn't he?), I will not support him because Ron does not support the military; he took three earmarks; and I doubt the sanity of anyone who supports legalization of drugs.
Freedom Addict
No conservative should ever give to the NRCC or the NRSC...the liberal elitist, take your money and spend it on swine like Crist. A "Moderate" is nothing but a lowlife Liberal/Socialist/Scumbucket..... I donate to individual candidates with a proven record and backbone.
Elaine Claudio
Well the Republicans will never get back in power by acting more like Democrats. Don't they know that is why they are now out of power. People want smaller govt., less spending, more fiscal responsibility. Neither party is delivering. I like Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. They are truthtellers in their parties. We so need to get rid of the Dems and the Republicans and get some kind of common sense party in.
Russ Laycox
One more point I should have added in my earlier post. If Crist wins the primary if I lived in Florida I would vote for him. To do otherwise is political suicide if this is the modus operandi we use in all these situations. Far right conservatives proved this in Arkansas. They came out against Senator Tim Hutchinson versus Blanche Lincoln several years back and guess what, Tim who would have won got defeated and we have had a far left liberal Senator Blanche Lincoln voting with the Teddy Kennedy block of that party for these many years. Now the GOP has been weakened in Arkansas that we don't have any candidate that can beat her so she will get another six years. The rap against Tim was he had gotten a divorce. So all the high and mighty declarations against moderates, if in fact they are moderates, which will lead to their defeat is a vote for the liberals to further erode our nation. Again I reiterate that the NSRC is totally wrong in financialy supporting any Republican candidate in a primary, be he conservative or moderate. We must take back the party by working in it, gaining standing among those who are active, and winning gradual control as conservatives. Sunday morning quarterbacking and whining that we are going to take our football home is not help us regain control.
Rich
Republican leadership has been liberal (moderate, neoconservative, RINO) ever since Reagan. I am giving strong consideration to going completely to the Constitution Party which I understand is made up mostly of former Conservative Republicans who got fed up with how liberal the Republicans have become.
Pizza God
robert bussey, the Chinese are NOT drilling 70 miles off the coast of Florida. That is internet rumor.
Lex Talionis
Over thirty years ago I lost all hope in the Demoncratic Party and began supporting the party I believed would support genuine Constitutional principles and not shirk the American ideals in which Liberty thrived and prospered. Now, I find the Republican Party, as did the Demoncratic Party of decades past, has left me. With the exception of Ron Paul and a few others, most Republicans today have become Demoncrat Lite, timidly stepping in the footprints left by liberals long ago, but trying not to be so obvious about it. This example is the reason I now support the Constitution Party and hope when things begin to fall apart, as they they and as they always eventually do under socialism, most Americans will awake from their stupor, repent for worshipping the idol ensconced at the Shrine of :Leviathan, and realize that liberty can only be preserved by a vigilant people who depend upon the Lord first and then one another, without the coercion of the Nanny State. I fear that our blood and the blood of our sons may be shed to regain the liberty we have lost and are losing every day to those who have only their own selfish interests at heart, but how can we look into the eyes of our forefathers who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom and claim we have any honor at all?
Don Hank
I got a call from the RNC today. The lady on the phone told me to stay on the line to listen to Michael Steele. I said "after what Steele said about Rush Limbaugh, I don't want to hear one more word out of his mouth!" She said "I understand your frustration, but we need money to combat the liberals in government." I said "You have been saying that for the last 10 years, and then you put up nothing but RINOs." She said we need to combat the big spender Democrats. I said "the big spending started with Bush." I finally made it clear that I would never waste another dime on the GOP and she ended with this long diatribe and finally I was rid of her. I know there are plenty of people just as mad as me, and I know those people hear this all day long. They must be blind, deaf and dumb. OR they are suicidal. They even think they can slip Cheney past us--AFTER he endorsed same-sex "marriage" knowing that a solid majority of Americans still believe in the old kind of marriage.
Bates
I too have been trashing all requests for money from Republican organizations. Reagan showed that leadership and communication of conservative principles can persuade the nation. The current crop of prominent Republican leaders can't even bring themselves to pay lip service to Reagan. Limbaugh, Hannity and others have done a great job of keeping a substantial number of Americans informed of these timeless principles, but a dynamic leader is needed. I admire George Bush in some ways, but he and the Congressional Republicans were a great disappointment from a conservative's point of view. The nation may be truly ruined before enough people wake up.
Web Smith
Just as this government is not the same government that we used to have, neither the Republican nor Democratic parties are the same parties that we used to have. Both parties used to support the Constitution and just lean it left or right. Neither party supports the Constitution today and, as a result, Dennis Kucinich would be a much better choice over most of the Republicans in office. From the information presented, Marco is a Republican and Crist is not.
Mark Benson
This latest is an example of why allowing the country club GOP to ever run things is so self-defeating. No Bush has ever been a conservative. Never. No matter where they strategically placed themselves (TX,FL, hiding out from the S&L scandal), wherever, they were never conservatives. They allowed no farm team of conservatives to develop. They pigged out at the table of fooled bible thumpers and set themselves up as the lesser of evils. This present situation is the result. The so-called spokespersons for conservatism (Rush, Newt, Sean, etc.) are far more interested in raking in millions than in actually doing anything other than providing entertainment. At least the lib leaders have real commitment. There is no Barry Goldwater left and if one pops up the "royalty" of the party will smack him down. The revolution must take place first in the GOP.
Blaine Nay
Like many who have commented before, I will not financially support the Republican Party. I only send money to carefully selected candidates who adhere to the traditional Republican Party Platform and to the US Constitution. Unfortunately, my own Utah Senators Hatch and Bennett are unworthy of my financial support -- they don't have the courage to fight for the Constitution, limited government, nor for individual liberty. If the party itself continues to go down in flames, so be it. That is the path that the party leadership has chosen as have a substantial portion of Republicans who currently hold office.
Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.
To Hell with John Cornyn, the NRSC & all RINOs. I will not send the COP (Cowering Out-Of-Touch Party) another cent & will support individual PROVEN Conservative candidates. The RINOs will destroy what little is left of the COP, then pull a Specter & join the Defeatocrats. Leave the COP to the RINOs & only support individual PROVEN Conservative candidates, regardless of party affiliation. Conservatives need another party to carry the Conservative cause & ideals because the COP no longer wants any part of Conservatism. Let's see how many elections the COP can win without the Conservative base.
Mike Rogers
Further proof that Cornyn is a RINO himself. He keeps writing to me for money for the NRSC, but he never deigns to answer my email regarding how he and the NRSC have lost their way. The NRSC lost my support when Cornyn wrote asking for contributions for the campaign to take back the AIG bonuses - like the bonuses or not, abrogating contracts and passing bills of attainder is unconstitutional. The RNC has failed to enunciate a real platform or a pledge to Americans that they will minimize government and uphold the constitution. The NRSC backed Chaffee against a conservative, they backed Specter against a challenger (was it Toomey last time?) and they'd rather have the RINO Crist than a conservative. Filling GOP seats is nice, but filling them with pseudo Deomcrats just increases the Democrat majority. My money has stopped flowing to national GOP bodies. I support good local GOP candidtates (Take back NH first), the Club for Growth, Heritage, Freedomworks, Tax Foundation, Americans for Prosperity (do you detect a theme here?) and then to keep everyone honest, CATO and Reason Foundation. Conservative going on Libertarian.
Lee Jones
We must retake our country! A liberal Republican is just as bad as a Democrat! The idiot from Pa. proved that! All they are doing is looking for out for themselves NOT OUR COUNTRY!
J. Moore
I too, no longer contribute to the RNC, NRSC or the NRCC and I have written them on numerous occasions to tell them that I will no longer contribute to them I will support only TRUE Republican candidates thru the likes of Club for Growth. When the Repubocrat Party leaders spend my hard earned money filling the re-election coffers of the likes of Arlen Specter, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins and their ilk, then it is time to stop the support. Maybe, just maybe, if enough people do this, they will get the message.
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