Richard Viguerie: Conservatives deserve credit for resignations of Blunt, Putnam
Written by Richard Viguerie on 2008-11-10T22:40:01+00:00
     Conservatives deserve credit for the resignations of Roy Blunt and Adam Putnam from their positions as the second and third-ranking House Republicans, Richard A. Viguerie, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said. 

     The resignations show that “Grassroots conservatives are being heard,” Viguerie said.  “Conservatives who make up the base of the Republican Party know that we will never get to the political Promised Land with the leaders who got us into this mess.”

     Said Viguerie: “The so-called ‘cranky conservatives’ – those who refused to fall in line behind the Republican Party, and who maintained their independence, at the price of being ridiculed as ‘impossible to please’ – deserve credit for forcing the Republicans to change leaders. 

     “And credit should also go to those Republicans in Congress who risked their careers by demanding changes at the top.
 
     “In addition, Congressmen Blunt and Putnam deserve thanks for putting the future of their party ahead of their own ambitions.  It’s nothing personal.  These are good men, but the Republican Party needs to go in a different direction with new leaders.
 
     “Now it’s time to finish the job.  The Republican leaders in the House and Senate, at the Republican National Committee, and everyone else responsible for this debacle, must go.” 

     Viguerie said that includes House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the Republican Party chairman, Mike Duncan.  It also includes Congressman Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is responsible for electing Republicans to the House.

     Viguerie noted that conservatives have been calling for new GOP leadership for years, beginning before the disastrous 2006 election.  For example, in his book Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause, (Bonus Books, August 2006), Viguerie called on conservatives to “cut off your support of the Republican National Committee and other party fundraising committees” and “demand sweeping changes in the Republican congressional leadership.”

     Just last week, on the morning after the election, Viguerie said, “The [Republican] congressional leadership must be replaced with principled conservatives.  If the congressional leaders refuse to resign, grassroots conservatives should cut off their support – their financial support, and their volunteer support.” 

     Viguerie was not alone in demanding new GOP leadership.  Last July, the influential Lincoln Club of Orange County, California vowed to cut off fund unless the leadership changed.  Columnist Robert Novak said of the declaration: “The Lincoln Club of Orange County is telling the GOP leaders of both the House and Senate . . . [t]hey must go – or else lose big money.”
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Hollis Stanford
"Conservatives deserve credit for the resignations of Roy Blunt and Adam Putnam from their positions as the second and third-ranking House Republicans, Richard A. Viguerie, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said" I was certainly Glad to see them both go...Many of us have tried to oust Blunt from congress for the past few years...all to no avail! oldguy from Missouri
Victor Hoover
I will not be giving any financial support to the Republican party until I'm convinced the party will be supporting conservative values. I hope this is the beginning of real change.
Suzanne Curran
Now is the time for all groundlevel conservative warriors to become the grating wheel of Republican politics! I concur that new leadership is necessary however, it is vital that we bring in those who can and will clearly and logically define our issues. It is vital that this new leadership define the issues that we are adament about instead of always reacting to the liberal Democrat opponents on issues that they define. We in Virginia have watched 4 election cycles pass by with devastating results mainly due to our candidates reacting instead of proactively stating their issues and solutions. We own several of the issues but do our candidates bring them forward in a forceful way? NO!! Bring on the newbies, let's see if they can do better and if not out they can go too. Put the next batch on probation through 2009. We can review their performance and decide if they are worthy to carry the mantle of Conservative!!
john
It seems almost daily, somebody is caught on the "take" or part of a sexual scandal. Lets clean house and get rid of all of them. Seems longivity in office is automatic license to re-write the rules on ethics, honesty and morality.
Rick
I am a constitutionalist, have voted republican because I beleive a third party vote is the same as a vote for the oposition. our elected officals take an oath to uphold the Constitutoin Of These United States Of America, How soon they forget. Instead there is a bypartisan move to sell America out to the New World Order and theyr Military arm, The United Nations. These officials need to realise that they swear Alegience to The Flag Of The United States Of America and To The "Republic" For Which It Stands.We are not a democracy. We The People have failed our elected officials,We FAILED to bind them with the chains of the Constitution
Bob Hahn
Republicains lost the election for Prisident this year, the house and senate two years ago and we will continue to lose more and more. There are two fundimental reasons that we can't contrele. First is the media. Whether you turn on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC, or CNN all news networks bar FOX news favor Librials. Actually Fox has it's share of Librials too. It's at least somewhat balanced. Okay, say you watch talk shows; The View, Opera, Dr. Phil, starting to get the picture? Alright how about late night? David letterman, The Tonight show, how about SNL? Perhaps you enjoy PBS. Say you decide TV sucks, go pick up Time magizine, Newsweek, People or any other mainstream mag. So how about a good old news paper? The NY Times, Boston Globe...Yep if you look long and deep there are a few conservitive pockets out there but it takes work. Most people perfer being spoon fed, that's an insermountable problem. The other major problem is the education system, from elementary to higher education the conservitive message is killed. When conservitives can over come this or level the playing field we will win again.
andywill
YES ! ! ! ! Clean House ! ! ! They all must go. We need a new coalition that will put AMERICA FIRST. Start now and find new people in every district [all 435 if necessary] who will promise to put AMERICA FIRST in the 2010 elections. Welcome Democrats if they believe the same thing. The two parties are so rotten something new must happen if we are going to retake our nation.. under God. Sitting members can keep their party label if they want it. AMERICA FIRST needs strong people who cannot be bought off by the GREAT DECIEVER who will be the President for the next two years. Unlike this year, there should be more Democrat than Republican seats in the Senate open in 2010 and we need people who will put AMERICA FIRST in every one of them. That is the idea. Now you smart guys put it to work for the sake of our childen and grandchildren! ! ! AMERICA FIRST ! ! ! !
Blue
Good riddance to them both, and we have many more to sweep out. Liberals have taken over our party and they must go. No more financial support for them, and those that give them financial support are just as guilty and need to go. Bring in those who follow the rule of law.
Jason
Rick; I am a constitutionalist and life long member of the Republican Party. I voted 3rd party because I believe a vote for a third party is the only way to change poor leadership and lack of principals within the Republican Party. To do anything else is to endorse their actions and hope for the best.
Eric
Right now, there's only one Republican (You can add the Democrats aswell) that I trust and that's Ron Paul. He always stood up for conservative values and the constitution even if he was alone to vote the right way. He has been ridiculed in the debates, but never faltered when so many would have. Now that he has been proven right on so many issues, people are starting to listen to him, and that gives me hope for the future.
Mike
Oh... *NOW* Ron Paul isn't crazy anymore.
unowned
its peanut butter jelly time!!!! ..and by peanut butter jelly, i mean ron paul.
Mike
I'll never forget having to hear Guiliani cackle in the debates as Ron Paul espoused the philosophy of limited gov't, the Constitution, sound money, and the non-aggression axiom. It was offensive to me and many other true conservatives that this wacko liberal cross-dresser posing as a Republican actually had a shot at one time of being our nominee, while mocking the principles he was supposed to be standing for. And sadly, it shows what the Republicans have become, and why they lost. In our heart of hearts, we all know exactly who and what will get us back on track as a party, and as a nation. And if you don't know, just think back to who had the most exciting grassroots campaign in last year's primaries...then, ask yourself why.
Scott
The Republican party does need a serious change of direction. At least since the 2000 election the President and the Republican in the House and Senate have tried to consolidate power by outspending the Democrats only to see disastrous results in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Those who support a Big Government approach have and will usually vote for a Democrat. Those who prefer a limited government have historically voted Republican. It is past time for the Republican Party to reclaim the limited government mantle. When and if they do so, the election results will improve. One of the few Republicans that I trust right now is Ron Paul. He has been consistent during his 20 years in the House and as current events have shown he has been correct in his warnings of what would happen if government spending was not brought under control. The Republican party would do itself a favor if it would listen to Ron Paul, follow his strict support of the constitution, and quit being overly influenced by the well connected big money lobbyists.
sommers
When I heard Ron Paul's message last year, it was as if he were speaking for me. (just what i'd been wanting to say) Being forthright I'll say I haven't voted republican for about 20 years. Steve Forbes was the last one I donated to. But I have never voted democrat. What I do not understand is, why, when Paul, actually lives the life "conservatives" espouse, and preaches their message, and votes their values, why, was he totally dismissed by the party faithful? Mocked by the other Republican candidates in the primaries, allowed to be ignored by the media. The only reason that I can fathom, is he is against the wars,and the American Empire with it's bases around the globe. Is that now the Republican party? If so, count me out. That has never worked and never will.
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