Our article on The Republican purity test seems to have failed in a fizzle. From Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times.
So what was that all about?
After weeks of feverish build-up, the great GOP Purity Debate fizzled out in mere seconds this afternoon, as the Republican National Committee — on a unanimous voice vote — adopted a watered-down version of the so-called Reagan Resolution.
As first proposed by Indiana lawyer and committee member James Bopp Jr., GOP candidates would have been required to meet at least eight of 10 prescribed positions on issues such as gun control, abortion, immigration and same-sex marriage. Otherwise, they would have received no financial or organizational help from the party.
Many here in Honolulu — including party Chairman Michael Steele — opposed the so-called litmus test, saying it would crimp recruiting and hurt the party’s inclusive image at a time the GOP is trying to broaden its support among independents and moderate voters.
So they set to work behind closed doors coming up with a substitute that would allow everyone to declare victory and get the heck back to the Hawaii beach.
The result is a vaguely worded five-paragraph collection of “whereas” and “resolved,” urging the RNC “to carefully screen the record and statements” of candidates and measure that against “the core principles and positions” in the platform adopted at the GOP’s national convention in 2008.
Read the rest at Republicans adopt watered-down version of the ‘Reagan Resolution’ purity test | Top of the Ticket | Los Angeles Times.
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