Republicans Consider "Purity Resolution" and DOMA Support

The Republican National Committee is considering a "purity" resolution to threaten moderates who might support health care reform and marriage equality or repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. Adam Nagourney at The New York Times reports the resolution appeals to the party's anti-gay social conservative base:

"According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues—in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire—would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement. The proposed resolution was signed by 10 Republican national committee members and was distributed on Monday morning. They are asking for the resolution to be debated when Republicans gather for their winter meeting."

The list:

(1) We support smaller government, smaller national debt, lower deficits and lower taxes by opposing bills like Obama’s “stimulus” bill;
(2) We support market-based health care reform and oppose Obama-style government run health care;
(3) We support market-based energy reforms by opposing cap and trade legislation;
(4) We support workers’ right to secret ballot by opposing card check;
(5) We support legal immigration and assimilation into American society by opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants;
(6) We support victory in Iraq and Afghanistan by supporting military-recommended troop surges;
(7) We support containment of Iran and North Korea, particularly effective action to eliminate their nuclear weapons threat;
(8) We support retention of the Defense of Marriage Act;
(9) We support protecting the lives of vulnerable persons by opposing health care rationing and denial of health care and government funding of abortion; and
(10) We support the right to keep and bear arms by opposing government restrictions on gun ownership.

Only the Republicans would describe their opposition of expanding health care for the uninsured as  "protecting vulnerable persons", but, logic never was their strong suit.

At the last Republican National Committee meeting, Chairman Michael Steele managed to steer clear of controversial resolutions—including one that equated Democrats with socialists. The deadline for submitting resolutions for the R.N.C. Winter Meeting is more than 30 days away.

Comments

[Gary]

Eugh they make me sick.
Smaller national debt? What a crock!
Stop fricken going to war then, idiots.

[kayman]

Oh, this is the same party where some of the white members are scared of its current chairman because he is black. Now this is comedy for me, but I will give them -5 points for their illogical mandate where they are doing the exact opposite of what they are trying to propose.

[Grothenberger]

I say they go for it. Anything that will further marginalize them is OK by me.