I do not speak of Christine O’Donnell’s challenge to Mike Castle in the Republican Senate Primary, which by the way, she is not giving up on.
I speak of the challenge her candidacy presents for our rather rabid friends on the right who view Castle as far too liberal to be in “their” Republican Party. I speak of those here in Delaware like David Anderson and Delaware Patriot, the latter of which considers Castle to be all that is wrong with today’s Republicans, as if more social conservativism, birtherism, and deatherism will make that party more successful.
Castle’s reputation for being a “moderate” comes mostly from his pro-environment and allegedly pro-choice stances (I say allegedly here because he is rated pro-life by pro-choice groups and pro-choice by pro-life groups). Indeed, as Tommywonk points out, Castle was one of the few Republicans in the House to vote yes on Cap and Trade. Another GOP representative, Mark Kirk from Illinois, also voted yes on Cap and Trade, but then he decided to run for the Senate, and has quickly backtracked on his vote and said he would vote against it if it ever came up again in the House or in the Senate if he should be elected. He did that because he has a legitimate primary challenge, backed by the radical right in Illinois.
Back in Delaware, Mike Castle shows no fear from his right wing base, whether that is because there are just not enough of the nutjobs to make a difference, or because they are just ineffective. Thus, Mike Castle has not backed away from his yes vote on Cap and Trade. He has not been forced to by the Anderson-O’Donnell right wing.
And that is the challenge that lies at their feet. Can the right wing here in Delaware make Castle fear them?
If you were to believe our friends on the right wing during the tea party protests, the right wing is strong in Delaware.
Well, now is their chance to prove it. No, not by getting O’Donnell elected. But by getting Castle to change. It worked in Illinois. Can it work here?