Does the GOP Purity Test Abandon Mike Castle?
Adam Nagourney at the NYT brings up this possibility in their political blog today:
Mr. Castle in many ways is a textbook example of why some Republicans think the party should avoid such purity tests. He appears to be, without dispute, the strongest candidate that the party could choose to take back the seat.
But in the course of his career, he has taken positions on abortion, energy and gun control that could, at least in theory, lead Republicans to argue that he has failed the test laid out in the resolution. If that were the case, the Republican National Committee might have to sit out a Castle-Biden race.
This is a way to back into a definition of “moderate” that makes Castle look good and reinforces his own press on the business of “moderation”. And NOT passing the GOP Purity test would likely be an advantage to Castle here — because the teabaggers and the wingnuts are not particularly many here. A purity test would help O’Donnell, though — who could really use the boost of national party support.
Castle could likely get his handwaving on to make the case for passing this test just to make the teabaggers and wingnuts happy — but that doesn’t seem especially smart. So what do you think? Will the GOP implement this purity test and shoot down their best chance at a Senatorial seat pickup?
The first thing that comes to mind is that it depends on how the RNC follows through. If Castle is found to “fail” and to be “impure”, what do they do? If all they do is passively not back Castle, you’re right, it probably won’t hurt him too much, and might actually help him. However, if the RNC, and therefore “THE REPUBLICAN PARTY”, actively backs someone else, like O’Donnell, then you could see a Scozzafava effect. I guess what I don’t know is, does the RNC always actively back someone in a major race? If so, and it isn’t Castle, then I think that would be enough to ensure the seat for the Democratic candidate.
Since when have the Republicans worried about doing what they say? Of course they aren’t going to let some purity test interfer with who they back if a race is strategically good. Com’on folks, this is just more bull for the teabaggers and has no relationship to what will actually happen. Just like everything else they say. Smaller government? Say it, while you build up more and more record deficits. Keeping America safe? Go to war in Iraq and make us less safe. Family values? HAH!
The only thing consistent about the Republican message is that it is ALL LIES!
lol, Rebecca. Don’t hold back, girl, tell us how you really feel. 😀
*settles hat* if I may borrow your phrase Brooke. Happy Thanksgiving!
Rebecca has it right. The impotent DE conservative republicans will roll over and accept Castle. No GOP Split in Delaware. You can take that to the bank.
Oh crap, given Jason330’s record of taking things to the bank, the DE GOP should be worried. 😉
This latest Republican Litmus Test is the product of Jim Bopp, the same genius who proposed the R’s call the Dems “The Democrat Socialist Party”. That stroke of brilliance failed, this will too. It’s been pointed out that Bush II and Saint Ronald Reagan would fail this test as well. As for Castle he’s still tall, old and ugly as faux moderates tend to be.
‘Rebecca has it right. The impotent DE conservative republicans will roll over and accept Castle. No GOP Split in Delaware. You can take that to the bank.’
Chances are good that you’re right, or better than good actually that the bulk of the Republicans in this state will line up to roll over and back Mike Castle. More so if you give them Beach Balls. It’s been happening for a long time, and well, as a rule of thumb people don’t know what they like, they like what they know.
Right now, and I still say his running is a long shot given the dynamics, the timing, et al, I’d vote for Beau Biden over the two jockeying on the other side …
O’Donnell is not a serious candidate, therefore Mike Castle will not worry about the primary.
the RNC tests castle and he fails the litmus test and as a result the RNC financially backs O’Donnell with enough bucks to seriously challenge Beau?
ROTFLMAO
There is only one thing less likely. Take the scenario listed above, and replace “O’Donnell” with the name of a certain airline pilot…
More so if you give them Beach Balls.
LOL! You owe me a new keyboard, M. Opalinski!
1. The RNC will back Castle – no doubt about it
2. This litmus test would theoretically hurt Castle’s grassroots fundraising.
3. HAH HAH HAH, Mike Castle and “grassroots fundraising”? No, this won’t hurt Castle at all. Corporations will line up around the block to fill his coffers.
4. Does anyone SERIOUSLY think anything the national GOP says would make the state GOP abandon the “Delaware Way”?
5. The Delaware Way means no one who had a ghost of a chance at beating Castle in a primary would ever challenge him in one.
But please, never mind all that Michael Steele, PUNISH CASTLE FOR HIS IMPURITY! Make him suffer, PLEASE make him pledge to be a TRUE CONSERVATIVE! And then throw Beau in that there briar patch!
Oh, btw, notice the purity test doesn’t include anything about not sleeping with prostitutes (Vitter) or cheating on your wife (Ensign).
The only unanswered question is “Who will Tom Carper support?” So far he is leaning toward Mike Castle in his public statements.
You should base your arguments on credible sources not the NYT blog. Now that they admited that the threshold in the post was incorrect and updated it to 70%, which destroys the entire premise of the post, are you going to update your post? Maybe it is going to be like the blaming of Glenn Beck for the census worker.
But we do base our arguments on the stuff that we’ve read and the stuff we can do the math for — if Nagourney can point out at least 3 areas where Castle may have issues, then — even according to the correction — Castle may have a problem with the purity test.
Go back to the kids’ table, because you certainly are in no way prepared to talk with the grownups, David.
Daily Kos is now covering this same issue: DE-Sen: Failing The GOP “Purity Test.”
Ooooh, some good stuff. Castle can still pass the “purity test” if he toes the line from now on.
Well look at his votes so far this session. He is pure.
What Jason Said.