I make it no secret that I have always liked Mark Hillman. His essays are top notch.
Unfortunately, he might have said what he said differently:
If the goal is winning elections, rather than purging membership rolls at the country club, throwing social conservatives under the bus is a catastrophically bad idea.
Social Conservatives have been throwing everyone else under the bus for a decade. No one that I know of is talking of “throwing social conservatives under the bus.” I’m not. It would be impossible, given their control of the party machinery.
I am, however, advocating throwing those social conservatives who lack the party discipline necessary to wholeheartedly support all Republican candidates under the bus. Their tactics have destroyed the party. They have forfeited their right to lead.
They don't give a damn about having a majority in the legislature or winning statewide offices unless it is with THEIR candidates. It makes what I try to do comepletely valueless.
On the same day that Mark Hillman wrote this piece, Colorado Independent offers a note that Dr. James Dobson is already threatening seven more Republican Senators. Mark Hillman and others would have a lot more credibility if they began to write about how destructive James Dobson has become.
Added:
And today, the Denver Post does some straight reporting (it happens so seldom that it seems worth noting) on the fight within the Republican Party to become more balanced.
Focus [ on the Family ] and its allies have effectively filtered which candidates come before voters, tipping the scales against moderates, according to Republican operative Sean Duffy.
"Hopefully those folks will be able to come to grips with the fact their perfect candidate probably doesn't exist," he said. "They can't have a veto any more."
It is clear that they haven't. They won't until their prominent allies begin speaking to the problem.
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