By fitsnews – May 4, 2012
GROUP FORMED TO PROMOTE CONSERVATIVE HOUSE CANDIDATES URGES INDIANA DEMOCRATS TO BACK RINO
U.S. Majority Leader Eric Cantor was elevated to his powerful legislative leadership perch last year thanks to the rise of the Tea Party movement.
So then … why is a group with ties to Cantor spending money in an effort to reelect one of the U.S. Senate’s most liberal “Republican” incumbents? And more to the point, why is this group urging Democrats to cross over and vote against a staunch fiscal conservative challenger?
Those are good questions …
The Young Guns Network – a group formed by two former aides to Cantor – is spending big bucks in the Indiana U.S. Senate primary on behalf of incumbent Richard Lugar. This 80-year-old RINO – a notoriously out-of-touch fiscal liberal who has been in Washington, D.C. for more than three decades – is currently in the fight of his political life against State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, a fiscal conservative whose insurgent bid is supported by a strong network of Tea Party and establishment Republican leaders.
The breadth of Mourdock’s support is showing, too. According to the results of a new Howey/DePauw Indiana Battleground Poll, he has opened up a 10-point lead over Lugar with less than 100 hours to go in the race.
Now … given that the aim of Cantor’s group is ostensibly to encourage more conservative candidates to run for the U.S. Congress (albeit in the U.S. House of Representatives), you’d think his group would be cheering Mourdock on, right?
Right???
Wrong …
Believe it or not, the Young Guns Network is actually spending money on the other side of this race … trying get Indiana Democrats to cross over and vote for Lugar (who’s been referred to in the past as “Barack Obama’s favorite Republican”).
“Indiana does not have party registration,” a mailing from the Young Guns Network informs Indiana Democrats. “You simply need to show up at your polling location on May 8, 2012 to vote for Senator Dick Lugar in the Republican Primary.”
Wait … what? Surely we read that wrong …
“You can vote in the May 8th Republican Primary election! The May 8th Election is open to all voters,” the mailing reminds Democrats in large, bold letters.
Amazing …
Not surprisingly, these pro-Lugar efforts are infuriating fiscal conservatives in the Hoosier State … and beyond.
“Eric Cantor’s actions confirm the worst of what grassroots conservatives dislike about a Washington Republican leadership that is more interested in protecting its own than in promoting conservative principles and candidates,” the Club for Growth said in a statement condemning the group’s involvement.
Mourdock – who says he expected the Senate GOP establishment to support Lugar – expressed shock that a group affiliated with a so-called Tea Party leader would come after him.
FITS spoke with the Indiana State Treasurer on Friday as part of a conference call organized by Americans for Limited Government.
“They haven’t gotten involved in a Senate race (before) and yet now they are asking Democrats to vote for Barack Obama’s favorite Republican?” Mourdock asked incredulously. “I wish they would spend their time and money trying to elect conservative House members instead of trying to gin up the Democratic vote in this race.”
Damn straight …
Every Tea Party member who voted “Republican” in 2010 needs to take note of this travesty. Seriously … here’s a real Republican about to knock off an aging RINO and what does the House GOP leadership do? Spend money trying to lure Democrats to vote against him …
“This race is for the heart and soul of the Republican Party in the U.S. Senate,” Mourdock said, adding that he wanted to be part of a “real, true GOP majority” led by Senators like Jim DeMint and Marco Rubio.
We hope he gets that chance …
Every bit as importantly, we hope that fiscal conservatives remember which side of this fight the House’s “Majority Leader” came down on.
Pic: via Daylife
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