CRASHING THE PARTY

“I live in one of the most conservative counties in a conservative state (Hendricks County, Indiana),” wrote an emailer to Ramesh Ponnuru of National Review.  “Having attended many gatherings and fund-raisers for the local Republican Party, I noticed something odd: the attendees were mostly folks who were looking for favors… 

“The party apparatus was mostly dominated by people who didn’t believe in limited government or even a socially conservative agenda.  They were people who had hijacked the party apparatus to advance the ‘favor factor’ theory of government.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is that sort of Republican.  Appointed to the senate by her father, former senator and governor Frank Murkowski, whose ties to lobbyists were legendary, Ms. Murkowski has continued the family tradition.  She campaigned for renomination chiefly on the basis of the amount of pork she’s brought back to the state.

But Alaska Republicans narrowly preferred the more forthright conservatism of tea party favorite Joe Miller, who won a stunning upset in the primary Aug. 24.

Ms. Murkowski announced last Friday (9/17) she’d wage a write in campaign to keep her seat.  A few days before the primary, when she thought she would win, Ms. Murkowski had said she would abide by the results of the primary.

“On what grounds should she run as an independent?” asked Jonah Goldberg of National Review.  “Because she really likes being a senator?  Because she’s bummed the seat-for-life her father gave her turned out to be more temporary?”

There is little doubt who — besides herself — Ms. Murkowski plans to represent.

“Less than an hour before Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski planned to announce a write-in campaign to retain her seat, her top aide emailed scores of the most prominent lobbyists in Washington to ask them to join a Saturday conference call with the senator,” the Webzine Politico reported.

Many in the news media describe tea party-backed candidates like Mr. Miller as a divisive force in the GOP.  But Ms. Murkowski has demonstrated yet again it’s the so-called “moderates” who are in it for themselves, the consequences be damned.

It began this cycle with Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who switched parties in a vain attempt to keep his seat.  Then there is Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who launched an independent bid for the senate when it was clear he would lose the GOP primary to Marco Rubio.  In Delaware, Rep. Mike Castle, upset by Christine O’Donnell in the primary Sep. 14, isn’t planning an independent run.  But he’s refused to endorse Ms. O’Donnell.

Ms. O’Donnell said some things about him which are not true, butMr. Castle asked for his defeat.  He could have reminded Republicans he voted against the stimulus and Obamacare.  Instead, his ads extolled his experience in Washington, and all the pork he’s brought home.

Contrast their behavior with tea party favorite Ovide Lamontagne, who came from far behind to lose the New Hampshire Republican senate primary by a whisker to the candidate the establishment preferred, former Atty. Gen. Kelly Ayotte.  No sooner were the votes counted than Mr. Lamontagne eschewed a primary and warmly endorsed Ms. Ayotte.

Tea partiers may be accused (though not by me) of excessive, or misplaced, zeal.  But one thing is clear:  They did not become politically active because they want a government handout or a government job.

This is partly why it would be a terrible mistake if, as the New York Times reported Sunday (9/19), the Obama administration is planning an advertising campaign declaring the Republican party has been taken over by tea party “extremists.”

If Democrats get pummeled in November, it won’t be because voters like Republicans better.  A Rasmussen poll in August indicated 35 percent of adults consider themselves Democrats, only 33.8 percent are Republicans.  The tea party is more popular than the Republican party because many identify the GOP with the relentless pursuit of self interest displayed by the Specters, Crists and Murkowskis.

The tea party is a poor target because it isn’t the tea party that’s responsible for record deficits, 9.6 percent unemployment, or Obamacare.  But if Americans become convinced the GOP is now controlled by people who are serious about fiscal responsibility, it could become the majority party.