CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Nov. 16, 2009 – 5:05 a.m.
GOP Presidential Hopefuls: You’re on Notice
By John Stanton, CQ-Roll Call
Grover Norquist has a blunt message for anyone already angling for the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2012: Focus your energies on anything but next year’s midterm elections at your own risk.
Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform and one of the most influential voices in the modern conservative movement, says he will be keeping a close eye on the activities of potential candidates over the next year and will be sure to tell Republican voters who’s a team player and who’s out for themselves.
“We’re going to put together a list of all the people thinking of running for president and ... give assignments to each of the would-be presidential candidates. For instance, if the former governor of Arkansas [Mike Huckabee] would like to run and be thought of as a serious candidate he better win that Senate seat in Arkansas (held by Democrat Blanche Lincoln ). He can raise the money for it, he can help turn it around. If he’s not willing to do that for the party, why should we spend any time thinking about him?” Norquist said in a Nov. 13 interview.
“If former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani “wants to run [in 2012], then he should either run for governor himself [in 2010] or find somebody,” he added.
Norquist argued that while all the presumptive candidates for the Republican nomination have demonstrated an ability to look out for themselves financially and politically, he and other conservatives will be looking for a candidate who has also demonstrated a commitment to building both the conservative movement and the GOP.
“These guys can do this stuff in their own districts and states,” he said. “What we’re going to be putting out is how many people have they campaigned for ... what have they done for the party? They will all do unending stuff for themselves. That’s never a question. The question is, ‘What will they do to help the broader movement?’ I think any of these guys running for president who focuses on anything other than 2010 should be horse-whipped.
“After 2010 you can have a polite conversation about who should be president in 2012,” he continued. “But until then the only thing you’re doing is sucking oxygen out of the room. And you’re not being helpful. If you’re the governor of Indiana and you want to be presidential, don’t send me a press release about how you didn’t raise taxes. Beat (Sen.) Evan Bayh (D-Ind.). Then I’d say, ‘Hey, there’s a guy to talk to.’ ”
But Norquist also had an equally strong message for conservative activists — warning that they should not look to enforce ideological purity tests on candidates but rather support the most “Reaganite” person who has a legitimate chance of winning the race.
“My view is every Republican should wish for the most Reaganite candidate that can win the general in your state, which is different in Maine than in Texas,” he said. “The most Reaganite candidate who can win in the general — that’s who you want. And that’s going to be a different person in Connecticut than in Nevada. We’re not going to throw away the more electable guy than the less electable guy if the difference is 75 and 70 on some sort of vote rating.”
Norquist pointed to the results of the recent special election in New York’s 23rd District, where Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman forced Republican Dede Scozzafava out of the race after conservatives hammered her record. Despite heavy spending on the race by outside parties, Hoffman ultimately lost the election to Democrat Bill Owens — the first time the district has been represented by a Democrat in more than a century.
While Norquist argued that the particulars of the New York race are unlikely to be repeated in other contests, a similar fight is taking place in Florida’s Republican Senate primary, where conservative former state Speaker Marco Rubio is taking on more moderate Gov. Charlie Crist , the favorite of many party leaders.
“There are two questions on that,” Norquist said. “Can the challenger win the general? If you’re asking me to boot the guy we expect to win the primary that’s too liberal and you give me someone else, can the somebody else win? And two, is the guy you’re asking me to boot a 90 percenter and just not perfect, or does he just not pass the laugh test for being an R?”
Ultimately, Florida Republicans will have to ask themselves, “Can Rubio win the general? Or is he like Hoffman and cannot win the general?” Norquist explained, adding that he thinks the primary fight could be good for the GOP.
“I think there’ll be a healthy debate in Florida,” Norquist said, arguing that these sorts of fights help bring new, energetic blood into the party. “It’s helpful for the Republicans to have these waves of guys to come in.”
Comments
Attention - Calling all Huckabee Fans... 1976 Presidential Elections results * Ronald Reagan came in 2nd place behind Gerald Ford in the Republican Primaries. 1976 to 1980 * Reagan goes on TV, Radio and travels the country using his superior communication skills. * Reagan Fans work hard to build a gigantic tidal wave of support for Ronald Reagan. 1980 * Ronald Reagan wins the Presidential nomination in a landslide victory winning 49 out of 50 States. ... 28 years later: 2008 * Mike Huckabee comes in 2nd place behind John McCain in the Republican Primaries. 2008 to 2012 * Huckabee goes on TV, Radio and travels the country using his superior communication skills. * Huckabee Fans work hard to build a gigantic tidal wave of support for Mike Huckabee. 2012 * Mike Huckabee wins the Presidential nomination in a landslide victory winning 50 out of 50 States. Thousands of Huckabee Fans have already started the gigantic tidal wave of support that now covers 50 States and 425 Counties in America. All Huckabee Fans need to jump on board this epic journey, this trail blazing frontier we are on to help Mike Huckabee capture the Presidency in 2012. Reagan Fans did it for the great Ronald Reagan in the early 80's, now it's the Huckabee Fans turn to rise to the occasion to once again help a great leader capture the Presidency in 2012. Time is on our side now, so let's effectively utilize every second we have by expanding our Huckabee Network out to every county in every state of America. While many great men and women proudly serve this country to protect it, we too can help serve this great country of ours in another way by helping build momentum now for this great leader Mike Huckabee. Check out this gigantic movement. Just google the words: Huckabee Fan Club
And why should we listen to Grover Norquist? The guy was been at the helm at least since 2004 when the Progressive movement became potent enough to win the White House and Congress. Perhaps Norquist is part of that antiquated inside the beltway old-boy network that the GOP needs to purge... Great idea...let's purge the behind the scenes players who have delivered us to this point and replace them with real engaged citizens who actually work the grassroots because they put country first instead of party first...
Couldn't agree with the other commenter more - why should anyone be paying any attention to the Grover Norquists of the party? Here's an excellent answer to Norquist's demands - http://www.examiner.com/x-11206-Detroit-Law-and-Politics-Examiner~y2009m11d19-Does-Grover-Norquist-run-the-Republican-Party?#comments
Mr. Huckabee One of our very dear friend was shot and killed in his home on Nov. 24, 2008. We went to court last week and the police never searched the truck and van around his body and the man whom shot him only recieved 20 to 25 years. One thing that the shooters attorney said was an eye for and eye a tooth for a tooth a life for a life when is this going to end the jails are over populated and my client has suffered enough being away from his family. It is very upsetting that we as citizen are going to put murders back on the street. Also this man had shot with a gun that was stronger than the police. The shooter was kick out of the police accademy. He also was was wanting to kill himself that day but took all his anger out on Jerry Thompson a very dear friend and we are just very shock of what our world has become very unjustice. Jerry Thompson was a man of god he gave to the poor did mission trips and gave to everyone. He is a man of god that is going to always be missed very much. Where is justice in the world people get more time for drugs than they do for taking someone life. Very sad day I keep asking myself why the juror would ever think that that is enough. I will be very scared for my children and family when he is release. Why don't we spend some of the bail out money on the death penality for the men and women that do these horriable crimes. We have to many good people dying due to the justice system not keeping them in jail. Just like the news achor that you talked about on Nov. 22 2009. Please become president and bring back our justice in this very scary world right now. Sheri
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