Top G.O.P. Donors Seek Greater Say in Senate Races (Rove Targets Tea Party)

The New York Times ^ | Saturday, February 2, 2013 | Jeff Zeleny

[kristinn]

The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts who Republican leaders worry could complicate the party’s efforts to win control of the Senate.

The group, the Conservative Victory Project, is intended to counter other organizations that have helped defeat establishment Republican candidates over the last two election cycles. It is the most robust attempt yet by Republicans to impose a new sense of discipline on the party, particularly in primary races.

“There is a broad concern about having blown a significant number of races because the wrong candidates were selected,” said Steven J. Law, the president of American Crossroads, the “super PAC” creating the new project. “We don’t view ourselves as being in the incumbent protection business, but we want to pick the most conservative candidate who can win.”

The effort would put a new twist on the Republican-vs.-Republican warfare that has consumed the party’s primary races in recent years. In effect, the establishment is taking steps to fight back against Tea Party groups and other conservative organizations that have wielded significant influence in backing candidates who ultimately lost seats to Democrats in the general election.

The first test of the group’s effort to influence primary races could come here in Iowa, where some Republicans are already worrying about who will run for the seat being vacated by Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat. It is the first open Senate seat in Iowa since 1974, and Republicans are fearful of squandering a rare opportunity.

[deport]

Governor Terry Branstad .... Does anyone know his conservative credentials, etc. He’s been elected to the state house 3 times, Lt. Gov and Gov. from 1983 - 1999 and again elected Gov. in 2010. Apparently he’s electable statewide.

Iowa seems to me to be a split state with a Democrat and Republican Senator, 4 US Representatives split 2 each, Obama won in 2012, State Senate 26-24 Democrat, State House 53-47 Republican.

Statewide appeal is going to be a major determinant in who wins he Senate seat, imo.

[CH3CN]

Akins was not the TEA choice. Steeleman was. Sara Palin even campaigned for her.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks kristinn.

The group, the Conservative Victory Project, is intended to counter other organizations that have helped defeat establishment Republican candidates over the last two election cycles.

[cripplecreek]

The simple fact is, they aren’t going to avoid those questions because the media knows the “Moderates” will fall over themselves condemning the answers in an attempt to appear “rational”.

Maybe the “moderates” should stop dancing to the democrat tune.

[hecht]

We all know that but akin grabbed the mantle and the MSM obliged him

[andy58-in-nh]

More agitprop from the New York Times. Take with large grains of salt. American Crossroads is run by the same kind of professional political consultants who distanced themselves from the Tea Party and who thought that Mitt Romney would be a great Presidential candidate.

[dowcaet]

This all proves that the establishment GOP and the Democrats are one in the same. They think alike and are both bought and paid for by big money donors. The Tea Party is the only thing keeping the GOP relevant and intact as a political entity and the bluebloods know it but still they refuse to admit to the truth and are in the process of destroying themselves. I have never liked the idea of a third party and always believed in changing the Republican Party from within, but the establishment is determined to wipe conservatives out so maybe it’s time to say the hell with them and leave thus ensuring the GOP to go out the way of the Whigs and other defunct political parties.

[MestaMachine]

rove is the REASON Akin lost. Yeah, I know what he said, but it could have been overcome if rove and his sychophants hadn’t pulled the rug out from under him.

[cripplecreek]

Sarah Palin has endorsed a lot of losing candidates. The thing is that she’s bright enough to offer her endorsement then stay the hell out of races.

[Defiant]

Karl Rove can have the GOP. It is going to lose, maybe it is supposed to lose. I would like to be part of a group that wants revolutionary change, i.e., a return to Constitutional principles. We can ally with Republicans on occasion, but we need our own structure, or we will be treated like Rove is doing here.

[Paladin2]

"the most robust attempt yet by Republicans to impose a new sense of discipline...."

Sounds like the GOPe is interested in bondage.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah, I know what he said, but it could have been overcome if rove and his sychophants hadn’t pulled the rug out from under him.

Exactly. The media knew exactly how the "moderates" would react and used it to full effect. Interestingly enough, many of Akin's most vocal detractors lost including a guy named Romney and another named Brown.

[Jim Noble]

I have a question for these people: Why do you want to win?

If you get what you want, and if your candidates achieve 51 or 52 seats in the Senate, what will be different?

[RB156]

Just no more idiots like Akin and Mourdock, please.

[soycd]

Correct. The only good news about the latest losses by the two morons fumbling the rape issue, is that they are nowhere near the controls to do even stupider things.

If any future non-rhinos get a chance to take on a rat, they must stay out of the fringes.

[SeminoleCounty]

Sounds like King is the one they are targeting...you are correct

However, one way to counter Karl Rove is to make him a campaign issue. Just run his “Fox News meltdown” and link the RINO candidate to Amer Crossroads.....”Karl Rove supports liberal ideas....and he is funding (candidate).....Democrats love Rove’s candidates because they can beat them (cue photos of McCain, Romney)”

[Nextrush]

The bottom line is that the big money in this country wants their interests protected with our tax dollars and the national debt if necessary (the W 2008 Bailout).

Conservatives like me don’t want big business and big labor unions being bailed out by the taxpayer.

They call this the “Conservative Victory Fund”........

My a**..............

OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE REPUBLICANS WE HAVE ELECTED FAKE BEING CONSERVATIVE, THEY ARE PHONY BALONEY BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL POLITICIANS.

Its time for either real conservative candidates to win GOP primaries or if that fails, third party conservative candidates waiting to run in the general elections.

We need two real conservatives ready to run in every race.

One for the GOP primary, one for the general election as independent, third party etc. if a RINO wins the Republican race.

[Waryone]

And no more drunken idiot in name only candidates like Connie Mack IV here in Florida who had no other qualification to run for senate than his name. We should have long ago gotten rid of Bill Nelson (D), but the republican brand, easily beat RINO just had to be shoved out there for the party’s (and the democrat’s) sake.

But then it seems that is all the RINOs have to offer anyone today. They want to give the win to the democrats. The socialist democrats and the socialist republicans are one. The big problem I see with this organization is that everyone wants the title conservative today, whether they are really socialists and Reagan’s worst enemies or not. If they were honest about themselves, they would not get one dime, hence the subterfuge.

[pallis]

Rove is continuing his meaningless journey in search of personal relevance. He lacks the education, class and character to resign from politics, and do something useful.