Posted on 11/18/2010 7:02:31 PM PST by ejdrapes
By John Stanton Sen. John Cornyn said during a closed-door meeting Tuesday that he expects colleagues to bring their concerns to him about candidates he recruits as National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman — and not to help mount challenges against them, Republicans familiar with the meeting said Thursday. Although not mentioned by name, the Republicans said the Texas lawmaker’s speech was clearly intended for the ears of Sen. Jim DeMint. The South Carolina Republican backed a number of conservative “outsider” candidates this year who won tough primaries against establishment candidates favored by Cornyn, only to be defeated by what had been seen as weak Democratic candidates. DeMint did not respond to Cornyn’s comments, the Republicans said. However, the two lawmakers have had several conversations since Election Day, GOP aides familiar with the situation said. NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh declined to comment, but according to Republicans, Cornyn delivered his warning in a speech to the entire Conference during their leadership elections. In the speech, Cornyn noted that some members of the Conference were unhappy with the conservative credentials of Cornyn’s picks and opted to actively work against them during the 2010 cycle. Rather than attack candidates who have been backed explicitly by the NRSC or by a state’s party, Cornyn said, unhappy Members should come to him with their concerns. Cornyn’s speech and his post-election meetings with DeMint are unlikely to curb the South Carolinian’s efforts to forge a more conservative GOP Conference in the Senate. Although he did not have the kinds of successes this year that would warrant the title of conservative kingmaker, he nevertheless was a key player in the victories of Sens. elect Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Rand Paul (Ky.). His Senate Conservatives Fund political action committee also helped funnel thousands of dollars to conservative candidates, and DeMint has built over the past two years a significant donor list to help fund future campaign efforts. Additionally, there have been long-standing rumors that those close to DeMint actively worked behind the scenes to help Republican Mike Lee in his successful primary bid against Sen. Bob Bennett (Utah), although DeMint has repeatedly denied those claims. Lee went on to win the general election. While DeMint is still expected to actively support conservative candidates in primaries for open seats or seats held by Democrats, he said Thursday that he has agreed not to “plan” to support primary challengers looking to oust any of his colleagues. “I have no plans to oppose incumbent Republicans in primaries, but I do plan to play an active role in primaries where there is a Democrat incumbent or an open seat. It’s important that principled candidates like Marco Rubio and Rand Paul are not overlooked by our party,” DeMint said.Sources: Cornyn Jabs at DeMint’s Interference in Primaries
Roll Call Staff
52 minutes ago
Not sure how I feel about DeMint saying he won't oppose incumbent Republicans. Does that mean we're stucky with the likes of Lindsay Grahamnasty and Orin Hatch? Yuck.
Cornyn can take a hike. DeMint should recruit someone to run against Cornyn. I’m sure the Tea Party will help.
Oh, but Cornyn and the NRSC didn’t interfere in a senate primary. Ohhhh nooooo.
And of course we would all prefer the senators to pick their own colleagues. We wouldn’t want the people to do it. Ohhh nooooo.
Cornyn deserves as much respect as Romney and Rove
and for the same reasons.
He is a backstabbing RINO skunk.
The days of elitist status quo are over, Sen Cornyn. Get the message or get a real job.
I want more conservatives but I also want them to be electable. No more wrestling witches and zombies please.
“Plans” can and do change.
Orrin Hatch needs to go in 2012.
With or without DeMint’s help, Orrin will have conservative challengers.
Screw you, Corny, and the donkey you rode in on.
Here's the deal, John. We the People will recruit our own d%$n candidates, we'll fund them (and defund you) and you can either get back in touch with the Constitution and the people of this country, or you can get out of the way...
Yup.
I was hoping that maybe Cornyn would straighten out.
Evidently not.
Jim DeMint’s candidates were a hell of a lot better than his, and they probably would have won if they hadn’t been dissed and undermined by the likes of Rove and Cornyn.
Choose decent candidates in the first place and there wouldn’t have been a problem.
And if you think that we’ll put up with ALL of the incumbents, you’d better have another think coming. It’s the same situation as it was before the election. If the Republican Party doesn’t see the light, then it is finished, and it will be replaced. We cannot afford any more of the same old, same old.
All of these jackasses will have to go. It will take some time but it will be worth it in the end. The establishment Pubbies act like some sort of aristocracy. Inbreeding among powerbrokers results in candidates like Moo-cowski.
Who decides whose electable? The media? The establishment?
Cornyn is a RINO’s a-hole.
trust me.
Had Cornyn directed the NRSC to support the winners of the primaries they would have more than likely won, or achieved much better than they did, so this is Cornyn pointing the finger of blame away from himself. He’s a RINO, and to me this proves it as Leftists are the ones with that pointy finger.
RINO’s are Leftist Republicans. I think we all know that.
Cornyn would be a great Senator, if he were from Maine. Texas owes us better.
Cornyn again??!! Houston, we got a problem! Out he must go. He’s acting like a foreigner to Texas. Good luck with that Soros international man.
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