This article by St Louis, MO
blogger Bill
Hennessy highights the point
that many, including us, have been making
about those in the current Republican Party
leadership who want the Party to go "Democrat
light." Maybe this newly organized group of
Republican conservatives, among them our
Representative, Todd Akin,
can help lead the way to a conservative victory in 2010 and
beyond! - Ed.
-------------
By Bill Hennessy
(St. Louis Tea Party
)
Republican leadership, at all levels, should have learned a quick lesson about the mood of America's conservatives from the Dede Scozzafava debacle in upper New York state. Unfortunately, the GOP House Leadership might need some remedial instruction. And a group of conservative Republican lawmakers met Tuesday to draft that lesson plan.
Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has been one of the more vocal opponents of ObamaCare. Last week on Sean Hannity's television program, Ms. Bachmann announced the "House Call on Congress." She urged Americans to come to Washington, DC, to a press conference on the Capitol steps at Noon on Thursday, November 5. After the presser, Ms. Bachmann will lead the citizens through House office buildings to confront Democrats on their own turf. She hopes to draw thousands to DC to tell the Democrats to their faces, "We don't want a government takeover of our healthcare." Yesterday, Ms. Bachmann announced that conservative talk radio host Mark Levin would join her.
Leaders, though, tend to be cautious. Before the Hill brass swooped in to "help" organizers by providing speaker lists and talking points, a band of conservatives formed a steering committee to keep the message and the tactics authentically conservative. These rebels don't want talking points; they want a battle cry.
Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) hosted the meeting of a dozen Hill conservatives who've had enough. The meeting was to help Michele Bachmann, and other originators of the House Call protest, retain control of the event and the message.
Until now, Mr. Akin and a few others in this Gang of 12 preferred keeping a low profile. Emboldened by the grass roots effect in New York's 23rd Congressional District race, Akin is determined to go on offensive for conservative principles rather than just fending off Democrat advances. Last week, for example, Akin recruited eight House Republicans to endorse Conservative Party candidate, Doug Hoffman, in the NY-23 race, even while the National Republican Congressional Committee was pumping hundreds of thousands of dollars to boost Scozzafava.
Tuesday's meeting included Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Ms. Bachmann, Doctors Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey (Rs-GA), Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX), and others who are willing to take on their own party's heirarchy. According to Mr. Akin, "This steering committee is full of risk takers who've been pushed out of their comfort zone" and are willing to fight for principle. Akin cited an emerging "sense of camaraderie among conservatives" in the House.
The citizens who've manned
the barricades against ObamaCare in town
halls, tea parties, and rallies will welcome
help from the Hill.
Republican victories in Tuesday's elections
combined with the now
palpable influence of the Tea Parties, could
allow Akin, Bachmann, King
and crew to put the Democrats on defense
while keeping the GOP tacking
right. Blue Dog Democrats are already warning
that a good showing by GOP
candidates in yesterday's elections could
limit their support for
liberal initiatives, including Cap and Trade
and healthcare takeover. If
popular dissent, determined House
conservatives, and jittery Blue Dogs
delay a vote on PelosiCare until January,
election year risk aversion
could bury the ideas altogether.
That scenario would be a
disaster for Barack Obama's faltering agenda
and a victory for the republic. It could also
give the GOP a band of
solid conservative leaders it so desperately
needs.
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