They're seriously considering a 'purity' test to decide who gets money and endorsements. Sounds like a requirement the Chinese Communist Party would make.
- - Republican leaders are circulating a resolution listing 10 positions Republican candidates should support to demonstrate that they "espouse conservative principles and public policies" that are in opposition to "Obama's socialist agenda." According to the resolution, any Republican candidate who broke with the party on three or more of these issues in votes cast, public statements made or answering a questionnaire would be penalized by being denied party funds or the party endorsement. The proposed resolution was signed by 10 Republican national committee members and was distributed Monday morning. They are asking for the resolution to be debated when Republicans gather for their winter meeting. The resolution invokes Ronald Reagan, and noted that Reagan had said the Republican Party should be devoted to conservative principles but also be open to diverse views. Reagan believed, the resolution notes, "that someone who agreed with him 8 out of 10 times was his friend, not his opponent." Hence the provision calling for cutting off Republicans who agree with the party on seven of 10 items. The resolution demands that Republicans support "smaller government, smaller national deficits and lower taxes," denial of government funding for abortion, and "victory in Iraq and Afghanistan." It calls on candidates to oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants and repealing of the Defense of Marriage Act... Full article here: http://snipurl.com/tej5r [thecaucus_blogs_nytimes_com]