GOP IDENTITY CRISIS: After NY23, Conservatives and Republicans at a Crossroads (Guests in DC)
It was almost like a breaking point in an unhappy marriage. First, the buildup. In the months since Barack Obama took office, tea-party grassroots conservatives have been finding each other and growing as a group disenchanted with Washington in general, regardless of political parties. Then, the Republican National Committee (RNC) pulled out what appears to be the straw that broke the elephant’s back.
In New York State’s 23rd Congressional District election, RNC Chairman Michael Steele (pictured)—and, for that matter, other GOP leaders—formally supported Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava.
Makes sense, right? Except, as far as the voters were concerned, Scozzafava wasn’t just a moderate as advertised. She was a downright RINO liberal. And, as a result, she began to eat the dust of third-party candidate, running on the Conservative Party ticket, Doug Hoffman—only to then drop out of the race and endorse the Democrat left to beat out Hoffman.
So, now, as conservatives in the Republican Party look around at each other as if they’re “not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” some like Gun Owners of America (GOA) executive director, Larry Pratt, are calling for Steele to step down.
This past Thursday, the GOA issued a press release that included this statement:
“Mr. Steele defended the selection of Scozzafava, even after she suspended her campaign, telling Fox News’ Gregg Jarrett that there has to be room in the Republican Party for those who do not agree with major tenets of the party’s platform . . . If the misdeeds in New York are what we can expect from Michael Steele in the crucial 2010 elections, then we would strongly urge that a new election be held, so a real pro-Second Amendment conservative . . . can be chosen to lead what is the self-described conservative party.”
Get an interesting perspective on the events in New York’s 23rd, how they might impact the GOP (or the fracture thereof), and how all of this might throw the 2010 elections for a loop—whether good or bad for diehard conservatives. Call Special Guests today for an interview with Larry Pratt, or the GOA Communications Director, Erich Pratt.
ABOUT YOUR EXPERT GUEST, LARRY PRATT:
Larry Pratt has been Executive Director of Gun Owners of America for 30 years. GOA is a national membership organization of 300,000 Americans dedicated to promoting their second amendment freedom to keep and bear arms.
GOA lobbies for the pro-gun position in Washington and is involved in firearm issues in the states. GOA’s work includes providing legal assistance to those involved in lawsuits with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the federal firearms law enforcement agency.
Pratt has appeared on numerous national radio and TV programs such as NBC’s Today Show, CBS’ Good Morning America, CNN’s Crossfire and Larry King Live, Fox’s Hannity & Colmes, MSNBC’s Phil Donahue and Dan Abrams show and many others.
Larry Pratt has debated Congressmen James Traficant, Jr. (D-OH), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and Vice President Al Gore, among others.
Larry’s columns have appeared in newspapers across the country.
Pratt published a book, Armed People Victorious, in 1990 and was editor of a book, Safeguarding Liberty: The Constitution & Militias, 1995.
Pratt’s latest book is “On the Firing Line: Essays in the Defense of Liberty.”
Pratt has held elective office in the state legislature of Virginia, serving in the House of Delegates. Pratt directs a number of other public interest organizations and serves as the Vice-Chairman of the American Institute for Cancer Research.