Republican candidates face 'Ronald Reagan' test
A proposed litmus test of Republicans' conservative credentials has triggered warnings of a "disaster in the making" for the party just as it stands to make major gains from President Barack Obama's falling popularity.
The draft resolution would withhold central party funding for candidates in next year's midterm elections who failed to meet eight out of ten principles that supporters of the idea describe as fundamental to Ronald Reagan's rule.
They include supporting the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, opposing amnesties for illegal immigrants, government interference in health care and hefty bailouts of the kind started by George W Bush and continued by President Barack Obama.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The draft resolution would withhold central party funding for candidates in next year's midterm elections who failed to meet eight out of ten principles that supporters of the idea describe as fundamental to Ronald Reagan's rule.
They include supporting the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman, opposing amnesties for illegal immigrants, government interference in health care and hefty bailouts of the kind started by George W Bush and continued by President Barack Obama.
Critics have said the move – which the committee will formally consider later this year – would result in the further marginalisation of the Republican Party, as moderate candidates who could appeal to independent voters would have more difficulty winning nominations.
Senator John McCain of Arizona, the party's presidential candidate last year, would almost certainly fail the test, along with at least 40 other Republicans in Congress.