Should Republicans be trying to sell political 'purity'?
L to R: Newt Gingrich, Mark Foley, Larry Craig, Mark Sanford (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It seems the Republicans can't agree on the party's proposed "purity test" which would bar financial support for candidates who don't meet 8 of 10 tests on social and fiscal issues...
These include:
- Supporting smaller debt and lower taxes, opposing President Obama's so-called "government run" health care plan, opposing amnesty for illegal aliens, opposing government restriction on gun ownership and supporting the Defense of Marriage Act.
Many Republicans - even some who claim they'd pass the purity test - say it's a bad idea because the party should offer a larger tent. With a Democratic White House that's growing more unpopular, and with Republicans hoping to pick up congressional seats next year, they say this purity test could just cause more inter-party fighting.
Plus it seems pretty hypocritical. Here are a few examples of Republican "purity":
- Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich admitted to cheating on his wife around the same time Congress was impeaching Bill Clinton for his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
- Former Congressman Mark Foley resigned after reports he sent sexually explicit instant messages to a male Congressional page.
- Idaho senator Larry Craig was arrested in an airport bathroom where an undercover cop accused him of soliciting sex.
- Or Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina who went MIA for several days over the summer, lied to his staff about his whereabouts - when he was really visiting his mistress in Argentina. His wife and kids left him, but he's still in office - although probably not for much longer.
These guys define Republican purity.
Of course - Democrats do this stuff too, but they're not the ones trying to sell political purity to the public.
Here’s my question to you: Do Republicans suffer a credibility problem trying to sell the idea of "purity"?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Gerry from Toronto writes:
It depends on your definition of purity. For the Republicans, it means you can hike naked on the Appalachian Trail, have affairs with some bimbo in Argentina, have affairs with your married employee, find a job for the husband of the wife you're messing with, or play footsies with the guy in the next stall in the men's bathroom. All of that behavior is fine. But God help you if you think folks deserve to have health care; then you're out of the party.
Bill from Baltimore writes:
Don't forget John Ensign, GOP Senator from Nevada. This guy is a real piece of work: had an affair with one of his staffer's wife, then paid off the staffer with a big check and lined him up for a lobbying job where, (it gets better), as a lobbyist, he gets to lobby Sen. Ensign!
David from San Diego writes:
The Republicans are a small-phone booth type of party. I think they should restrict membership (and voters) to white, male, gun-toting, warmongering, evangi-delusionals. Oh, and Sarah Paleface.
Todd from Taunton, Massachusetts writes:
As water has a relationship with oil, the GOP has the same direct relationship with a social conscience. Purity? Don't you mean hypocrisy? No problem having thousands of brave soldiers give their lives in Iraq for corporate oil futures and spend millions an hour doing so, but how dare we want to take care of all Americans with a universal health care program!
June writes:
Both parties fail the "purity" test big time and neither party should be trying to represent themselves as being free of the same moral failings many of the of us demonstrate. The Republicans should position themselves as the anti-Democrat party who will reverse the tax-and-spend course we are on.
Doyle from Canada writes:
Hell no. That would be like me telling other people to lose weight.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
I don't know, Jack. It could be fun to sit back and watch my former party implode.
I think anyone trying to sell the "purity" idea when it concerns politics isn't living in the real world or thinks we are all idiots. What a bunch of BS. When is the last time you believed anything a politician said? Where is the off button.
Purity Jack? It reminds me of a 1940's fascist movies.
It makes me wonder Jack, if the REAL Nazi's of the 40's didn't flee to
the United States, embed themselves in different parts of the country,
highjack a certain political party(R), highjack American systems and plan a massive take over of the country.
Jack , maybe its time for a good old fashion "search". John "Ivan the
Terrible" Demjanuk may not have acted alone.
Jack,
For sure, may be they can make George W. Bush, Dick Cheney or Sarah Palin the poster child of this moronic attempt to protray their party as holier Americans then the rest of us, leave it to Republicans to try and divide the country with a new wage issue.....
Vinnie Vino,
Central Islip, N.Y.
they,d have a better chance selling amway
The "purity" test is nothing but a "do as the party dictates" policy, which simply means they don't want their candidates to listen to the citizens of this country, and in that case, should NOT get elected!
I don't know how they have time to do their job since most are cheating on their wives, their male boyfriends, and then they ask for forgiveness, pray a lot, check into a rehab center, cry a lot, turn and criticize people for thinking they are worthless jerks.
Jack, ... Republicans suffer a credibility problem about everything, including but not limited too this "purity" idea. What is up with these people?
Jack,
The Republicans have no moral high ground to stand on. There litmus test for purity is a ploy to appease the far right Republibans. "Whats a Republiban?" you ask. A Republiban is like a Taliban, totally intolerant of anyone else views, other than thier own.
Bob
Illinois
Oh hell no Jack! Republicans should be holding to a purist view on everything! A tried and true strategy! Just ask the Whig Party. Oh wait a minute... opps, my bad...
No, Jack. And if I'm wrong then we desperately need to change the definition of political credibility back to developing ideas and doing what is needed to prioritize the interests of the USA and all of our citizens above all else. I don't care whether they're good politicians as long as they get us out of the mess that 40 years of "credible" politicians has created.
The Republicans have no credibility when it comes to political purity. This strategy is doomed from the start and they're idiots if they go there. They would be better off to form a basic platform of smaller government, fiscal responsibility and less taxes. And then allow for a bigger tent when it comes to social and cultural issues. Time to get more upbeat about America, offer good solutions people can wrap their heads around and stop complaining about everything Obama and the Democrats propose. They have the opportunity to offer some real change with a more populous approach. But alas, they'll probably trip over their own egos.
Republicans are on a mission. They want to destroy the United States as we know it. It appears that they want to establish a theocracy and will do anything to promote that vision. They are not and never will be credible but that means nothing to them. They are on a mission.
They most certainly do.
What is even more disturbing are the radical religious right who, while hiding behind the Bible, lie, distort, cheat, attack, incite hate, anger, fear mongering, sacrificing the American people for their party first priority.
Evidently this unChristian behavior is acceptable if one abides with
the so called purity test.
Rush and his Minbaughs are behind this latest effort to destroy the Republican party for their own personal gain. Very little is left of the Republican party that I use to vote for and the few elected moderates still around are shouted down by these purity idiots. They always said the south would rise again, I never realized that it would be idiots like Joe Wilson that would lead it. They don't suffer from a credibility problem, they have no credibility.
I spit on Bill Clinton! He was messing around on his wife in the Oval Office! George W. Bush never did that! Instead, he started two wars to teach the world Amerucan morality! Give Praise before the Judgment Day, Jack: Your soul can still be saved!
"Of course – Democrats do this stuff too, but they're not the ones trying to sell political purity to the public." So I guess Democrats are just naturally scumbags. They are allowed to steal and cheat, maybe even kill whenever they wish with impunity. After all, everyone knows they are sleazy. Good one Jack.
That’s a huge assumption, Jack. The Republican Party still being credible, that is. Just think Palin, along with the clowns you mention, and credibility gets flushed. Add "purity" test to that, and its laughable.
Not if they're sellling pure hypocrisy. The packaging may be designed to fool the less thoughtful or downright stupid, but the substance is pure... pure cant. cy gardner, arlington,va
Yes, please! Please! If the GOP does this it's a guarantee Obama gets reelected in 2012
of course they have a credibility problem! The republicans have been and always will be a joke. I look forward to the eventual downfall of more republican politicians.
They really have a credibility issue, and want to get the support of talk radio and the tea party gang. As the mid-terms approach, they are trying to avoid the infighting that happened in NY. Or maybe they are having an attack of conscience over their spending habits of the last 8 years..Anyway you look at it, it is laughable...
No credibility, one word; Hypocrisy. Someone should welcome the republicans to the human race.
They can try but it's all BS as I'm sure you know Jack. I think whoever said that "their is not a dimes worth of difference between the two parties was absolutely right.
Jack, I'm a Democrat and a solid Obama supporter–but I think this segment is totally misrepresenting the GOP Purity test. It has nothing to do with "purity" in terms of personal ethics, and everything to do with ideological purity in terms of adherence to the Republican party platform. In all honesty, I sort of wish that us Democrats would do the same thing so we could have Democrats in office instead of these wolves in sheep's clothing that call themselves Blue Dogs.
Lying about going to war good, lying about extramarital affairs bad.
Do Republicans suffer a credibility problem trying to sell the idea of "purity"? Was Adolf Hitler a bad man?
The hypocrisy of these Republicans is so thick you can cut a knife with it. Purity? Oh, come on !
The new way to spell hypocrisy is G-O-P.
Is this the same purity test the Nazi's had?? You know, the Aryan race theory...... This idea only the Republicans could come up with. Hypocrites!!
Sure, its no different than religious leaders who do the same thing. Hipocrytical bunch one and all. The conservatives closet is closed tightly and they do all they can to present one face all the while keeping their dirty little secrets locked up tight in that closet.
Thank goodness someone is finally pointing this out. I wish the media would continue to point out that democrats should stand up for themselves when the republicans act so holier than thou.
The problem with the current 'purity test' is that not even Ronald Reagan would have passed it.
Reagan raised taxes, increased the deficit, gave amnesty to illegal aliens, promoted government restictions on gun ownership, cut and ran from Lebannon, sold guns to Iran, was scandalized in an illegal guns for drugs scheme in central America, where he also supported civil wars and death squads. Do we not know where those drugs were sold? Oh, but we do.
That is the problem with purity tests. Everyone is guilty in the end.
Even their savior, Ronald Reagan.
Politics is a sausage factory. You don't want to know what goes on behind the scenes. Let us just pay the USDA and the Health Department to check on the roaches and rats from time to time.
That would be the only credible purity test in congress.
You should add the moral hypocrit Senators Vitter and Ensign who both uphold moral purity on the public while holding themselves to much lower standards.
Of course the Repubs have an insurmountable credibility problem trying to sell this junk.
Republicans suffer from a HUGE credibility problem on this.. but hey, if they want to cut off funding for this, then they should do background checks on all the potential candidates and current members– I would seriously doubt that they would find worthy candidates or incumbets... I hope they do it, because it would be funny to watch the fallout from a Republican Senator, Congressman or candidate admit their illegal and salacious indescretions... talk about your political theater!!!! LOL
Political Purity.......hmmmmmm
This could be the "Poster Child" phrase for the term OXYMORON
Of course they do Jack, and they have for so long. The only problem I even have with this question is that you only listed a few examples of this hypocracy when I can think of at least 25 in the last 5 years. Keep up the good work. We need you there for us.
Republican will definitely nail themselves by doing this but I live it as it will more disunity and favour the democrats. Republicans! wake up and contribute to the success of the nation and not being "A NO NO PARTY"
Jack-
Do Republicants suffer from credibility re. purity?
If I aslfj can stop laughing long enough eqwr-fdvby45'l maybe I can finish typin aewrq-=24 this thing.
Republicans and credibility about purity? Nah. They don't suffer re. their credibility about putity. They freakin suffer about credibility about everything.
Comment from on high here in Somerset County NJ
Teddy Roosevelt would be shocked at the state of the GOP today.
All that is unethical, all that is least virtuous, lays within a one sided totalitarian ideology.
If you dig beneath the surface of the ideologies of either party you will find an array of justifications for simply greed and power. These are the cornerstone and the self enclosure of partisan politics. It is also the greatest enemy of hope and creator of hopelessness, it is indeed the facade of purity.
It is not when we build higher walls with ideology, it is when we knock down these walls and welcome all humans without label, all ideas, all our collective imaginations, will we come together and grow. Only then will there be hope instead of despair, only then can there be purity instead of this false purity.
Hypocrites! Let he that is without sin cast the first stone. The public is not buying the moral majority platform of the GOP.
Political purity is simply an impossibility. No person is immaculate. However, by attempting to sell purity, the Republicans only draw more attention to the inevitable and set them up for the double whammy of looking stupid and being hypocrites. And the Republicans have no more room for any more whammies.
Hint, LOL
Don't seem to hear of any "purity" problems with female Republicans. What should we make of that?
People will buy anything these days won't they?
Alice in the looking glass....right is wrong, up is down, war is peace etc. To even evoke the word 'purity' is KKKish, but they see and hear only what they wish to. Talk about 'projection'. Everything they decry, they do in excess. Everything they wish to be they are the exact opposite.
Palin is the perfect example of the phrase: In the kingdom of the blind, a one eyed man can be king.
The Ronald Reagan Purity Test was originally supposed to determine those that were up to Ronald Regan’s standard of Republicanism. If you go through it point by point Reagan would only have passed 4 of the 10. The Republicans don’t have a tent; they only have a “sleeping bag”. The only way to relate purity to Republican is to relate hypocrisy to purity.
By peddling "purity," Republicans are intellectually joining such influential groups as, say, The Jonas Brothers. Are Republicans offering rings, too?
Dylan
Milwaukee, WI
I'd prefer it be changed to a "self-rightous hypocrisy test". Higher the score, bigger the hypocrite, makes for the best, brightest, and most qualified republican candidate.
Republicans are the LAST group that should have anything to do with purity. They publically advocate purity but their actions certainly don't. Republican and purity are an oxymoron.
Can't you tell? The republican leadership is actively pursuing a course that will drive all sane conservatives into a Rogue Republican Party with Sarah Palin as their candidate for 2012 and future head of the party with perhaps the bloated Limbaugh as her running mate. Question: Can slugs actually run?
We are all subject to temptation and failures. Putting yourself up as an example of purity is a self-defeating action because all it does is call attention to your failings, while others keep them under wraps.
Sure the should try to sell it, as long as they themself don't have to answer the question. The Republicans are the most self rightious bunch of liars God ever created. And, the bad part is they don't even know how to lie good. The get caught cheating, lying and messing with women and kids more than an experienced priest. Sure let them give the Independants and Dems one more reason to help keep Republicans decreasing there chances of winning anything but a local dog catchers race.
You forgot Senator Vitter. Yes, Democrats do the same thing, but I don't recall any of them going around bragging about their family values and how important their Christian faith is to them
Republicans only purpose in selling "purity" is to keep moral majority voters on their side. Like everything else in politics it is lies, lies, and more lies.
Cocoa Beach Florida- Republicans for years have tried to legislate morality and for 8 long years under Dubya this country was regressing- Now people are beginning to see the light and that there is more important things to worry about than who sleeps with whom . As far as Mark Sanford he does have good taste in women-
Political Purity? Are you sure they don't mean Racial Purity as the Nazis proposed. Republicans have gone from the party of Lincoln to the party of Looney Tunes. I'm glad I'm an Independent.
Bill Levy
Jack,
What were the Republicans thinking????
This is as bad as Kathy Lee Gifford gushing about her "perfect" marriage immediately prior to her husband getting caught propositioning a stewardess on video tape.
Purity? Someone in the RNC can't see the forrest through all those damn trees!
Jay
Torrance, CA
Republicans will definitely nail themselves by doing this bu tI love it as it will bring more disunity and favour the democrats. Republicans! wake up and contribute to the success of the nation and stop being " A NO NO PARTY"
The Republican Party is the epitome of hypocrisy. "Do as I say not as I do" should be their new motto. For example, They & their right wing religious supporters preach loudly about the evils of same sex marriage, yet their top leaders are caught in adultery, marital infidellty & lies. They have done more damage to the institution of marriage than gay marriage ever will !
Absolutely. The conduct and the ineptness of the last administration and the inaction and obstructive tactics of the current Republican members only adds to their problem.
I would call them "purely: hypocritical; does that count?
If You cannot destroy your Enemies,
try destroying yourself.
is the Strategy of the ditto Heads
Rolling on floor laughing! You forgot one test question.
Thou shall not shoot pal in face with loaded shotgun.
Republican Campaign slogans in 2012 should be "Do as I say, not as I do". I truly take issue with groups people who feel it's their duty to tell me how to live a life which they themselves played no role in creating. Stop being self-righteous jerks, stay out of our private business, stop telling us who to worship, stop trying to scare us into your wars, fix the economy without regard to your own campaign treasures and maybe no one will care what YOU do in Airport Bathrooms as much. I know I don't!
Jack – Clinton was impeached for perjury, which is a crime – not for cheating on his wife, which is not.
Obviously, and not unexpectedly, you mis-characterized the point of the 'purity test.' It is not to define the social purity of an individual, but to define the policy-purity of any proclaimed republican seeking public office.
To mis-characterize it as clumsily as you did is a further disservice to honest reporting. But you already knew that. Right?
The GOP has a major crediblity problem selling the idea of purity. They have fallen far from their core values since they allowed the far Christian conservatives to take over their party's platform. Afterall, perfection is a hard line to tow for us regular humans, er Democrats. The GOP also has a problem with the fact they are major un-American hypocrites, in that everything they said about the Dems in their questioning of Bush as being un-American and would strengthen the terrorists, they now openly and with glee question President Obama. I guess the GOP likes the terrorists more than they respect Obama. Go figure!
Purity?! Surely you jest, Jack~ These are politicians we are refering to~ The best that we can hope for from either party(ies) is some sense of well being to the United States of AMERICA!! The sense of purity has long taken its toll. Now, WE, the American CITIZEN must sadly gravel for any "squeak" of truth and justice that may display itself upon OUR HILL, from OUR WHITEHOUSE as those servents of OURS are playing politics and handing the USA away on a silver platter!!! I say remove them ALL and do so NOW~ We would be far better off with the average JOE floundering around in the big White House than a bevy of overpaid, self-serving IDIOTS. Their villages are missing them~
How can ANY politician in this country sell ANYthing to ANYbody as
they luxuriate in the PLATINUM HEALTH COVERAGE we pay for while noodling around with whatever cock-a-maimie set up the rest of us will end up with? Next election - REELECT NO ONE ! ! !
sure; like Mike Huckabee that lets dangerous criminals out of prision to murder 4 police officers. He says it is the fault of the Arkansas and Washington State criminal justice system, yet he uses his political power to override the system.
He protrays himself as a Christian; wonder how the families of the dead police officers feel about his purity.
How many shades of black are there? Republicans insisted on attacking Iraq and killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people. Republicans insisted on spending hundreds of billions of dollars in wars that accomplish nothing. Republicans insist that torture is OK. Republicans wanted to force us into another great depression. Now Republicans want to kill tens of thousands of Americans a year for lack of health insurance. Pure black is pure black.
Jim, Craig, CO
Purity, according to the GOP, is based upon political behavior, not personal behavior. One can be purely obnoxious, immoral, corrupt and indecent and be branded “pure” as long as they vehemently dissavow the sitting President of the opposing party. Its purely self-serving and hypocritical. Quite frankly, its purely BS.
You forgot to add Sen. Vitter to the GOP psuedo purity list. Let them run their "purity" program-they'll only be more stupid and laughable.
I think we're looking at the dissolution of the Republican party. At some point, the moderate Republicans will revolt. They're seeing their party stolen from them by the extreme right. The logical end to this infighting will leave the party dominated by the right wing and the moderates will be left out in the cold. The moderates might then decide to form their own third party, which ironically, might actually threaten the Democratic party. As a centrist party, as this third party will likely be, would almost certainly pull centrist democrats as well.
Jack,
Anytime people put themselves on a moral pedastle, they have a problem right out of the gate. In the case of the extreme left and right, however, it has gone way beyond that. People on the extreme left have prided themselves as compassionate, tolerant and intellectual. Obviously, that isn't true all the time. People on the extreme right have prided themselves on being the arbiters of moral virtue, family values and patriotism. That is pure fiction. In reality, none of us is as virtuous as we'd like to believe. A little humility would go a long way to unite us again.
They suffer from a warped view of PURITY.
Freedom from sin or guilt; innocence; chastity: "Teach your children . . . the belief in purity of body, mind and soul."
they are so removed from reality it is bordering on delusion. They are in denial and they are claiming to be the rightous party. Jesus would be ashamed of us today. He would tell us those without sin should cast the first stone and they can not even hold a candle to the religious right.
I wonder which party has LESS credibility. That is a tough call.
Their motto seems to be "Do as I say not as I do."
Dumb strategy but not necessarily a credibility problem. As a non-partisan Independent I'll take unpure and "not credible" Republicans over the radical fascio-socialist Saul Alinskyites any day.
Yes it would be a problem for most people, but the Republican party and the people who support it have never been to keen about looking at a reflection of them selves, look at the eight yrs of the last administration. Besides it hard to look at your self while pointing a finger at everyone else.
Jon
Kittery ME
Its time the RNC changed its name to the HNC, since the only thing they have done properly in the last 8+ years is hypocracy. The 21st century policy for the republicans is; Do as I say, not as I do, which goes real well with the right wing "god fearing" support they receive. Hypocracy is the norm on the right from religion to business. Nothing for the average person, while the military industrial complex grows and infringes on our rights.
The Republicans suffer more than a credibility problem when it comes to selling purity of values: they suffer Self-Delusion and hypocrisy. How many times have we heard the loudest members stumble over their own judgments? (Think Newt Gringrich condemning Clinton during the impeachment, while doing the same thing himself!) I am always suspicious of those who make proclamations against others' actions. They are usually hiding the same impulses in themselves. Let the Republicans get off the moral soapbox and get back to ISSUES.
It's about time we hear the truth rather than sweeping it under the rug as is always the case with Republicans as though they are too good to have their good name soiled with there own bad actions. Thanks you for telling it like it is.
Here is a question from the realm of DUH! While it is easy to bash the GOP on so many things, I think the biggest hypocrisy is in regard to the men in the GOP keeping their pants on. Many reports have been made over the years that when the GOP national convention comes into a city, the prostitutes are very happy and prefer the GOP over the Dems. You already mentioned a bunch of GOP hypocrites, but let's not forget all those that were busted during the DC madam case and all that were so appalled by what Pres. Clinton did. They were whores themselves. God bless Larry Flint and putting the bounty out to find any GOP member for the same infractions as Pres. Clinton.
The majority of them suffer from some form of hanky panky. Let's not be naive here Jack, a lot of these gents get elected and then the Don Jaun persona takes over. What are these women they attract thinking? Most of these guys look like they've been ridden hard and put away wet.
Purity, Ha Ha Ha, They give me a good laugh. Purity in Washington, DC. Right! Tony , NH
Hell NO!
Crikey, as they say Down Under! The Republicans need to do their own housecleaning before pointing fingers at ANYONE else. Couple that with the overboardness (new word) about religion. How the Catholic Church ever granted "membership" to Newt Gingrich is beyond me. Not only did he leave Wife #1 for Wife #2, then Wife #2 for Wife #3, one of the first two was either in the hospital having surgery for breast cancer or having the biopsy that found her breast cancer. Nice guy, eh? Add all that to his hypocrisy for wanting Clinton impeached! Every time they turn around, one of their wonder guys is doing something wrong by anyone's standards and again, being extreme hypocrites in condemning someone else! Let's face it-everyone needs to check out their own issues before getting all over anyone else, especially those pointing those fingers.
Yes, clearly. Honor, generally, needs to be rekindled in our leadership, not only as an example for our youth but ultimately for national progress.
The Republican Party absolutely has a problem with a purity test. They are not in a position to do something of this nature. It is clear that not only are they not able to live up to their own standard, but independent voters, such as myself, are not interested in having ineffective politicians in charge just because those politicians want to control people's personal lives. The Republicans have proven that they are incompetent, and I'm not going to vote for them because of some pretentious new policy.
Tucson, AZ – A a long time Democrat, I am quite pleased that the Republicans are adopting rules that are certain to reduce rather than increase their numbers. Few if any of their twelve points is supported by a majority of the general public, and all you have to do to lose elections is to demand that your canddiates take the minority view on every issue that matters to your constituents. This is besides the fact that most of these policy points are, as a practical matter, bad policy. I look forward to a completely "orthodox" Republican party with less than 40 seats in the US Senate and less than 30% of the seats in the House.
Republicans are fighting a losing battle trying to sell purity. It's all about CYA or being a fall guy,with them. Conservative princples are full of sins,long and deep,that's why they have their K st home,for atonement. Gene
Given that every Republican in congress during the Bush years is responsible for taking us from a surplus to a huge deficit, guess their purity test means they plan on having all their sitting incumbents resign. Take a look at their 'purity' test - Reagan would have failed it, as would have every Republican president.
I dont think im leaving this comment on or about the right commet......left by..........u..................but yes i think most Rep.........preach puity...........but don't practice...........i think most Dem..................are a little more honest with them-selfs.............sorry bout the spelling
Of course they do! Most republican politicians are rich white people whose only true concern is getting reelected and protecting the people that give them money to get reelected. These idiots preach family togetherness and then flip out on the weekends to hit up the clubs and look for some strange. Republicans and right wingers use morality to coral in the American idiots so they can get votes.
Its just sad how many people out there fall for their stupidity.
You misunderstand... The Republicans only sell 'purity' to everyone else than themselves. See, it all makes sense now, doesn't it?
No, they shouldn't, even if the gop gets their stuff together, they have no right to purity or even know what it is or means. steve los angeles
And you didn't even mention the Manhattan Declaration that insists that to get funding they have to believe in the Christian idea of the Trinity! Gee, that would leave out most of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, who were for the most part, deists who came here to escape religious persecution from the Church of England. And to think, we used to mock the early Byzantine Empire for running chariot races where the contestants were supported by the unitarians and the trinitarians!
As a whole, they certainlly lack credibility. However, individually that may not be the case, but there are so few who can carry the burden of purity that it is going to be a high road to a lonely place.
Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. Is our national memory so short that we've forgotten Bill Clinton staining not only the little blue dress, but the oval office itself? Need we go on assembling a list of Democrats with besmirched morals and ethics? My solution? Never vote for an incumbent.
Many politicians from BOTH parties would not be able to pass a purity test!!
The man that the GOP nominated to run for the presidency against President Obama (John McCain) was well known as a ladies' man and was cheating on his first wife, ya know, the one who waited all those years while he was a POW, with his now current wife shortly after he joined the republican ranks. Purity Test? Not this century. Haven't seen a pure one lately.
Barrney running a homosexual brothel out of his house, A president taking advantage of a girl barely out of high school, A congressman raping a 15 year old, a New York governor with a prostitute, a presidential candidate having sex with his aid and having a child.
Give me a break, sounds one sided to me about the question.
Jack, thanks for the hint but it's not needed on this one. The Republicans are a party of pointing the finger, vicious attacks and disruption. Their constituents allow them to blatantly lie to them behind some blind faith in the ghost of Ronald Reagan. The thought of what's going on right now in the corridors of the house and senate send shivers down my spine. Purity is a commodity in short supply on the hill.
Patrick
Jack: The GOP has set things in motion that should bring tear's to a glass eye. The word "no" is not a winning statement. It will take three years to pull this country back to where we can live again. The GOP is not for the working class and never will be!
The four people you have in pictures are some of the lowest of the GOP. There is nothing pure in politics.
the GOP purity is as real as casper the friendly ghost scary but funny
SEDRICK MAURICE
As a Republican that does not meet the purity test (I support same-sex marriage, some gun control, comprehensive health care reform and a woman's right to choose), I am just about ready to go independent. Republicans are supposed to be about a separation of powers, but who is it advocating federal rights to pre-renaissance "Dark Age" Christians, gun owners and energy companies while opposing them for the low and middle class families who can't afford health care, women who aren't ready for a child, and couples who actually want to commit to monogamous relationships?
Teddy Roosevelt? You don't even have to go back that far. Eisenhower, Nixon and even Reagan would be shocked at the state of the party. I don't even think Ronald Reagan would pass this purity test.
In my opinion Republicans are indeed hypocritical in setting up a purity test. Often politicians on both sides of the aisle have skeletons in their closets. To that end they need to avoid trying to dupe people into believing purity is their costume.
Chosing which monster they will porray which is in opposition to the current administration would be a better choice for Republicans. Maybe then they will capture enough candy to satisfy the sweet tooth called election.
Jim
Republicans need to understand people are people, things like this
go on all the time. They are just as guilty as anyone else and just
like to sling mud.
“Purity” and Republicans or any politician for that matter is an oxymoron. But I found a word that really fits all those republicans... “Nugatory” Oxford Modern English dictionary.... 1. futile, trifling, worthless. 2. inoperative; not valid.
How can a party speak of purity when their policies show they care nothing for their fellow man? Maybe they meant to say puritanical?
I'm reluctant to accept any sort of test that references "purity". That implies that your way of life is correct and "sinfree" while someone else's is wrong. It's one thing to relate this to basic universal principles such as treating eveyone fairly, but to state your opinion to be fact (such as who should marry and who shouldn't): that is what's wrong. How dare they.
How about some pure Bible statements and warnings for the Republican purists? "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone", "There is no temptation taken you but such as common to man (everybody else)". "Take heed lest ye fall", and finally, "Pride goeth before the fall". Candidates should worry more about their own personal walk, rather than assuming they can dictate the behavior of a whole political party's set of candidates. Human nature, and Divine revelation would call that something akin to spitting in the wind–unwise, inherently counterproductive, and depending on which way the wind is blowing, probably unhealthy.
I hope this is just sarcastic rhetoric! Maybe this 'purity' stunt could work for these fools. It's about time that they start questioning their OWN credibility....But it sounds like "Big Brother" is watching. What happened to less oversight and smaller government?...And who cares who is having sex with who. It's the 21st century. Get over it.
They are all sleeze bags, and that includes the Democrats too.
Not a darn one of them would know anything about purity if it hit them in the butt.
Moral excellence is not part of their life style
It Okay If You Are Republican!
No Jack, they do not have a credibility problem. They have been selling the American people hypocrisy for years, and with the help from most of the media they've always been able to get away with it. Wasn't George Bush elected twice? Aren't most of his pundits/s cronies still appearing on our TV screens and being treated by the media as though they were the country's answer to everything, even knowing they were wrong about everything. Some of them should actually be in jail. Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney, Karl Rove, Dana Perino, Ari Fleischer,etc. etc. etc. – they're all still out there offering us their dishonest warped opinions, courtesy of that darn liberal media. What better examples could one have!
Jack,
The Republicans suffer a credibility problem every time they open their mouths. They can begin to rebuild their credibility when they support a tax to pay for the wars they started or a transaction tax on derivatives they kept unregulated.
Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal.
I currently live in Westminster, SC, formerly I ran a publicly supported institution. The only time I received any real financial help form our local Republican state senator ,was when he made the mistake of lying to me in wrighting.
When I contacted his staff later with a polite reminder that I had been lied to, the senator responded with a check for $200,000.00. A small part for my institution, the rest the the small instititions my unit served.
This happened in a state far north of S.C, I am now happily retired.
As long as we can keep the people and the govenment tied up in this battle of good republic- good democrat; game of two 'gangs', the real problems that should bind us all together- can be ingored. You know the simple things like; state governments going backrupt, homelessness, hunger, joblessness, human traffiking, all the distainful evils manifesting in our country daily, fathers killing thier families, children being molested. The minor things the people in authority take no responsibilty for. Why? Because thier self- centered minds can only point the finger at the 'other gang'. The stupidity of these behaviorsw leave our county in danger! No one's paying attention are they?
Do Republicans suffer a credibility problem trying to sell the idea of "purity"?....Confucius says the answer lies within the question....in other words....Uhh duh.
Jack:
The Republicans may not suffer a credibility problem if they go ahead with the idea of "purity." Most people who do not follow politics on a regular basis probably do not even know what that "purity test" is if a poll was done on it.
Being that this is probably the case, it is very possible that people will vote Republican basically on a default basis not even knowing or caring about the GOP "purity test" IF President Obama's policies do not work out as expected with jobs, the economy, health care, with the wars we are fighting right now, or anything else that may come up that we do not know about right now!
This is why I think that Democrats, moderates, and Independents who care about the future should try to do what they can to help insure that Palin endorsed Republican primary candidates lose just like how Doug Hoffman did in the NY-23 race. If the Republicans should ever win back power on a default basis and Palin endorsed candidates who passed the "purity test" are in charge, then there will be war, more war, and even more war!
It's called rebranding. Since the American public has seen the effects of Republican control, the party needs to convince everyone that getting control back will mean something completely different. Getting rid of the moderates is an easy fix, because the hard right is energized and running the party.
Mountain Home ID
So Jack the republicans want to sell their purity – this is new?
the current bunch of clowns who appear to be representing the republican party these days couldn't close an umbrella without assistance much less preach purity with a streight face. They are nothing but a bunch of self rightous do as I say not as I do liars.
"Political 'purity'" is an oxymoron. My problem with this is that it would seem to exacerbate not only inter-party fighting, but enhance differences between parties rather than focus on the country as a whole and what is beneficial for the US.
Lucy
SF, CA
Yes, of course they have credibility issues! We all do and as humans we will continue to make mistakes throughout our entire lives. That includes Republican representatives of the United States. In your commentary, you stated that Democrats have also commited adultery and things along those lines, but aren't trying to "sell" purity. Well, atleast the Republicans are trying to change our country for the better instead of wallowing in their sin like the opposite party. We actually aim for a goal and follow through on promises. Have you noticed who is in office right now and where our country is going even though we were promised change? Yes We Can...I think not Mr.Obama.
Magnolia, Texas
Sure! It might work just long enough to get what they want! Like the Democrats did last election with the American people.
Of all the things for the GOP is a "purity test". Can we impeach them all and go to a Demo/Green/Independent system?The GOP has to pass an intelligence test, a test of world history and current 21C global history. They need to actually try very hard to not be obstructionists. How has all that worked for them so far?
Maria
Brunswick,MD
Sure. GOP "purity" sells to all those phony patriots and pseudo- Christians who gobble it up. I've never known a Republican who was not a hypocrite and believe me I've known lots of Republicans, having grown up in a nest of them and married into another cult of them. Their so-called 'purity" is a facade. That is why i am currently a happlily divorced Democrat.
Jack please stop I am dying of laughter. I have more respect for the Baghdad shoe thrower then any republican. If the hypocracy party ( republican), uses the purity test, it will just prove their desperation to try to fool the American people once again. 8 years convinced me to never vote republican again no matter what they say, since they lie and cheat to win. They destroyed the greatest nation on earth, and continue their destructive ways by looking out for big business and not the people they are supposed to represent. Every time I see republicans speak they say exactly the opposite of what should be said. RNC=party of greed and hypocracy.
Gosh, ths is almost the Jack we grew to respect and love over the years. Hope he is back for good, as we miss you.
I thought they were supposed to represent their constituents, not their party. Maybe we should be the ones giving the tests. What a joke.
Hell Jack, these days the politicos whose 'cream gets to rise to the top' are not the ones to talk of purity !! Any person, who was 'pure' and interested in the continuous DECREASE in the DEBT, would not be elected to office because the decreasing number of people that vote would be scared of having their taxes raised and affected programs overseen for cost reduction !!
'Better to leave it [ The DEBT !!] to future generations eh ' – SAD AND PATHETIC !!!
The Republicans have no credibility. They make this country look like a bunch of wild and crazy fools. I can just imagine what people in other countries say when they see our news. Watching our news with the tea baggers, the birthers, and all that Hitler nonsense directed towards our Commander-In-Chief. Frequently they throw in a Rush, or a Palin or a Bakmin in and it’s like looking at insanity. It's getting out of hand. They are ripping this country apart. These are the people who call themselves christians. It's a joke. Pure hypocrisy!!!
political players say one thing and do another thing so why believe them at any time.
It nauseates when I hear the term, "family values". What it God's name does that mean? But it resonates with the fringe element of ultra-conservatives. It was this element that foisted George W. on us and vilify Obama. Unfortunately, they're a force to be reckoned with and may someday form as cohesive third party.
You think our elections have been chaotic now, wait until the Tea Party has a viable candidate!
Let's not forget the ultimate in "pure" hypocrisy – the C Street "church" housing that so many self-described pure, pious Republicans call home in Washington! What an embarrassing joke that party is becoming – it seems bizarre that they can't even see or hear themselves objectively. Even more bizarre that they actually think they have ANY credibility OR purity amongst them. But I agree with Marc – keep it up, GOP! Please, please nominate Sarah for 2012! From what I've heard, when the stories of HER indiscretions come out, the icing will truly be on the Republican cake. It's only fair that the public know the truth about these individuals – after all, WE are paying their salaries. Now THAT is depressing!
Republicans suffer credibility problems no matter what they're trying to sell. They have no coherent philosophy on which to build solid principles, they have no clear goals, other than opposing any and all Democratic initiatives, and no ideas with which to counter the proposals they reject. Their constant befuddlement and contradictory actions are a result of a poltical style built on base instincts. Fear is the foundation on which their entire platform is built, and as fear is frequently irrational, so are the resultant policies.
I do believe the term "purity test" comes from the state run media to be used precisely as you are using it, to hide the ideas behind it. As you can tell a lot of libertards responding to this read your headline, not the story and then the go in to the old name calling like "party of no," which means they were not listened to by the dope smokers. Love to know how the ethics investigations on Rangel (well over a year old) and all of those other democratic congressman are coming along, but between all of the liberal media knocking Palin, you just don't seem to hear anything. What is up with that Pelosi??????
The mandated support for the Defense of Marriage act is particularly amusing. Maybe they should make divorce illegal instead? They also left a few things off that backwards "purity list". To quote The Onion from years back, they need to add: "...Against teaching of evolution, widespread literacy, and refrigeration of food."
If the Republican leaders cannot keep their own pants on how can they preach to others ? Do as I say not as I do, wow, the party of hypocrisy.
Honestly I wish the Republican party would split. Forming a hardcore social conservative Christian party run by people like Palin and Beck that could go off in a corner and collapse under it's own self-righteousness. Then the educated fiscal conservative, small government, libertarian wing could actually put together a party without all the religious overtones. Don't see it happening though.
Jack,
The Republican party is suffering a credibility problem in general. By the way Newt was cheating on his thrid wife I believe. What a prince!!
Jack, You left out one of the worst – Ensign, Nevada. Guess the counciling at "C" St. didn't help much.
Julia
It makes me sick to hear of persons who hold high political positions in our one Nation under God that have grave moral downfalls regardless of any political party. Our polititians should not promote purity. A great politition by the name of Jesus once stated that their is none good except the Father.
Jack, I'm thankful that you bring things into prospective and are balanced in doing so.
I think it's hilarious that these bozos want to push some kind of right-wing loyalty oath in this day and age. Certainly they are welcome to. But, the consequences are likely to be an ever-shrinking party that has no chance to ever succeed nationally. I don't even think Sarah Palin would be THAT stupid.
I feel truly sorry for the Republicans who are smart and who I, as a Democrat, can respect. I hope they can find their way out of the background of their party.
Hmmm, duh. However, poor credibility is often overshadowed by a blind willingness to believe the typical and Republican hypocritical rhetoric. We elected them. They abuse then use their platform with the assumption that we will continue to passively allow it with a blind eye.
The GOP are hypocrites in more ways than one. Anyone with sanity would Never want to return these hypocrites to power!
The Republican party has had its head in the sand for years. And think the majority has followed their example. Sadly may older people have. I hope the younger generation will wake up. And smell the stench. And your right, the democrats are no different but they don't stand on street corners saying "I love Jesus".
Yes, but that’s no reason to stop their rhetoric. It’s a good match to their fiscal credibility, a cacophony of dysfunction. I’m looking forward to a 2011 ticket of Huckabee and Palin to finish them off with incompetence that compliments the malice of their spokes folks, Cheney and Limbaugh.
How dumb do they or you think we commoners are? There is no "purity" in the Republican Party nor the Democratic Party. If there were, we would not be in the mess we are in tne economy or having to resort to using raising taxes as a means of recovery. We would not be spending trillins of dollars on trumped up wars that are based on untruths and the Bush adminstration's greed and incompetence. We would have national health care for all by now. Congressmen and Congresswomen would still be looked upon with respect and trust. If the Republicans honestly believe and foolishly continue their attempt to make us believe they are the "Party of Pure," they are dumber than they think we are and at least as dumb as I know Palin is.
Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI
To me the GOP has always had a bad case of "foot-in-mouth" disease. I dont understand why they always set themselves up. It's always about "we're the moral ones. We're the patriotic ones. We're the real Americans." Truth is, we're all Americans, we're all human and share a lot of the same faults and foibles. A little humanity added to their message would go a long way. The waving flag that amuses me the most is the "fiscally responsible" one. I've been hearing that for 56 years. When do they start? lol
Only stupid people give the RNC a second thought these days. I scare children with posters of republicans, and tell them if they do bad things god will sentence them to become a leading member of the republican party, so we have had no disciplinary problems with the children since. Don't tell their crazy republcan parents about this as they will want to come and burn down the school.
GOP has cooties, just ask our Argentinian "soul mate".
Jack, Looks like you left out one of the worst = Ensign from Nevada. Guess the counciling from "C" Street didn't help much.
You can not suffer a credibility problem trying to sell the idea of purity. You can suffer a credibility problem claiming to live up to the ideal of purity. These are the ideals of the Republican Party and I am not sure but my guess is that they are in the thr platform. The platform is what a party stands for so why not have it as a litmus test . If you do not pass the test you do not get the money. I do not agree with the platform by the way.
Is cheating on your wife a real crime? How about cheating on your taxes? Purity or Morality,no one is pure and some are immoral,but I'd say the Democrats hold the corner for cheating on their Taxes,and that is a real crime.
Absolutely! Not that I care; They lost all credibility with me years ago.
After the past GW Bush years, they do have credibility problems with me. I figure the GOP is hoping that Americans will forget all about their scandals–Americans are known for their short term memories. All I can say is that I won't forget.
How can you tell when a politician is lying? As soon as they say, “Trust me.” The harder Republicans push the "purity" concept the more hypocritical they are. I used to be a card-carrying, Nixon-voting, Republican of the GOP, but left back when the party brass tried to stuff Gerald Ford down my throat. I voted for Anderson that year. I rode the Reagan railroad twice. In 1988 I went for Dukakis because I don’t trust the CIA farther than I can spit (G. H. W. Bush is a former CIA Director). In 1992 I supported Perot. In 1996 I voted for Clinton. In 2000 I voted against George Bush and did so again in 2004. I wanted to vote for McCain in 2000, but couldn’t bring myself to support him with “that woman” in 2008. The way things are going now, I think I'll be looking for another third party candidate in 2012.
Tiger Woods would be a perfect member of the GOP, he shares the same morals. Wants the money but not the responsibility that comes with it. America today is a great example of how the Roman Empire came to an end, except this is happening much quicker. In 10 years thanks to the GOP the USA will be far behind all other industrialized nations.
This is accepted in our society these days. We demand purity from others but ourselves we only pure when it is convenient for us.
Tell the Republications to say one Hail Mary and two Our Father's then call me in the morning
Steve Gaydos
Randolph, NJ
That would be like Fox News selling journalistic integrity.
Jack it is like knowingly selling expired items to customers hoping they won't notice, they must really think we are stupid.
Sure, why not? They have the same purity as a septic tank.
i feel thoose ( DEMS & REPS ) who abuse there power while in office should be fined ( 10,000 ) first offence secound to have them resighnfrom office and not run for office until a secound election..
btw to solve the money needed to get us out of the red zone on the budget...ask the goverment to take a pay cut...even the president himself...do they really need the 250,000 a year when they are worth millions....if i were president i would do it for free.
Jack, why did you picked the ugliest Republicans' pictures for this question? Their behaviors have been very ugly and not good examples of purity test. I find, the Republicans to demonized any person who thinks differently from the purity Republicans. My question to you Jack is. Do Republicans really care about the middle class or the poor?