The Tea Party Rejects Richard Lugar: Too “Liberal” For Their Tastes

[pampango]

http://aomid.com/the-tea-party-rejects-richard-lugar-too-liberal-for-their-tastes/2211376/

Times have changed. Senators Lugar and Hatch face strong primary challenges from Tea Party activists, who see both veteran legislators as relics from another era. Tea Party activists in Indiana have gone so far as to petition Senator Lugar to stand down, to clear the path for one of their own. Tea Party activists in Utah are promising Sen. Hatch the same fate that befell Sen. Robert Bennett, another Washington fixture, whose political career ended in a Tea Party uprising at the Utah GOP Nominating Convention last May.

Tea Party Changed Its Views

They also show how much the Tea Party has changed the definition of who qualifies as a conservative. While Ms. Snowe is widely considered a moderate Republican, Mr. Hatch is not. Mr. Lugar, similarly, defines himself as a conservative. He argues that he has consistently won praise from small-business groups, supported a balanced budget amendment and pushed for a reduction in farm subsidies and the closing of agricultural extension offices as part of an effort to reduce unnecessary spending — all initiatives that fall under the smaller government rubric of the Tea Party.

Too Liberal

The Indiana tea partiers who met last week near Tipton — and it’s impossible to say at this point how much they represent other tea partiers — said that Lugar has become too, ahem, liberal. Lugar’s called too liberal because he did not vote against President Obama’s Supreme Court nominees … because he favored ratification of a renewed Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that was initiated in 1982 by conservative icon Ronald Reagan … and because of Lugar’s recent support for the so-called Dream Act, an immigration reform law that in December passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate by five votes. The tea partiers probably also have a dirty laundry list of other pet peeves.

[tishaLA]

1. It's incredible. The TP only admires absolute intransigence.

Anything less draws their ire. And the worse part is that I can totally see IN electing a TP to the senate.

[bushisanidiot]

2. The fringe right has taken over the tea party and the tea party has

taken over the republican party. Therefore, the fringe right is now in charge of the republican party.

and rove is peeing his pants.

[qazplm]

3. I respect Lugar

always have. Seems like a decent guy. I wouldn't ever vote for him for anything and the idea he is too liberal is insane. It is true, the TP thinks their extreme politics are the center...it's delusional.

[JoePhilly]

4. The TeaParty is a Frankenstein's monster ... it was created by the GOP ...

and it's now trying to destroy its master ... HILARIOUS!!!

:rofl:

[Chipper Chat]

5. The Teapartier that beat Baron Hill (Todd Somethingorother)

is thought to be Indiana's Marco Rubio. He will likely primary Lugar - and win. He could ride into Washington on Palin's broomstick. (Evan Bayh's exit left a BIG gaping hole in Indiana's democratic party).

[LeftishBrit]

6. I was vaguely aware that Lugar was thought to be to the left of Helms

Because when Lugar became Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, there were comments that at least he wasn't as bad as his predecessor Helms.

Of course being to the left of Helms does not exactly = being left-wing!

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. I doubt they will get Dick Lugar's seat

In fact, they have no declared candidate to run against Lugar yet.

[social_critic]

8. Excellent

The more radical they become, the better. The day they start wearing brown shirts and saluting with their right fist I'll throw a party. Then I'll throw a bigger party after they lose the 2012 elections. :-)