RINO-virus

As John McCain goes over the top tonight and as we continue to contemplate the betrayal of the six Republican members of the Minnesota House who went over with the DFL to bring about the absurd transportation tax hike, there's been even more muttering than usual about that not nearly exotic enough species, the RINO (Republican In Name Only). We've had some lively discussion here about the ideological purity of various candidates, including our 50B hopeful Lori Grivna, as well as Norm Coleman, the sitting GOP senator who is facing a tough battle to retain his seat.

A local blogger who is always worth reading is Marty Andrade, who wrote an excellent piece about what to do about the six RINOs who are hoovering our wallets and taking hosannas from the local media. Marty's take on the matter is especially interesting because he was probably the most vocal McCain supporter among MOB bloggers. Marty's point is that moderates are especially unreliable when they are in the minority, because they tend to gravitate toward power. That is clearly what happened in this case. Marty further argues that while moderates can often be tolerated, there are certain lines that a politician cannot cross. Clearly the RINO stampede in this instance has proven disastrous and therefore these folks should not expect support from the party or from conservatives. Based on current developments, it's quite likely that most of the six will not get endorsements from their respective BPOUs. One would have to consider that an act of necessary political hygiene. It's pretty much axiomatic -- if Lori Sturdevant is praising you, you need to check for ticks.

The larger challenge is how to handle these folks in the future. It's important to remember that the conservative movement, the Republican Party and individuals who call themselves Republicans are not analogous, as AAA always reminds us. Conservatives remember well the relish with which William F. Buckley went after liberal Republican and RINO prototype Sen. Lowell Weicker during the 1988 Senate campaign, which led directly to the election of Joe Lieberman in the state of Connecticut. Buckley's National Review actively supported Lieberman, even though it meant the loss of a Senate seat had been in Republican hands. Although Lieberman has generally been a reliable liberal voice, he's considerably more intellectually honest than Weicker ever was and certainly has been a better senator than Weicker. These days he's pretty much a de facto RINO himself, even though he still claims to be a Democrat, and the heartburn he causes our friends on the Left is quite analogous to the pain that McCain and Chuck Hagel cause conservatives. Sometimes an ostensible enemy can be more useful to you than a faithless friend.

We'll be revisiting this issue more than a few times as the campaign progresses. It's not a happy subject; treachery never is. The key for conservatives is to cast a cold, clear eye on what happens. Principle is crucial, but self-interest matters, too. And sitting on our hands because we feel a candidate isn't conservative enough won't lead to better government. In most cases, the other side isn't running someone like Joe Lieberman. More often, it's someone like Al Franken.