GOP Heading to Purity Test Battle
A FrumForum poll of voting members on the Republican National Committee reveals an organization deeply divided on the issue of a GOP litmus test.
Of 43 respondents, 42% supported the concept of a national litmus test of some kind for Republican candidates. Meanwhile, 37% of the members polled by FrumForum opposed such a concept.
Two weeks ago, a National Committeeman named Jim Bopp introduced a resolution to limit RNC funding and endorsements to Republican candidates who first passed an ideological ‘purity test’.
FrumForum reported last week that the resolution had gained the support of co-sponsors from ten states, allowing the resolution to bypass the resolutions committee and head straight to the floor at the RNC’s annual meeting in January.
While respondents were not polled directly on the question of whether they supported Jim Bopp’s resolution, the results of this survey illustrate the lack of consensus on the concept of a litmus test.
Several members pointed to Dede Scozzafava, a Republican candidate in New York’s recent special elections, as symbolizing what compelled them to support the concept of a litmus test for GOP candidates. “A lot of this was precipitated by Dede [Scozzafava] in New York 23... We have to begin to reign in those people,” said Steve Scheffler, a National Committeeman from Iowa.
On the other hand, those who oppose the concept of a litmus test say that it would limit the choices of state Republicans. “It’s unworkable... these decisions have got to be left to locals. You can’t dictate from on high [what an acceptable candidate is].” said Ron Kaufman, a former White House political director and current National Committeeman for Massachusetts, adding: “Politics does not lend itself well to word tests.”
Higher-ups in the GOP establishment have been quite clear about its position on the resolution. Of the five state chairpersons interviewed by FrumForum, all five of them opposed the concept of a litmus test.
Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, has also come out firmly against the idea, saying in the Baltimore Sun: "Litmus tests as a rule are not good... I don't think that that is an appropriate approach for us to take down the road."
Thus, the resolution has been driven largely by national committeemen and national committeewomen – a group made up mostly of grassroots Republican activists. Ironically, then, it would seem that a resolution that would impose a top-down list of principles on all Republican candidates is being driven by a bottom-up effort in the Republican party.
The results of this FrumForum poll should give hope to Bopp’s backers, if the resolution can be tweaked in a way that clarifies the language and maximizes support among those who are sympathetic with the idea of a litmus test. On the other hand, this poll spells trouble for Chairman Steele, who would just prefer to see this divisive issue disappear.
If this survey is any indication, the vote on a litmus test resolution will come down to the wire when it’s finally discussed in January. If a resolution of this sort is still on the table by then, look to see one of the most interesting RNC general meetings in years.
Note on the map: The graphic above is based only on responses that FrumForum has received. That a state is marked green does not imply that all of its voting members are in favor of the litmus test concept.
Note on the survey: Since the FrumForum’s sample was not randomly chosen, the poll cannot be said to be scientific. The results of the poll are instead meant to be a snapshot of RNC members’ opinions.
