Will the GOP impose a “Litmus Test” that those who support it insist isnt, such as Dick Armey? Armey talks about it and the “Democrat party” (a way the Democrats don’t want to be called so some Republicans use it) in the video below. If candidates don’t meet 8 out of the 10 requirements they won’t get party funding (so don’t call this a “litmus test…” get it?) Some consider it a Godsend for the party; others a “suicide pact.” CBS offers this good overview discussion:
UPDATE: The LA Times puts this into context:
In an attempt to reclaim the Grand Old Party for conservatives, a group of Republican National Committee members is circulating a 10-point platform for the 2010 elections. The platform opposes gun control, abortion, gay marriage and President Obama’s healthcare reform, among other issues. The catch: Only candidates who agree with at least eight of the principles would get funding from the Republican Party.
“The goal of the resolution is to take a position … towards reclaiming the Republican Party’s conservative bona fides,” said Committeeman James Bopp, who authored the resolution. “We are open to diverse views. But you have to agree with us most of the time.”
Conservatives like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin clashed with party officials last month by backing a conservative over the party’s nominee in 23rd Congressional District in New York. The effort to further purify the party ideologically could pose new problems for Chairman Michael Steele as he tries to recruit centrist Republicans to run in congressional districts that lean Democratic.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.