Cheney Backtracks on Powell Remarks

Former VP Dick Cheney is scaling back his remarks on General Colin Powell, stating that he misunderstood Powell’s Party affiliation. This comes after a bitter week of back and forth between Cheney, Powell, and extremist talk radio host Rush Limbaugh on whether or not moderate Republicans like Powell belong in the GOP. Cheney’s previous comments made it sound as if the former VP was advocating purging General Powell from the Party. Powell fired back, saying that he is indeed a Republican and that there is a large group of Republicans like him- real Republicans who are interested in fiscal conservatism and solutions, NOT social extremism- waiting to take over the Party. RRM was following this story closely, and we are pleased to see the former Vice President now making common sense statements of inclusion, such as the following:
"We're in the mode where we welcome everybody to the party.”

However, while making these comments on MSNB Cheney did warn not to back away from traditional “Republican” principles. RRM knows that the true, founding tenets of the GOP are fiscal conservatism, limited government, personal freedoms, and a strong national security. We hope that this is something the Vice President would agree with us.

Daily News Round-Up for May 29, 2009

NPR (USA)
Senator John Cornyn (TX), head of the NRSC, says that while he will question nominee Sonia Sotomayor during the Supreme Court confirmation process, other GOPers calling her "racist" for a comment she once made is "troubling".

Business Week (USA)
Arizona Sen. John McCain wants Meg Whitman to be California's next governor.

Washington Post (Washington, DC)
Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader went public Thursday with an allegation that Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe offered his campaign money to stay off the ballot in key states during the 2004 elections -- a disclosure timed to raise questions about McAuliffe's fitness for public office.

Daily Record (Morris County, NJ)
Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie raised nearly twice as much as his main Republican rival and has more than seven times cash on hand heading into the weekend before the primary.

Daily News Round Up for May 28, 2009

Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)
Democratic Senator Chris Dodd (CT) continues to trail his Republican challenger and suffer from unfavorable job approval ratings.

Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, PA)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.) has begun telling close supporters that he intends to run against newly Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter in the 2010 primary, setting the stage for a battle that party leaders hoped to avoid.
Politico (Washington, DC)
Continuing on the Sestak news, new polling shows that Senator Specter is still having problems convincing Pennsylvanians to re-elect him after his Party switch.
CQ Politics (Washington, DC)
The Alaska Democrat who almost toppled Rep. Don Young last year is gearing up for another statewide race -- against Gov. Sarah Palin, if she chooses to run for re-election.

Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
Tainted from the day he was appointed, Senator Roland Burris again finds himself denying any role in a pay-to-play scheme as newly revealed wiretaps show him begging for his Senate seat and offering to donate to the campaign of Illinois's ousted governor, Rod Blagojevich.

Daily News Round-Up for May 27, 2009

New York Daily News (New York, NY)

Rep. Anthony Weiner told supporters he is dropping his mayoral campaign and plans to make a formal announcement Wednesday morning.

Politico (Washington, DC)

Extremist groups know they want to oppose Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor - but exactly how that campaign will be conducted is a major unanswered question that is splitting the Republican right.

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)

A month before his appointment to the U.S. Senate, Roland Burris agonized with the brother of then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich about how to raise campaign cash for the governor without creating the perception he was buying his way into Congress, according to a federal wiretap unveiled Tuesday.

Google News (USA)

A conservative group that's been running ominous ads warning that President Barack Obama will institute government-run health care is expanding its campaign this week ahead of congressional action.

Daily News Round-Up for May 26, 2009

Politico (Washington, DC)
President Barack Obama will select New York federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court justice, naming the first Hispanic justice to the high court and adding a second woman to the panel.

New York Times (New York, NY)
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, has emerged as a tempting target for Republicans as he prepares for re-election next year: unpopular at home, identified with partisan battles in Washington and shadowed by the memory of the election defeat suffered by the last Democrat who held his job, Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

Washington Post (Washington, DC)
The Republican Party needs to broaden its base rather than move farther to the political right to make gains against President Barack Obama's Democrats, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Sunday.

RMC Newsday Op-Ed

On Sunday Newsday ran an Op-Ed by Republican Majority for Choice Co-Chair Candace Straight regarding Obama's commencement speech to the University of Notre Dame and the importance of common ground. You may read the piece in its entirety by following the link below:

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-opstr2412799907may23,0,6643399.story.

Daily News Round-Up for May 22,2009

Politico (Washington, DC)
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Thursday that he'd be "proud to appear with the vice president anywhere, anytime." But in the next breath, Cornyn said it would be up to individual GOP candidates to decide whether they want Cheney campaigning for them in 2010.

Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA)
With deficit forecasts growing darker by the day, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering a plan to slash California's safety net for the poor by eliminating the state's main welfare program, health insurance for low-income families and cash grants to college students.

Star Ledger (Trenton, NJ)
The ad wars in the New Jersey governor's race escalated yesterday, as national Democrats launched a television campaign targeting Republican frontrunner Chris Christie just a few weeks be fore the June 2 GOP primary.

Daily News Round-Up for May 21,2009

Boston Globe ( Boston , MA )
Former Secretary of State and Join Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.) commented on some criticisms of his party allegiance from other GOP stars last night before approximately 1,500 business leaders in Boston .

The Plum Line ( Washington , DC )
Dick Cheney's big national security speech at the American Enterprise Institute tomorrow is going to get wall-to-wall cable coverage - giving a major assist to those who hope that his speech will be seen as "dueling" with the one that Obama is planning to give on the same topic tomorrow.

Baltimore Sun ( Baltimore , MD )
The Republican National Committee approved a watered-down resolution Wednesday evening that called on President Barack Obama and the Democrats to stop "pushing our country towards socialism and government control."

Politico (Washington, D)
The House GOP is introducing a resolution calling for a bipartisan investigation into Pelosi's charges that the CIA misled her during a Sept. 2002 briefing on enhanced interrogation methods.

Meghan McCain on the Colbert Report

Meghan McCain was featured on the Colbert Report last night, where the young blogger and outspoken Republican talked to Colbert about being a moderate Republican. McCain, who has stated she is “pro-sex and pro-life”, seems to understand that being personally pro-life doesn’t mean forcing her views on others, and has recently advocated comprehensive sex education in her blog at the Daily Beast. Meghan told Colbert that she worried about the path the GOP seemed to be going down, saying that the Party was being taken over by those who “want to make it more extreme”.

Ms McCain seems to “get” what many Republican leaders seem to be ignoring, that for young people to be attracted to the GOP, we must remember that we are the Party of limited government intrusion- and that should extend to people’s personal lives. As a young Republican and someone who watched her father’s campaign for President fall, one would think Meghan would be welcomed with open arms. However, the far-right continues to take shots at Meghan rather than understand her thinking is more in line with the vast majority of younger voters than the current GOP Platform is.

Combining Meghan’s remarks with yesterday’s Gallup polling and it’s clear that common sense conservatives like us are the is the key to the GOP turning around and winning again.

Watch Meghan’s interview with Stephen below:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Meghan McCain
colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Gay Marriage

Daily News Round-Up for May 19,2009

Gallup (USA)The decline in Republican Party affiliation among Americans in recent years is well documented, but a Gallup analysis now shows that this movement away from the GOP has occurred among nearly every major demographic subgroup.
Politico (Washington, DC)The GOP needs to turn a corner, writes Michael Steele, RNC Chairman. To accomplish this goal Republicans are turning a corner in three important ways.
CNN Political Ticker (USA)Meghan McCain again took aim at some leaders of her party Monday night, declaring the GOP is currently being hijacked by those trying "to make it more extreme."
Huffington Post (USA)Another leading Republican strategist has voiced concerns about the direction of the GOP. John Weaver, a top adviser to Utah Governor John Huntsman, said this week that the Republican Party is headed for an electoral "blowout" if it continues to be defined by "Palin and Limbaugh and Cheney."
Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA)The battle over six state budget propositions on today's ballot sputtered to a close Monday with a burst of low-profile campaigning that belied the gravity of California's fiscal crisis.
Washington Times (Washington, DC)When Michael S. Steele took over as chairman of the Republican National Committee earlier this year, he brought along longtime personal assistant Belinda Cook and gave her a salary nearly three times what her predecessor made.

Gallup polling shows GOP losses trend is nearly universal

Gallup has released new polling today showing that the Republican Party’s in-party losses have come from almost ever major demographic since 2001. The only demographic not to show losses were strict churchgoers. However, the Republicans lost in lower, middle, and upper class income categories; we lost women and men; we lost college educated and those who didn’t go to college. We lost in the South, the North, the Midwest, the West Coast. So, as the GOP moved farther and farther to the right, allowing more extremists to take over the Party and influence our Platform and our elections, we lost voters and Republicans pretty much across the board- except for those who are more likely to belong to this extremist group.

Here at RRM, we don’t think it’s worth the trade. Click here to read over the polling and tell us what you think

Daily News Round-Up for May 18, 2009

Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT)

President Obama chose UT Governor and Republican rising star Jon Huntsman Jr. as the new US Ambassador to China.

Pioneer Press (Minneapolis, MN)

In the last argument to the court before his attorneys appear before the justices June 1, MN Senator Norm Coleman (R) said elections officials used "different shortcuts" to evaluate absentee ballots, leading to unconstitutional treatment of voters.

Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)

While many in the state and national Democratic Party have lined up behind U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, he is nevertheless about to get his first official Democratic challenger.

Politico (Washington, DC)

The President has a lofty goal: try to get at least some moderate Republicans to back big-ticket items such as Obama's health care plan, but avoid the public spectacle of being rejected a second time around.

Republican Majority for Choice Issues Statement on New Gallup Polling

WASHINGTON, DC (May 15, 2009) - The Republican Majority for Choice Executive Director, Kellie Ferguson, and co-Chairs Candy Straight and Susan Bevan, issued the following statement on the newly released Gallup Poll regarding reproductive choice:

"The polling released today by Gallup confirms what common sense Republicans have been saying for decades -- Americans believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Naming the report "More Americans "Pro-Life" Than "Pro-Choice" for First Time" leaves out vital points and further confuses the debate. Simply using the labels pro-choice and pro-life is somewhat misleading and does not accurately portray voters' beliefs on government policy that affects reproductive choice.

Polling consistently shows that being personally pro-life and wanting so-called "pro-life government policies" are two very different things. National polling conducted last year confirmed that 66% of self-identified pro-life Republicans felt that while they personally would never choose to have an abortion, they believe the decision should be left to the woman - not the government.

What this poll confirms is that regardless of the labels, 77% of the country believes that abortion should remain legal. Yes, voters support restrictions to varying degrees; but they also, by vast majorities, support keeping abortion safe, legal and rare. The fact that this poll confirmed that only 23% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal supports the argument that the GOP Platform calling for a Constitutional amendment banning all abortion, even in the case of rape and incest, is not only off the mark but far out of the mainstream.

No matter what label voters choose, we cannot lose sight of the fact that there are active steps both sides can take today to lessen the incidence of abortion. Common sense policies such as comprehensive sex education and ensuring access to affordable birth control are initiatives both Parties should embrace as ways to achieve this goal."

Daily News Round-Up for May 15, 2008

Wall Street Journal (USA)

Given House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's acknowledged skill at torturing the Bush Administration in recent years, it no doubt afforded her critics some pleasure yesterday to watch her twist in the wind in front of the press over what she knew and when about the CIA's terrorist interrogations.

Washington Post (Washington, DC)

The Republican National Committee raised almost $5.8 million in April and ended the month with $24.4 million on hand, a rare bright spot for a committee whose chairman -- Michael Steele -- has struggled badly in his first few months on the job.

Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia, PA)

Democrat Joe Torsella is dropping out of the 2010 Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race, a casualty of five-term Sen. Arlen Specter's decision last month to become a Democrat.

Extremists call for NRSC boycott

Yesterday, RRM blogged about Daily Kos’s cheeky message to the Club for Growth and pointed out that organizations that target moderate Republicans, with the hope of “purifying” the Party, help Democrats more than they help the GOP.

Today, it appears that RedState is answering Daily Kos’s plea for help. RedState, a conservative blog that touches on a number of issues, including some that RRM agrees on and others we don’t, has asked its readers and members to boycott donating to the National Republican Senatorial Committee until Sen. John Cornyn (TX) steps down. Their reasoning is that the NRSC is supporting primary candidates, such as Florida Governor Charlie Crist, and had supported Senator Arlen Specter when he was still a member of the GOP over former Rep. Pat Toomey.

The NRSC has had a long policy of supporting incumbents over challengers, which Cornyn reiterated while being asked about Toomey's challenge before the Specter switch. However, RedState seems to be far more upset that Crist is being supported by the NRSC over Marco Rubio, the former FL House Speaker who is much more extremist in his views. RedState is charging that Crist is “abandoning his Governor’s seat to Democrats”- to challenging Rubio, who is a “rising Republican star” (Crist being an established, popular Republican star).

As common sense Republicans, and Republicans who want to win, I bring you the following quote as to why RedState’s agenda seems rather un-Republican.

“Moderate Republicans can complain all they want about the Pat Toomey primary challenge to Arlen Specter, but make no mistake: in this race, it’s the moderate picking a fight to muscle out a conservative in a state where there is no serious question that conservatives have won and can continue to win races statewide.” (RedState's Dan McLaughlin)

Remember, Arlen Specter was a Republican incumbent with a history of winning in PA. The Florida Senate Seat is an open seat due to the retirement of republican Mel Martinez, and the GOP should be looking for the strongest candidate who can appeal to the largest spectrum of voters, not one based on an ideological litmus test. Has RedState forgot that Barack Obama carried this state by over 51%- indicating that this state can swing either way, and that a candidate who is too extreme may not win?

Extremists in the GOP are making it clear to moderates that they will continue to strangle the Party regardless of its negative impact on our future successes. They don’t want a Big Tent Republican Party, or even a winning or majority Republican Party. We can’t help but read RedState and wonder, who are they really working for- Republicans or the DSCC?

Daily News Round Up for May 14, 2009

Real Clear Politics ( USA )

Leaders of the GOP's 2010 election efforts are showing they don't think ideological purity is the answer, and are embracing more moderate candidates.

Politico ( Washington , DC )

Republicans know they can't stop Henry Waxman's ambitious climate change

bill from clearing the Energy and Commerce Committee, but they're promising to make the ride as bumpy as possible.

USA Today ( USA )

President Obama is considering a list of more than six contenders for the Supreme Court that is dominated by women and Hispanics, one that includes judges and leaders from own his administration who have never donned a judicial robe.

Savannah Now ( Savannah , GA )

Four of the six Republicans who want to be governor apparently favor disbanding the federal government if it imposes new firearms restrictions.

Why the Club for Growth Hurts the GOP

If there ever was a time or moment for common sense conservative Republicans like us, Republicans who want to win and want our real Republican Party to survive, to speak up and reveal the truth about the Club for Growth - it’s now.

Why? Because DailyKos, the infamous liberal netroots blog, has posted a cheeky note to CfG on Gov. Charlie Crist’s Senate run (which currently gives Dems little chance of winning this seat). This post shows that if there’s one thing the Dems love, it’s having the far-right do their work for them- and that the Club for Growth is one of their favorite tools.

RRM has to ask, so, who are better Republicans? Republicans who don't adhere to an extreme GOP Platform, one that most Americans don’t agree with, but work hard for their Party and fight off Democrats from gaining more seats; or the Republicans who work hard for their own personal gain and help Democrats win.

To us, the answer is clear.

Daily News Round Up for May 13, 2009

San Francisco Chronicle ( San Francisco , CA )

Rather than debating what the national GOP position should be on foreign policy, health care, education or social issues - which the party will decide when it chooses a nominee in 2012 - the GOP should focus now, and unite now, on what it will stand against- and the answer is not social issues.

Politico ( Washington , DC )

A member of the Republican National Committee told me Tuesday that when the RNC meets in an extraordinary special session next week, it will approve a resolution rebranding Democrats as the "Democrat Socialist Party."

The Hill ( Washington , DC )

The No. 2 Democrat in the House on Tuesday said Americans should be provided answers on what Speaker Nancy Pelosi knew about interrogations of suspected terrorists and when she knew about it.

Salt Lake Tribune ( Salt Lake City , UT )

UT Attorney General Mark Shurtleff suffered a Twitter spasm, shooting out a series of messages while on a trade mission to Israel, apparently announcing to more than 1,600 followers that he was also going against Bennett- except, he didn't really mean to send this out.

RMC Op-Ed is running on the Huffington Post!

A powerful RMC Op-Ed is running in the Huffington Post today. This article addresses the need for the Party to get back on track with an agenda focused on our core tenets of limited government intrusion. In this piece, RMC’s co-chairs explain that the tactics of exclusion are strangling the GOP, and that the common sense social moderate base is vital to the survival of the Party.

Moderate Republicans have to keep this message front and center. We strongly encourage our readers to comment on this story, which will help keep the story on a featured page and talked about, while allowing others outside RMC and RRM to see that the common sense majority of the Party is standing strong.

Please, click here, read the story and leave a comment to help spread the moderate message. Bloggers, Facebookers, and members who want to help spread our message in other ways, feel free to post the link to the story, or forward this email onto your friends and family.

Daily News Round-Up for May 12, 2009

Miami Herald ( Miami , FL )

In a news release from the Republican Party of Florida e-mailed at 9:12 a.m., Gov. Charlie Crist confirmed the worst-kept secret in Florida politics: He'll run for the seat to be vacated by the retiring U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.

Los Angeles Times ( Los Angeles , CA )

More than 1 million immigrants became U.S. citizens last year, the largest surge in history, hastening the ethnic transformation of California 's political landscape with more Latinos and Asians now eligible to vote.

The Hill ( Washington , DC )

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's (R) camp is not happy with Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele's suggestion that base Republicans had a problem with the 2008 presidential candidate's Mormonism.

New York Times ( New York , NY )
Forty-five House Democrats in the party's moderate-to-conservative wing have protested the secretive process by which party leaders in their chamber are developing legislation to remake the health care system.

Orange County Register ( Orange County , CA )

GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman continues to pull out the stops early in her campaign. She's bringing out Sen. John McCain for a town hall at 10 a.m., May 29, in Tustin .

Daily News Round-Up for May 11, 2009

Politics Daily ( USA )

CNN reports that FL.Gov Charlie Crist is close to announcing a run for Senate, perhaps early next week.

Louisville Courier-Journal ( Louisville , KY )

If Republicans embrace the message from extremists - further reduce a shrinking party in the name of ideological purity - they may face a long stay in the political wilderness.

PA 2010 ( Harrisburg , PA )

Former Lt. Gov. Bill Scranton's name has been bandied about a lot in recent days as Republicans have cast about for a new Senate candidate. But in an interview Scranton made it clear he's not interested.

Baltimore Sun ( Baltimore , MD )

As the RNC prepares to hold a rare, special meeting later this month in the same Maryland county where he began his political rise, Michael Steele's standing as a national leader may be on the line that could stop him from sliding into irrelevance and becoming little more than an object of ridicule for his enemies.

Political Hotsheet ( USA )

"Well, if I had to choose in terms of being a Republican, I'd go with Rush Limbaugh, I think," Former VP Dick Cheney said when asked who he sided with, Limbaugh or Colin Powell- who served in the Bush Administration with Cheney.

Daily News Round-Up for May 8, 2009

Washington Post's The Plum Line Blog ( Washington , DC )

In a move that will surprise gay activists and liberals, a spokesperson for Focus on the Family, a top religious right group, tells me that his organization has no problem with GOP Senator Jeff Session's claim today that he's open to a Supreme Court nominee with "gay tendencies."

Gallup Polling ( USA )

Among women, Democrats maintain a solid double-digit advantage in party identification over Republicans, 41% to 27%.

Politico ( Washington , DC )

The party's road to winning back a Senate majority, it seems, is paved with moderates whose records are sure to make conservatives blanch.

Pioneer Press's Political Animal Blog ( St. Paul , MN )

Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty today further laid out his thinking on whether he would sign a U.S. Senate election certificate after the Minnesota Supreme Court makes its final ruling in the Franken-Coleman case.

Washington Post ( Washington , DC )

The modest proposal to slice $17 billion from 121 government programs quickly ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Capitol Hill yesterday, as an array of Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight White House efforts to deprive their favorite initiatives of federal funds.

The Hill ( Washington , DC )

Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) said he would like to keep his job in the Senate, but will make a formal decision whether to seek reelection in the next few weeks based on his ability to raise money for a campaign.

Moderates are needed to win

Former Vice President Dick Cheney took to the airwaves yesterday and spoke to talk show host Scott Hennen. Some people are seizing on Cheney’s statement that he does not believe the Party should moderate. However, Cheney was speaking about fiscal conservatism as the core tenet of the GOP and how this must be what Republicans rally around- and how the GOP cannot become the Party of big spending. Cheney also spoke about finding real Republicans who can win across America. RRM knows that this includes moderates who can win in centrist districts, and moderates who support common sense social initiatives- which includes them being pro-choice and pro-environment. We hope that what is really meant by the former VP is that these values are the one the Party must embrace, and that the real Republican tenets are what will win us elections. RRM will be working to ensure that this message continues to be heard loud and clear, and hopes that the moderate base of the GOP continues to keep speaking out: on the blogosphere, in the news, and by contacting the GOP yourselves and telling them that real Republican candidates need to be supported- and divisive and distracting litmus tests must not be used any longer to decide who merits the Republican name.

Read Cheney’s interview here.

News Round-Up for May 7, 2009

New York Times ( New York , NY )

President Obama on Thursday will unveil additional budget cuts for the coming fiscal year.

CNN ( USA )

Rush Limbaugh is continuing his ill-advised crusade to purge moderates from the GOP, and is now targeting the distinguished General Colin Powell.

Washington Post ( Washington , DC )

Do primaries allow the best candidate with the most compelling message to rise to the top? Or are they typically bloody and expensive contests that distract from the general elections where there are real differences between the candidates?

Daily News Round-Up for May 6, 2009

Real Clear Politics ( USA )

Quinnipiac released a poll yesterday showing Tom Ridge running just a few points behind Arlen Specter in a hypothetical match-up. Importantly, the results also showed Specter below 50%. Today, Chris Cillizza reports that Ridge is interested in running.

Washington Times ( Washington , DC )

Capitulating to critics on the Republican National Committee, embattled Republican Party Chairman Michael S. Steele has signed a secret pact agreeing to controls and restraints on how he spends hundreds of millions of dollars in party funds and contracts.

PA 2010 ( Harrisburg , PA )

A small number of Pennsylvania conservatives are quietly floating an unexpected alternative to Pat Toomey for the GOP Senate primary next year: longtime Republican operative Joe Watkins.

Washington Post ( Washington , DC )

Less than 24 hours after Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman's national profile received a nice -- and unexpected -- boost from the man who managed President Obama's 2008 campaign, comes words that John Weaver is providing strategic guidance to the governor who is becoming a frontrunner for the 2012 GOP Presidential candidate rumors.

Daily News Round-Up for May 5, 2009

Washington Post ( Washington , DC )

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge (R) is seriously considering a 2010 bid for the Senate seat held by Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter and will make his decision in the next two weeks, according to several sources familiar with his thinking.

Tennessean ( Nashville , TN )

A big sign is now hanging over the GOP's "big tent" that says "No moderate need apply."

CNN Political Ticker ( USA )

A few hours after Rush Limbaugh told listeners GOP leaders launching a Republican re-branding effort hated and feared Sarah Palin, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor announced that the Alaska governor had finally accepted an invitation to join the group.

Politico ( Washington , DC )

After talking to President Barack Obama on the phone today, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch says he believes the White House will move swiftly on its Supreme Court nominee, perhaps making an announcement by the end of this week.

Daily News Round-Up for May 4, 2009

Buffalo News ( Buffalo , NY )

Former Rep. Jack Kemp is today remembered in many ways following his Saturday death from cancer - Buffalo Bills quarterback, Western New York congressman, Cabinet secretary and vice presidential candidate.

Roll Call ( Washington , DC )

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge is considering running for the Republican Senate nomination in his home state, according to a senior Republican aide with knowledge of the situation.

Politico ( Washington , DC )

Senator Arlen Specter warned Republican leaders on Sunday to stand up against the right-wing Club for Growth, which helped drive the Pennsylvania senator into the Democratic Party last week.

Huffington Post ( USA )

The loss of political moderates is perhaps the best indicator of a political party in decline. When the extremes on either side of the political aisle become the dominant voice in a two-party system it tends to suggest that their beliefs are normative, diminishing the value placed on compromise, which is where moderates most often exist.

ABC News ( USA )

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the longest serving Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on "This Week" Sunday that President Barack Obama used "code" for an activist judge this week when describing his ideal nominee to replace retiring Justice David Souter

The GOP Must Not Alienate Its Moderates

The following blog was posted by RMC Executive Director Kellie Ferguson at the Hill's Congress Blog. You can read the original post here.

As an organization who has fought to elect Republicans to Congress, it is outrageous to hear the continuous cheers from members of the GOP over Senator Specter’s Party switch. Whether or not you agree 100% with every vote Senator Specter has taken, he is a three decades long Republican leader who served on key committees and carried the GOP banner dozens of times on major issues. More disturbing is that GOP leaders are missing the fact that Specter followed over 240,000 Pennsylvania voters who left the GOP last year. These voters were socially moderate, fiscally conservative Republicans who felt so alienated by the GOP’s strident moral agenda that they turned to the Democratic Party. They are a bellwether for what is happening in States across the Nation and this cannot be ignored. Moderate Republicans like Senators Snowe and Senator Collins need to know that the real Republican majority- the moderate majority- supports them in their work and as centrists who work for their Party AND for their electorate. Senator Boxer’s comments suggesting that there is no room for pro-choice leaders in the Republican Party are way off. We need more of them and we need the moderate majority to demand more from the Party leadership, which has pandered for too long to a small faction of extremists. We have compromised our foundations by promoting risky, divisive social wedge issues and we are paying for it by losing seats and legislators across the country. Without change and wooing back of social moderate voters, the Party will continue to collapse.

Daily News Round-Up for May 1, 2009

Washington Post ( Washington , DC )

Justice David H. Souter, the Republican-appointed New England jurist who has become a reliable centrist on the Supreme Court, has told friends that he plans to retire, according to a government official.

The Week ( USA )

It ought to be obvious to any Republican why we need to make room for politicians like Snowe and Collins in our party. It's not like we have so many votes that we can afford to throw them away. And yet, some Republicans responded to the defection this week of Sen. Arlen Specter by saying: "Good riddance-don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Politico ( Washington , DC )

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is recruiting Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) to run for the Senate because it views Pat Toomey as unelectable against Sen. Arlen Specter, according to Gerlach's lead consultant.

New York Times ( New York , NY )

A longtime Democratic consultant, Anita Dunn, has been coaxed into joining President Obama in the White House, agreeing to be his communications director for up to several months until a permanent appointee is named, an administration adviser said Thursday.