The current, unhinged version of the GOP is not without its conservative critics. David Frum is among those on the Right who are increasingly wary of the GOP’s deal with the devil. Today, he highlights how Glenn Beck (who it seems is out for himself and not for the party – suprise!) made a failed effort to derail Cass Sunstein’s appointment to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within OMB. Sunstein is a free-market-oriented, pro-competition Obama appointee that Frum describes as “the best possible choice to be hoped for from a Democratic administration.”
Republican senators know the truth about Cass Sunstein – that’s why only 33 Republican senators voted “no” on the cloture vote on his nomination, the vote that mattered. Yet unfortunately they also fear the wild disinformation broadcast by Fox News and credulously believed by millions of Fox viewers. So the final vote on the nomination of this best friend conservatives are likely ever to have inside the administration was 57-40, with only a handful of Republicans voting in favor.
The Senate’s most left-wing member, Bernie Sanders, intelligently voted “nay.” There’s one person at least who did not allow himself to be hustled out of his principles by a television loudmouth.
Frum ends with a plea to join his segment of the Right so they can get on with the business of being loyal, constructive opposition.
The ultimate happy ending of the story should not however close the page on this appalling episode of broadcast recklessness and political cowardice. We conservatives are submitting our movement to some of the most unscrupulous people in American life. This submission disgraces conservatism, discredits Republicans, and damages the country. It’s beyond time for conservatives who know better to join us at NewMajority in emancipating ourselves from leadership by the most stupid, the most cynical, and the most truthless.
- MN
