IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: FORMER BUSH CHIEF SPEECHWRITER MICHAEL GERSON: HAYWORTH “TOXIC INFLUENCE” ON TEA PARTY, DISPLAYS NONE OF ITS VIRTUES
“The [Tea Party] movement is often called ‘organic.’ Both tulips and poison ivy are organic. And Hayworth is a toxic influence. Hayworth's 12 years representing parts of the Phoenix suburbs have been described by his former colleague Dick Armey as a ‘fairly short, undistinguished congressional career.’ ... He is, I would bet, the only Tea Party candidate with a history of hosting fundraisers in lobbyist Jack Abramoff's sports skyboxes. How many other Tea Party revolutionaries have also been enthusiastic legislative earmarkers, or voted for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, or supported the 2005 highway bill, which included the ‘bridge to nowhere’?” -- Former Bush Speechwriter Michael Gerson in The Washington Post today
Michael Gerson, former Chief Speechwriter for President George W. Bush, in his Washington Post column today:
“The Tea Party resists both organization and generalization. But the outcome of Arizona's Republican primary will do much to define it. The movement is often called ‘organic.’ Both tulips and poison ivy are organic. And Hayworth is a toxic influence. Hayworth's 12 years representing parts of the Phoenix suburbs have been described by his former colleague Dick Armey as a ‘fairly short, undistinguished congressional career.’ …
“To this appeal, Hayworth has added a ‘birther’ message accusing President Obama of ‘identity theft.’
Here he is on legalizing gay marriage: ‘I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse.’ …
"Tea Party leaders have been understandably reluctant to endorse a candidate likely to embarrass any movement elastic enough to include Hayworth. Both Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sen. Jim DeMint have declared themselves officially neutral in the Arizona Republican primary.
Sarah Palin has campaigned for McCain.
This skepticism is compounded by Hayworth's congressional record, which puts him in a select group among would-be Tea Party heroes.
He is, I would bet, the only Tea Party candidate with a history of hosting fundraisers in lobbyist Jack Abramoff's sports skyboxes.
How many other Tea Party revolutionaries have also been enthusiastic legislative earmarkers, or voted for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, or supported the 2005 highway bill, which included the ‘bridge to nowhere’? …
“Hayworth symbolizes the worst excesses of the Tea Party movement, without having displayed any of its redeeming fiscal virtues while in office. His candidacy presents a test.
If the movement embraces politicians such as Hayworth, it will not only prove itself extreme; it will prove itself gullible.”
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