One of the reasons that I left the GOP was the fact that GOP “moderates” have a growing list of litmus tests that they demand Republican candidates meet (must be pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-amnesty, pro-cap & trade, anti-Christian, anti-defense, etc.). Demands by “moderates” for ideological purity – left-wing purity – is killing the Republican Party.

Examples of GOP efforts to force conservatives out of the party abound. In 2004 the GOP openly supported the leftist Specter over a more conservative primary challenger (The Republican Senatorial campaign committee is supposed to be neutral, but it most definitely was not in this and many other cases). Specter repaid the GOP by defecting to the Democrat Party. Republican Scozzafava endorsed the Democrat candidate in NY-23, and may pull a Specter of her own by switching parties. Several other leftists (Charlie Crist, Mike Castle, and Mark Kirk) and being pushed by GOP power-brokers in next year’s Senate elections, while their conservative challengers are being marginalized. Ironically, in 2004 the GOP moderate McCain was deserted by other “moderates” like Colin Powell for not being leftist enough.

The reason Hoffman lost was that both the GOP and the Democrat Party Establishments are in competition to see who can be the most liberal. Since 1984 the GOP has nominated an increasingly liberal string of Presidential candidates – with disastrous results for the party. Hoffman could not defeat both the GOP and Democrat Establishments, which is why Democrat Owens is going to Washington.

One final note: on election night Fox news showed a survey that indicated that 80% of self-identified conservatives backed Christie in NJ. Wanna bet that the percentage of GOP “moderates” supporting Hoffman was much lower? So long as conservatives give into the demands by GOP “moderates” for left-wing ideological purity they will continue to get more Scozzafavas and Specters.