Jim Leach, RINO, Traitor

The Associated Press reports today that former 2nd District Congressman Jim Leach has endorsed Barack Obama for president.

I was a supporter of Jim Leach for as long as he was my congressman. I often found myself defending him to conservative friends. Yes, I disagreed with him on abortion, campaign finance and to a lesser degree the war. But he was a Republican and helped us maintain a majority in the US House.

Personally, I know Leach to be an honest man and a gentleman. He nominated my daughter for the Congressional Page program. During her tenure in Washington, she had nothing but praise for the Congressman and his interaction with the pages and staff.

RINO (Rebublican In Name Only) is not a phrase I use very often. I am not a part of Steve Deace's Operation Extinction - to rid the party of RINO's. In my position on the State Central Committee, I have pledged to my district (and to myself) that I will support all Republicans in the general election.

But when moderates like Joy Corning suggest that they may no longer contribute because conservatives have taken over at RPI. (Yes, I am one of those conservatives.) When prominent R's like Mary Lundby and Ray Hoffman express concern about the leaders duly elected by the grassroots. When (so-called)Republican (so-called)Leaders like Jim Leach turn traitor and abandon the party. It makes keeping my pledge difficult.

Moderates in the party have long complained that conservatives would abandon them. In fact it is obvious that just the opposite is true.

As for Jim Leach, for some reason (probably the war) he feels that he cannot support John McCain. If not the maverick McCain, is there any of our candidates that the Congressman could have supported? If Jim Leach really believes that Barack Obama's vision for America is the right, choice, if he really believes that giving Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid a Democratic president is good for America, then I was wrong. I should have listened to my RINO Hunter friends instead of trying to convert them on Congressman Leach's behalf.

Comments

[Mike Thayer]

Nice article. A frustrating topic of sorts, but nice article. One could argue that the older Jim Leach has gotten, the more liberal he has become.

[Lee]

Such a disappointment. Leach has finally burned the bridge to the Republican Party in Iowa..and nationally.

My guess is that Obama has promised Leach some sort of cushy position in an Obama Administration...Cabinet seat, UN ambassador..something along those lines.

The question that Leach is going to have to ask himself someday is "was it worth it to turn my back on the friends and supporters I made over 30 years?"

[Brent Oleson]

Obviously, this is very disappointing. I am dismayed by Congressman Leach, especially for turning his back on another very pragmatic and independent-minded Republican like Senator McCain. However, I didn't judge all evangelicals when Rev. Dobson made his idiotic comments about not supporting Senator McCain, I didn't judge all hard-core conservatives when Ann Coulter said she would support Hillary over Senator McCain, I didn't judge all ICA members when Steve Scheffler stated he would never support Rudy Guiliani, and I won't judge all moderates on the actions of one retired Congressman.

Dave, still glad your my SCC member, but the attacks on Senator Lundby and supposed RINO's is really tiring and suprisingly lacking of intellectual honesty or depth. I say suprising because you are very intelligent. I challenged you last time to showcase a new SCC member to compare to Senator Lundby's financial giving to Republican candidates, her volunteer efforts for Republican causes and candidates, and her tireless work in recruiting candidates. That challenge wasn't answered.

How about another challenge. Mary has been in the legislature since 1986. Name me one Representative or Senator who has served during the same time that has a BETTER pro-life voting record than her (abortion, death penalty, cloning/fetal stem-cell, parental consent/notification)? I will be waiting for that answer (hint: it isn't Steve King).

Before you throw the RINO perjorative around, do a little research on who you throw it at.

[HawkeyeGOP]

Brent, as I said, I rarely use the term RINO. I think it is counter-productive. But I and other socons have been accused unfairly of not supporting Jim Leach over the years. After years of supporting the congressman, I feel more than a little bit betrayed.

As for your challenge, I do not presume to suggest that my service and financial giving to the party can match up to Mary Lundby's 30 year record of service. My issue with Lundby is her position that the SCC has focused on social issues to the detriment of other issues. Personally, I have not seen it, not in this current SCC nor in its predecessors.

I don't think I have ever challenged Lundby on her pro-life voting record. However we do have differences on several issues: SILO, Marriage Amendment, Bullying, Smoking Ban, etc.

I think I called Mary Lunby a moderate not a RINO. At this point I do not think that anyone can argue that Jim Leach is a RINO.

[Brent Oleson]

Point taken. Good debate, just wanting to keep it civil and defend a good friend.

When can I get the Chung family to do a lit drop for my campaign?

[Gene130]

Wow, the former House RINO will not endorse his counterpart RINO in the Senate. What does that mean for party unity? If McCain can't count on the other RINOs, who can he count on? Chaffee too. And "W" campaigned for him just proving the RNC would send Osama Bin Ladin money if he would put an "R" after his name.

[Dee Thorn]

Very disappointing - I would respectfully suggest to Leach that he just go ahead and switch his registration and be done with it. Note: their property in Solon is up for sale, so I would imagine that pretty soon he will just be a footnote in a history book. And rather than fussing about an insignifant endorsement from a has-been - Lets go get Marianette Miller-Meeks elected!

[ANN KNOTT]

WHAT WILL CONGRESSMAN LEACH SAY WHEN HIS TAXES ARE RAISED BEYOND BELIEF? WHAT DOES JIM LEACH HOPE TO GAIN BY HIS BECOMING SO LIBERAL? I HOPE HE REALIZES WHAT A "SLEEZE BALL" HE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE