"Mosque" fight reveals Cheney-ization of GOP

[babylonsister]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/08/mosque_fight_demonstrates_chen.html


"Mosque" fight reveals Cheney-ization of GOP
Greg Sargent

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It's also worth adding that if the battle over the Islamic center has revealed an intra-Republican struggle over whose foreign policy vision will prevail, it's clear who's winning this fight: The Cheney-ites. Consider: Virtually all leading Republicans who are currently in positions of power, or are currently lining up to run for office in 2012, have adopted the Liz Cheney line.

The project is opposed by many of the leading GOP officials in Congress, from John Boehner to Eric Cantor to Mitch McConnell. What's more, the battle over the Islamic center has actually become a litmus test issue for the 2012 GOP hopefuls, with Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Tim Pawlenty all trying to out-demagogue each other on the issue.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Republicans who have stepped forward to support the project are largely former Bush officials who are no longer in positions of power or aren't running for office anytime soon. In other words, the Cheney-ite line has become the required position of those with actual influence within the GOP -- or those who are currently in the process of seeking it.

snip//

In other words, the widespread opposition to Cordoba House among Republicans is only the latest installment in the ongoing Cheney-ization of the GOP. I don't need to tell you that this trend has ominous ramifications in light of the possibility of a GOP takeover of Congress or even of the Presidency.