| *** Hatch, McCain vs. Heritage: Next door to Virginia, in the nation’s capital, the shutdown has had another result: It has brought the GOP to the brink of an ideological civil war. Yesterday on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown,” Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) took a shoot at Heritage Action, which helped lead the defund-Obamacare effort. "Heritage used to be the conservative organization helping Republicans,” he said. "There’s a real question in the minds of many Republicans right now, and I’m not just speaking for myself: Is Heritage going to go so political that it really doesn’t amount to anything anymore?" In addition, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) fired off this tweet yesterday: “Must-read for Robert Robb, #Arizona’s preeminent conservative commentator: ‘Sad Demise of the Heritage Foundation.’” In what appears to be a response to his critics, Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint (a former colleague of Hatch’s and McCain’s) pens this Wall Street Journal op-ed: “[I]t's worth explaining why my organization, the Heritage Foundation, and other conservatives chose this moment to fight—and why we will continue to fight. The reason is simple: to protect the American people from the harmful effects of this law.” It’s a fascinating battle to watch: These longtime GOP senators vs. three of the most powerful conservative groups: Heritage Action, Senate Conservatives Fund, and Club for Growth. |
