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The Progressive Republican Club, a section of moderate to liberal-leaning Republicans based in Phoenix, whose goal is to bring the party back to the values of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ike Eisenhower are disgusted with the direction their party has gone these past thirty years. And they really don't like Congressman Jeff Flake (R) who is running for the open Senate seat of retiring Senator Jon Kyl (R):
http://www.sbwire.com/...
Representative Flake, the Republican candidate, has taken positions on the major issues that are opposed to our principles. He has signed the “No New Taxes” Norquist pledge and he supports extreme right-wing radical and Libertarian programs. The programs that Representative Flake supports are a continuation of policies that have caused harm to the middle class. Flake supports reducing taxes for the wealthy while taking down medicare, social security and education.
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The PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN CLUB will not support nor endorse any person who is a candidate for any office who has signed the Norquist no new taxes pledge. We urge you to cast your vote for Dr. Richard Carmona (D). - SBWire, 10/22/12
First off, it's surprising to hear the words "Progressive" and "Republican" in the same sentence. To Flake's idiotic Tea Party base, these Republicans would be considered RINOs. Let alone these type of Republicans are still around in a state like Arizona. Dr. Carmona has received a lot of praise from Arizona Republicans in the past and have urged him to run as one of their own. Big name Republican politicians such as Senator Kyl, Governor Jan Brewer and former Congressman Jim Kolbe have all expressed their praise and respect for Carmona:
What Congressman Flake does not tell you is that throughout Rich’s term as Surgeon General, local and national Republican Party leaders – including Governor Brewer and Sen. Jon Kyl – tried to recruit Rich to run for Congress and for Governor, offering only praise and professing no concern over any so-called temperament issues. - Rim County Gazette, 10/16/12
Former GOP Rep. Jim Kolbe, who’s known Carmona for years, demurred when asked whether he agreed with Flake’s suggestion that the former surgeon general didn’t have the “temperament” for the Senate. In 2005, Kolbe said he and other Republicans tried to recruit Carmona to run for his Southern Arizona congressional seat. - Politico, 10/17/12
Here's a great quote from Carmona on being asked to run as a Republican in the past:
In the past, he says Republicans also tried to recruit him for office.
"In an old Republican Party, I might have been able to go with a fiscal conservative approach and smaller government. I'm OK with that," Carmona tells NPR. "But when you look at what's happened in our state and the nation and where the Republican Party has gone, most of my friends who are moderate Republican friends are embarrassed that we're attempting to legislate contraception, defunding Planned Parenthood." - NPR, 10/19/22
Carmona also received probably the highest Republican endorsement of them all back in late August:
Former Sen. Barry Goldwater's daughter Joanne and granddaughter CC say they are supporting Democrat Richard Carmona because of his independent nature, his support of women's rights and his proven ability to work with both parties. - CBS 5, AZ, 8/29/12
Carmona not only leads with Independents and has his party's support locked up, he also has been taking away a decent chunk of the Republican vote from Flake. Now the latest news from this race has been regarding Carmona's attempted joke that took place at a bad time. Flake has been trying to paint Carmona as the real one with women's issues to get the focus off Flake's extremist anti-choice and anti-immigration reform views and voting record. Flake doesn't have a credible record and has been instrumental in the GOP's radical right-wing turn. We cannot afford to let a bad joke dictate the conversation here. I've written extensively about Dr. Carmona's impressive resume and despite what you personally think of him, we need this great public servant to serve his country again. This time in the U.S. Senate. He supports the DREAM Act, preserving Veterans benefits and preventing uranium mining near the Grand Canyon:
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The League of Conservation Voters as well as Democratic campaign groups are running ads on the mining issue, including saying it could impact drinking water. Carmona opposes mining near the Grand Canyon. - Phoenix Business Journal, 10/22/12
Carmona's Republican support will be essential if he is to win this election. If moderate Republicans really want to save their party, they will help defeat extremists like Jeff Flake and get behind Dr. Carmona. We need to get this message across to the GOP: When you side with the extremists, you lose on your home turf. Lets make sure they get the message this year and help Dr. Carmona win:
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12:42 PM PT: New poll that came out today shows Carmona with a four point lead over Flake!
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