GOP Senator: Heritage's 'Radicalness' Could Cost The Think Tank Its Power

[DonViejo]

TOM KLUDT – OCTOBER 17, 2013, 10:15 AM EDT

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) said Thursday that the Heritage Foundation's quest for idelogical purity in the Republican Party could cost the conservative think tank "its clout and its power around Washington, D.C." During a discussion on MSNBC about the just-resolved budget and debt crises, Hatch lamented how "good think tanks in the past" are "losing their reputation because of this radicalness." Host Chuck Todd asked the senator if it was a reference to the Heritage Foundation and its political arm, Heritage Action, which announced its opposition to the Senate deal to re-open the government until Jan. 15 and raise the debt limit until Feb. 7.

"Well, yeah. Of course I am. Heritage used to be the conservative organization helping Republicans and helping conservatives and helping us to be able to have the best intellectual conservative ideas," Hatch said. "There's a real question in the minds of many Republicans now — I'm not just speaking for myself — for a lot of people, is Heritage gonna go so political that it really doesn't amount to anything anymore?"

"I hope not," he added. "I'm gonna try and help it to survive and do well, but right now I think it's in danger of losing its clout and its power around Washington, D.C."

Former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) left Capitol Hill in January to serve as president of the Heritage Foundation. Under DeMint's stewardship, Heritage became one of the fiercest advocates of the movement to defund the Affordable Care Act, an effort that led to the government shutdown and brought the United States close to default.

Hatch released a statement Wednesday to announce his support for the debt and budget deal, while noting that defunding the health care law was "never possible."


http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-senator-heritage-in-danger-of-losing-power-due-to-its-radicalness

[BlueStreak]

1. We have already seen Norquist lose his power when he overplayed his hand

Hubris. Arrogance.

[Cleita]

2. The Heritage Foundation's non-profit status should, to begin with,

be investigated by th IRS. Also it seems to operate as an organization unwilling to accept any government except those with their operatives in charge like Bush/Cheney. They are the ones who unleashed Ted Cruz on us. The Justice Department needs to investigate them as a subversive organization run by global business interests.

[BluegrassStateBlues]

4. Sounds good to me. +1 nt

[madrchsod]

3. oh, well sometimes ya just have to roll with the punches...

the heritage foundation will bounce back.

[Raine1967]

5. I think this is just a bump in the road for them. I don't take glee in saying this.

"There's a real question in the minds of many Republicans now — I'm not just speaking for myself — for a lot of people, is Heritage gonna go so political that it really doesn't amount to anything anymore?"

I find it interesting considering where thy are headquartered in DC. This is a google map of there they are.

They have a HUGE office building very close to Union Station and within very short walking distance to the Capitol Building. (I worked next door for a little while -- creepy to see some of those people coming and going) It's prime real estate.

I would love to see this happen, but until the day comes when they start leasing office space from that building, (or better yet, selling it altogether) I'm not convinced.

Hatch enabled this monster. They built it -- they need to tear it down. That would require them tearing down 40 years of Heritage bullshit. They've been around for 40 damn years.

(as an aside, Heritage has a satellite office on Pennsylvania avenue -- right before some of the watering holes that capitol Hill folks frequent: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-heritage-foundation-pennsylvania-avenue-building-washington )