As Republicans squabble over the defection of Arlen Specter the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee unleashed a phone call in PA attacking Specter by reminding voters that he was endorsed by President George W. Bush in his last re-election campaign. I guess the Republicans, seeing the great success enjoyed by the Democrats, have decided to run against George Bush as well. What can we expect next? How about Michael Steele attacking Dick Cheney? The sniping continues with the Republicans attacking each other as much as they are attacking Specter. From Politico:

Republican Sens. Orrin Hatch and George Voinovich blamed the Club for Growth for imposing a right-wing litmus test that chased Arlen Specter out of the Republican Party. The Club for Growth blamed Specter — first for helping to ruin the GOP and then for leaving it. A leading Republican strategist blamed the party for turning its back on moderates. Sen. Lindsey Graham sniped at Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Specter’s pollster blamed the stimulus bill. Karl Rove blamed Specter himself.

The Club for Growth argued that having a big tent Republican Party dilutes its strength by promotring policies that offend the base. Better to be small but pure:

But Andy Roth, the Club for Growth’s vice president for government affairs, said the Republican Party is at its nadir precisely because it has tolerated the likes of Specter.

“Let’s look at what a big-tent Republican Party gets you,” said Roth. “Over the last eight years, we had Big Government with a party that had no identity. People like Specter destroyed the Republican brand.”

“The reason why Arlen Specter left is because of Arlen Specter, not because of the Club for Growth or Pat Toomey,” he said.

So the Republicans continue the circular firing squad, led jubuliantly into the circle by Michael Steele. It just does not seem right to me that the RNC is paying Steele’s salary. The DNC has a moral obligation to pick up at least some of that expense.