Haley Barbour addresses RLC – urges party unity

Haley Barbour urges Republicans not to let the tea party become a third party

“Don’t get hung up on purity,” he said. “In politics, purity is a loser. … In this business, it is unity that wins elections. … Barack Obama has worn out three sets of knee pads down his knees praying for the tea party to become a third party, because he can’t lose.”

Barbour, who has already announced that he isn’t running for president, didn’t call any of the announced candidates by name. But the warning was clearly a recognized party elder trying to navigate the disparate movements on display at the three-day conference that culminates Saturday with the announcement of a straw poll of more than 2,000 delegates.

NOLA
6/19/11