Where Are All The Conservatives?

(The Politico)  Sure, Joe Lieberman, Rudy Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger will grace the stage in St. Paul, but the Club for Growth wants to know why more prominent conservatives aren't speaking at the Republican National Convention next month.

Saying the GOP brand remains "in shambles," the conservative member organization released a statement Thursday questioning the recently announced lineup of speakers at the Xcel Energy Center. The roster includes Lieberman, Connecticut's independent senator who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000, as well as more moderate members of the Republican party, like Giuliani and Schwarzenegger.

“Many of the slotted speakers are impressive leaders in their own right,” said Club for Growth President Pat Toomey, “but it is hard not to notice the absence of the Party’s most pro-growth elected officials."

The organization, which has taken umbrage with national Republicans many times over the years, would like to see a few more conservative upstarts take the microphone in Minnesota at the party's nominating convention in order to tout the GOP's small government bona fides.

The release lists Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Jim DeMint of South Carolina, along with Reps. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, Mike Pence of Indiana, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Jeff Flake and John Shadegg, both of Arizona, as more favored speakers for the GOP's conservative base. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was also suggested.

"We hope Senator McCain will broaden the list of speakers and demonstrate his commitment to reclaiming the mantle of fiscal conservatism for the GOP," Toomey said in the release.