They never should've raised the issue in the first place. I don't think it will cost them the House, but it only reinforces the view held by many Americans: that the GOP is nothing more than a party run by a couple of crap apples and the tea party. This isn't true obviously, but for God's sake, Boehner, Charles Dent, Susan Collins, Lydnsey Graham, John McCain, Portman, Ryan, Rubio and the rest need to distance themselves from these extreme righties, because those extreme righties are ruining the reputation of an otherwise respectable party. The Democrats went through the same thing in the 80's, the Republicans have to do it now.
True. McCain began setting himself apart by pointing the finger at the extreme fringe and stating, as you have, that this stunt should never have taken place. There was no legitimate legislative basis for it.
Christie (if he runs in '16) might be the beneficiary as he can accuse his rivals of being part of the problem. Then again, in three years will the people still remember or care about this?
But in any event the GOP has seen their approval rating fall to an all-time low, and Congress' approval is said to be in single digits. There are many respectable Republicans, but the party has allowed its voice to be that of the Limbaugh-type conservative, and it hurts them as a party when the filtering process for the party's presidential nominee is subjected to input from the far right that tries to compel them to deny evolution, global warming, etc.
