Dennis: Lugar Ungracious In Defeat

Dennis Mansfield takes issue of this statement by U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar after his loss in the GOP Indiana primary Tuesday: “If Mr. Mourdock is elected, I want him to be a good Senator. But that will require him to revise is stated goal of bringing more partisanship to Washington. He and I share many positions, but his embrace of an unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience of what brings results for Hoosiers in the Senate. In effect, what he has promised in this campaign is reflexive votes for a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party. His answer to the inevitable roadblocks he will encounter in Congress is merely to campaign for more Republicans who embrace the same partisan outlook. He has pledged his support to groups whose prime mission is to cleanse the Republican party of those who stray from orthodoxy as they see it.” Read Dennis’ comments here. (AP photo)

• Also: Lugar’s loss puts U.S. Senate in play /Wall Street Journal

Question: Are you surprised that Indiana Republicans rejected veteran U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar?