Kempthorne backs ‘conservative’ Crapo

Idaho GOP Sen. Mike Crapo announced today that former Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, also a Republican and former Idaho senator, has endorsed Crapo’s re-election bid, something that’s hardly a surprise. Crapo is seeking a fourth six-year term in the Senate. … It’s no coincidence that Kempthorne’s statement repeats the word “conservative” twice. Crapo has been leaning hard to the right as he campaigns for another term in the Senate, in an effort to avoid a primary challenge two years after his surprising and uncharacteristic drunken driving arrest in Virginia/ Betsy Russell , Eye on Boise. More here .

Question: Don’t you define a “career politician” as someone who’ll do anything to get re-elected, including changing political position, which Sen. Crapo seems to have done, to appease the Idaho Tea Party? And doesn’t the Tea Party abhor “career politicians”? So what gives here?