Townhall.com blogger exposes John Danforth as GOP hater

The pro-Roy Blunt and anti-Thomas Schweich forces are working to nip this whole Senate campaign thing in the bud.  Schweich says he's "flattered" by the attention, and what he calls a "vintage Washington-style smear campaign" against him. For now, anyway. 

Via JohnCombest.com, we see that Townhall.com blogger Matt Lewis is particularly concerned with Sen. Danforth's alleged hatred of conservatives, Schweich's service at the UN and the fact that Danforth and Schweich have worked together.

Meet John Danforth, former Republican Senator from Missouri and diplomat in the George W. Bush administration. After leaving the Bush administration, he has made a career out of attacking conservatives and Republicans. 

He co-founded the Republican Leadership Council with Christie Todd Whitman to advance social liberals within the Republican Party. He also led the fight as honorary co-chair of the 2006 ballot initiative to support embryonic stem-cell research in Missouri.  You get the point. He’s not a conservative...

Meet Danforth’s protege, Thomas Schweich. Schweich and Danforth were partners in the law firm Bryan Cave. When Danforth was appointed to Ambassador to the UN, Danforth brought Schweich along as his chief of staff. These days, Danforth and Schweich are flying around Missouri trying to line up support for a Schweich’s run:

Danforth said he was introducing Schweich as a potential candidate whom party activists, legislators and donors should consider. Schweich has served in a number of federal appointive posts. During President George W. Bush’s administration, he was the ambassador for counternarcotics and justice reform in Afghanistan. Schweich has never held elective office.

(Incidentally, isn’t it interesting that the UN experience isn’t mentioned in this story, nor the fact that they are business partners?) [emphasis added]

Schweich said last week that he wanted to be a "unifying force," but it doesn't seem to be working out that way (shocking, I know). It's particularly telling that service at the UN -- or at least the perception that Schweich is avoiding his UN service -- is a liability. 

If Schweich and Sarah Steelman actually decide to run (and not just tease), it will be fascinating to watch primary voters work out which brand of extreme conservatism suits them best.