Here's an interesting side note on the appointment today of Republican John Barrasso to the Senate vacancy left by the death of Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY): It turns out that Barrasso — who was appointed partly because of his staunch conservative views — has a glaring pro-choice past.

More after the jump.

Barrasso first ran for Senate in 1996 as a social moderate — and lost, despite wide statewide recognition and experience as an RNC committeeman. Roll Call summed up his loss in their August 22, 1996 issue: "But his perception as a moderate was his ultimate undoing. Though the GOP candidates differed little on economic issues, Enzi opposed abortion rights, while Barrasso favored them."

Fast forward eleven years. This year Barrasso had to face the party activists in order to get on the final short-list of candidates, from which Dem Governor Dave Freudenthal would make the appointment. And here is what Barrasso said when he was courting the Republican State Committee, according to the Associated Press: "In the state Senate, in addition to receiving an 'A' rating from the NRA, I have voted for prayer in schools, against gay marriage and have sponsored legislation to protect the sanctity of life."

All in all, his appointment is a great illustration of how rapidly a man's professed principles can change when he's being subjected to the scrutiny of party activists.