At a Republican forum in New Hampshire, State Senator Gary Lambert, appearing for Mitt Romney, said, "I don't get it. This is not about picking a favorite, it's not about picking someone you like," Lambert said. "It's not about picking someone even with your own beliefs and principles. This is about picking a person who can beat Barak Obama, period."
The Honorable Senator is right about only one thing; he doesn't get it. Politics in America is not about the quest for the mythical "electable" candidate. There is no such thing as the "electable" candidate. Rather, it is actually all about beliefs and principles. A candidate who expresses beliefs and principles in line with the majority of voters is the electable candidate. Mr. Obama won office in just that way in 2008; by assuring his ardent left-wing core of his solid socialist beliefs and credentials as a communist organizer, and luring moderates, who primarily are focused on making money and were thus disenchanted with Bush's economic failings, with a siren song of "hope and change."
Furthermore, if "electability" rather than beliefs is the sole criteria, the GOP could nominate Hillary. Despite the Honorable Senator's rhetoric, surely even he knows better than that.
As President, Obama has held true to his beliefs. He doesn't believe the Constitution is any check on his powers; he doesn't believe that Congress has any real role in government, except perhaps as a place to hold his opponents at bay; he believes he is accountable to no one. If you have any doubts, look at the changes he has made in the government. The military is now on its way to becoming a haven for gays and lesbians, with the demise of don't ask, don't tell; public schoolchildren sing the praises of Obama the messiah; illegal recess appointments made even when Congress is in session; Stimulus funds as political payback by the tens and hundreds of millions of dollars only to companies with Obama donors and bundlers; rampant voter fraud; and the list goes on and on. Not only that, but his fellow Democrats approve these lawless and corrupt practices, precisely because these practices are in line with their beliefs. They would, and do, conduct themselves the same way whenever the opportunity arises.
Mitt Romney, like John McCain, is undoubtedly a nice guy. Unfortunately, even worse than McCain, Romney goes in whatever direction the polls blow him. That Romney will do well in New Hampshire only reflects his status as a contender for the left end of the Republican spectrum. The GOP, however, is based in the center-right and right-wing voters. It is no help that the media likes Romney; most journalists self-identify as leftists or Democrats. Romney will be no more capable of winning the general election than McCain was, unless he can demonstrate that he holds some beliefs and principles. The only thing close to a guiding principle he has demonstrated so far is "I wanna be President, and I'll say whatever you want to hear if you will vote for me!" Romney's only hope seems to be that the moderates are so disenchanted with Obama's economic policies that they will buy into no policy instead. That's not really a strategy, and economic policy alone, even if he had one, is not enough.
Despite what the GOP strategists may think, Obama's left-wing base will never leave him. If the left has any quarrel with Obama, it is only that he has not moved the country hard left fast enough. It is true that Clinton often quoted the mantra, "It's the economy, stupid," but as with Obama, the left knew he held true to their agenda. Conversely, McCain and now Romney have not convinced the conservatives that they have any interest in the social agenda of the right; so far, their attitude has been, "Principles? Don't need 'em, thanks all the same." However, "Vote for Palin, and that other guy you don't trust" did not work for McCain's campaign, and Romney looks to be in the same position. And without any serious clout with conservatives, Romney will have no coattails.
Moving left and abandoning the GOP core constituency did not work in '08, and the GOP should have serious concerns about following the same path in 2012. Should the GOP fail, Obama and his corrupt cronies will have a free hand in his second term to openly implement a very leftist agenda.
Furthermore, California Democrats have through Redistricting worked hard to deny the GOP any chance of participating in the political process there. It looks like a classic case of deep corruption in politics. Yet, machine politicians like Obama and his cronies will very likely implement similar strategies on the national stage against their opponents, so 2012 could prove to be the last chance for the GOP and America's social conservatives.
Senator Lambert, it's all about principles. Without principles, all that is left is corruption.
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