“When a guys on the ground and another is dancing around the ring with his hands in the air, the guy dancing is the winner.” -Unknown
Like most people I like to win. Which is why I have always been troubled by the Conservative Purity Test so many who vote Republican feel they must apply to their candidates. It’s a scenario I call the “Take my ball and go home” method of choosing our leaders.
Rush Limbaugh is a very vocal enthusiast of this flawed manner of leadership. The mega-popular radio host is almost as tough on Republicans that fail his Conservative purity test as he is on Democrats. And he is tough on Democrats. (BTW – Side note- Why is it that Democrats don’t recognize that Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh are in the exact same business? Entertainment? Hello!) He says too many Republicans “settle” for what he terms “moderates” because we’ve been told we have no other choice. He says nominating a “true” Conservative is the only way to win. Limbaugh is not the only one who feels this way. It gives me no joy in saying that these people are idiots. By Limbaugh’s standards the only true Conservative nominated by Republicans in the past 30 years is Ronald Reagan in 1984 when he was re-elected President. No one since has passed the Conservative purity test.
This Purity Test has the following requirements of the candidates:
1. Be Pro-Life; NO EXCEPTIONS!
2. Never once raise taxes, ever.
3. Be anti-Gay marriage.
4. Never make a deal with any Democrat at any time.
5. Be a devout Christian (Mormons not included).
6. Don’t be a flip-flopper; never change your mind at any time in your life.
There are probably a few others that I’m forgetting. But these six are the hard-core rock solid minimum requirements necessary to pass the Conservative Purity Test.
I got news for you Conservative ideologues…Ronald Reagan would not have passed this test. And more significantly neither would ANY of the current GOP Presidential candidates. Mitt Romneyis a flip-flopper.
Newt Gingrichembraced health care mandatory requirements AND endorsed Cap & Trade.
Rick Santorum has voted in favor of tax hikes. Ron Paul is an idiot (while true…more significant than he’s an idiot is the fact that he’s irrelevant).
The nominee of the Republican party will be Mitt Romney. Simple math tells us this. So I felt it was time to get something straight about our next President, whom I have chosen to support. He is a panderer. The more politically damaging term “flip-flopper” may apply to Romney but I choose to look at the simple fact that he is pandering to his electorate for votes. SHOCKING! No politician has ever done that before have they? Obviously I jest.
What ought to concern those considering voting for Romney, especially as it applies to the Conservative Purity Test, is who or what is the TRUE Romney? Is it the Massachusetts’ Governor who had previously taken positions that were not purely Pro-Life and passed a health care law that include a form of the individual mandate? Or is it the rock-hard Conservative who now professes an entirely Pro-Life stance and claims he would repeal Obamacare? Who is he specifically? Well, I tend to believe he’s a lot like Bill Clinton only Conservative. Bill Clinton never seemed to have a conviction that couldn’t be swayed by the latest opinion poll.
Still, giving Romney the benefit of the doubt and keeping my eye on the ball…I want to win…I just have to employ a little common sense. What’s more likely that this life long Mormon with a family heritage that goes back to the beginning of the LDS Church is really a liberal rejecting nearly all the tenets of this church;OR that while serving as a Republican Governor in the most Liberal state in the Union and dealing with a legislature that was 70% Democrat he had to bend or twist or possibly ignore the Conservative Purity Test in order to…1. Get elected…and 2. Govern effectively? Isn’t it obvious? Say what you will about the LDS Church but their dogma is most definitely Conservative.
Come November I want to be dancing around the ring with my hands in the air. And since neither Gingrich or Santorum pass the stupid Conservative Purity Test either; and since Romney will be the GOP Presidential candidate I strongly suggest the “my-way-or-the-highway” Conservatives realize that the ultimate Championship Belt isn’t found in the nominating process. The hands are raised and the champion’s belt is rewarded in November. So come on board. And lets win.
Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.
Related articles
- George Will: Republican Leaders Afraid of Rush Limbaugh (themoderatevoice.com)
- Kansas, Rick Santorum, and Purity Catholics (alternet.org)
- Would a Rick Santorum Candidacy Teach the GOP a Valuable Political Lesson? (themoderatevoice.com)
- Romney’s Problem Isn’t His Campaign (reason.com)
- Gravesite Reminder: Reagan Was No Purist (themoderatevoice.com)
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