Boxer-Fiorina Senate Race Remains Close, but for Conservatives It's Already Over

TUSTIN, Calif -- As the California Senate race between incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer and her Republican challenger Carly Fiorina draws to a close, the winner is far from clear. The latest polls show the race very close, with most polls showing the candidates poised close to or within the margin of error. What is clear is that conservatives in California will lose regardless of the outcome, and may actually sit out the election despite the chance to remove Boxer.

Barbara Boxer is unabashedly and unapologetically liberal and left-wing. Her positions on such issues as education, health care, foreign policy and environmental policy are completely in favor of more Federal control, Federal regulation, and higher taxes. Obviously, if one is a conservative, Barbara Boxer is not the candidate of choice.

The conservative naturally turns to the Republican nominee Carly Fiorina. Here is where the more right-leaning voter finds that there is little relief. Carly Fiorina has taken a sudden but very slight turn to the right during the election season, especially after winning the nomination. But when it comes to conservative politics, her record is quite shaky on issues conservatives tend to find important.

Fiorina has tried to take both sides of every major issue. She claims to be tough on illegal immigration, but according to the Los Angeles Times, Fiorina is for automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. of illegals. She claims to be for the sanctity of marriage, but strongly supports civil unions with identical legal status and told the Sacramento Bee she wants gays to serve openly in the military. She claims to be pro-life, but supports embryonic stem cell research. On the issue of energy, Fiorina again plays both ends of the spectrum by purporting to support drilling and nuclear power, but also supporting clean energy subsidies and conservation iniatives.

Playing both sides of every issue is not new to Fiorina. During the primary battle with Tom Campbell and Chuck DeVore, she tried to paint Campbell is too liberal and DeVore is too conservative. In a May 25, 2010 radio debate on Los Angeles radio station KFI AM 640's John and Ken Show, Fiorina was arrogant and flippant, mocking her opponents' clear answers to issue questions while refusing to actually answer those same questions herself.

Fiorina has even run an ad promising to break with her party when she decides it is "needed." Conservatives have heard this tune before from other Republicans like John McCain, Olympia Snowe, and Lindsey Graham, who have repeatedly sided with liberal Democrats on crucial issues such as immigration, energy and judicial nominees. Conservatives call these and others like them "RINOs," or Republican In Name Only. The last thing any conservative wants to see is another Olympia Snowe in the Senate.

Fiorina's endorsement list reads like a "who's who" of establishment Republicans who have attacked the conservative movement and especially the Tea Party.

So there is no good choice for U.S. Senate from either major party if you are a conservative. On the one hand, there is the liberal Barbara Boxer, and on the other there is the pretend conservative Carly Fiorina, who is just as likely to side with Democrats on close votes when it comes to many issues. What is a conservative to do?

This writer sent an email to the Fiorina campaign after the May radio debate, insisting that Fiorina would not get a vote from me, due to the issues I have outlined here. I never received a reply, and I think that says more than enough.

I will vote Libertarian for U.S. Senate on November 2, 2010. If I have to throw away a vote, I will at least do it with a clear conscience.

Sources:

Real Clear Politics-Election 2010-California Senate-Boxer vs. Fiorina, Real Clear Politics

Official Website of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer: Issues and Legislation - Overview, Boxer.Senate.Gov

Maeve Reston, Fiorina says she opposes calls to alter the 14th Amendment, articles.latimes.com

You asked: they answered - Sacramento Politics|Sacramento Bee, sacbee.com

Energy and the Environment|Carly Fiorina for California|CarlyForCA.com, carlyforca.com

Amanda Carey, New class of mavericks poised to storm 112th Congress, dailycaller.com

The RINO list, rinolist.org

Endorsements|Carly Fiorina for California|CarlyForCA.com, carlyforca.com