Is Beating Obama the Only Criteria in Choosing a Nominee?
COMMENTARY | According to CNS News, New Hampshire State Sen. Gary Lambert offered a common argument for the presidential aspirations of Mitt Romney. He did so in such a way that may prove off putting for conservatives and embarrassing for the candidate.
"It's not even about picking someone with your own beliefs and principles. This is about picking a person that can beat Barack Obama, period."
Lambert is simply expressing a common sentiment among supporters of Romney, backed up by most polling data. The latest Rasmussen Poll has Romney and Obama neck and neck at 42 percent each, Other polls have seen Romney ahead or narrowly behind the president.
Of course beating Obama is an imperative of the next election. He had been an unmitigated disaster as president, with the economy still sluggish three years into his administration and unemployment-officially at least-at 8.5 percent.
Still, many conservatives ask, is Romney the best there is? It is not enough, it is argued, to beat Obama. He must be replaced by the best possible person who can then heal the wounds the current president has inflicted on the nation and restore economic prosperity at home and strength aboard.
The problem is that conservatives have not been able to hit upon someone who fits that description. Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich have all risen and fallen as the not-Romney candidate. Rick Santorum is the latest alternative to the "Massachusetts moderate." He is now being accused of being a "big government conservative" and therefore unacceptable.
Some conservatives, in despair, dream of a late entry, of a Chris Christie or Sarah Palin, both of whom have publically eschewed a run for the presidency in this election cycle. But what guarantee is there that if a great right hope comes riding in on a white horse, the nitpicking will not begin with him or her as well?
Perfection in a human being is not something that is possible. Even the world historic Ronald Reagan had his short comings. As governor of California he signed a permissive abortion bill into law. As president he cut deals with Democrats that raised taxes.
Conservatives need to decide who is right enough so that his or her various faults can be lived with. Otherwise they may well wind up living with Romney, whose virtues include being able to beat Obama and pretending to be conservative enough to be acceptable to Republican voters.
Sources: Romney Surrogate on N.H. Primary: 'It's Not Even About Picking Someone With Your Own Beliefs and Principles', Eric Scheiner, CNN News, Jan 6, 2011
2012 Presidential Matchups, Rasmussen Poll, Jan 5. 2011
The Santorum "big government conservative" debate continues, Jazz Shaw, Hot Air, Jan 7, 2011
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentUnfortunately beating the President is the one and only concern by right for the republican party, but is that suppose to apply to the media in their coverage and assimilation of the facts in order to report the news? The media's only objectivity is making sure they repeat candidates and republican "talking points". Lies, half truths, false hoods and inaccuracies!
Jon Huntsman is a true conservative, a Reagan Republican ("I love that man!" he told me when I first met him and we talked about the Gipper), but he's not a crazed fanatic flat-worlder like Rick Perry or Michelle Bachmann (or a contortionist like Romney) and so turned off the reincarnation of the Know-Nothing Party. He'll be back in 2016 or 2020 when America needs the most qualified man to be President, and this is from a progressive ex-Democrat.