Redstate

By GOP84 Posted in 2008 — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

First of all, I consider you my friends, my allies, my compatriots. If recent events had played out differently, I would have gladly taken up arms with you and championed the cause of our candidate Fred Thompson.

I realize that many other bots and supporters of candidates are hovering over you like vultures over carrion, and I do not necessarily intend to be one of them. I believe your cause was worthy, valid, and indeed admirable.

While many of you find yourselves in disbelief, wondering why so many conservatives have chosen candidates that are inferior to your own in previous caucii and primaries, I would ask you not to lose sight of the principles you found in your candidate.

I had little disagreements with Senator Thompson, a man who was born in Alabama as I was, a man who shared many of my religious beliefs, and a man who shared virtually all the same conservative principles that I do. I truly believe that he would have served his country well if he had been elected as Commander-in-Chief.

But now as unfortunate as our circumstances are, we are forced to find a different candidate, another man in whom conservative principles can be found. Many of you would correctly point to the failings of Mike Huckabee. His populist economic policies are not the fiscal discipline that we long for at this time.

You would also place a harsh spotlight on John McCain, whose immigration bill would have given a form of amnesty to illegal immigrants, the same man who first opposed the Bush tax cuts and yet now supports them. Surely, John McCain has a record that can be described as dismal, as Club for Growth has done.

Rudy Giuliani has perhaps absconded Fred Thompson's fiscal policies, but he has failed to demonstrate a respect for the socially conservative bedrock principles we hold so dear.

Then of course, there's Mitt Romney, the infamous flip-flopper. While we'd easily glance over the changes in position of McCain, Mitt Romney's altered stances are more recent, and therefore subject to scrutiny since he has not held these newfound beliefs for a substantial amount of time.

I can empathize with that.

However, were I in your position, I would rather take a chance on a man who at the very least seems to espouse the same positions I do than to knowingly support someone that I disagree with on a number of issues.

Do we not embrace those who have converted to our side? In my home state of Alabama, since the 1980's, the state Republican party has accepted 140 different individuals who left the state Democratic party, with only 1 in reverse. Would I dare judge the character of these men for going against the grain, joining a party that is in the minority in our state? Surely not.

Nor would I judge Mitt Romney for embracing the same values that I do.

Mitt Romney has had tremendous success in his career and he earned virtually all of it. We've given John McCain over 20 years to fix the problems in Washington and he still hasn't got it right yet. I'd rather take a man who has learned from his mistakes and will admit it rather than a man who knew he was wrong and will not own up to it.

So I ask you, my friends: would you rather vote for someone you know you disagree with or would you support a man who has found his way to the same principles you share?

No matter who you choose, though I may not agree with your choice, I respect you for supporting a great man in Fred Thompson. I hope he continues to be worthy of the support you gave him in this process.