Fighting for principles

My friend Chief (from Freedom Dogs and True North) put up a post yesterday that dovetails off of my post from last May about ideological purity. Logical Lady Carol Platt Liebau has a column up at Townhall.com that discusses some of the potential repercussions of the third party threats that are being thrown out.

In short, if the religious right decided to support a third candidate, it would become the biggest loser in a Giuliani-Clinton contest, whatever the outcome. Even so, it is tempting for those opposed to Giuliani’s pro-choice stance to speculate that a Hillary Clinton presidency might shock the country into greater receptivity to policies espoused by people of faith. But it’s worth remembering that similar hopes, coupled with discontent with the presidency of George H.W. Bush, inspired some to vote for Ross Perot in 1992. As a result, America endured eight years of a Clinton presidency – and set Hillary Clinton on the path she’s pursuing now.
Ever since people of faith became politically active in the 1980’s, those who oppose their policy goals have consistently tried to portray them as rigid, judgmental and out of the mainstream. The threat of a boycott plays into their adversaries’ hands, allowing them to claim that all the least flattering stereotypes about the religious right have been confirmed.
Indeed, the disheartening truth is that many Americans across the political spectrum would like nothing more than the political marginalization of people of faith. So as the leaders of the religious right determine what conscience requires, those of us who admire their principle and convictions – and support many of their objectives – can only hope that they will not choose a course that will harm a very worthy movement for years to come.

It is not just the religious right that will be marginalized should some of our more ideologically driven friends sit this one out. The entire Reaganite movement in the Republican Party could suffer. The more the "principled" conservatives sit on their hands, the further left the "centrists" will take the Republican party. We have already seen that, if given the choice between a Democrat and a "lite" Democrat, the voters will take the real thing every time.

I have a challenge for all of you Republicans out there who think that staying home is a viable option - do you really think that doing nothing will change things? Are you not willing to stand up and fight for your ideology? IF you are willing to stand up and fight - NOW IS THE TIME to do so. Not after the nominee has been chosen!

If you are willing to fight for your party then save February 5 NOW! Get to caucuses. Or if you live in a primary state make sure you get to the polls on primary day! After the nominee is chosen it is too late for you to stand up and say "WAIT....I DON'T LIKE HIM". The time is now! Are you ready?