Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
In the wake of Mitt Romney’s resounding victory in Florida’s primary, the odds of anyone other than Romney capturing the Republican nomination seem to be as low as the odds Barack Obama will be offered a guest professorship at Hillsdale College. As one of the many conservatives who are less than enthused about the nomination of a self-described “Progressive whose views are moderate,” the time has come to decide whether or not to bite the bullet and vote for Romney in the general election. Traditional party orthodoxy suggests that I should support the lesser of two evils. However, Romney’s ideology is so antithetical to the principles of conservatism that I believe the best thing I can do for the conservative movement and the country in the upcoming election is refuse to give my support or vote to Mitt Romney.
The biggest blow to Romney’s conservative credentials is his support for the state-level version of Obamacare during his time in Massachusetts. Romney’s supporters have painted Romneycare as the best of many bad choices for Romney in Massachusetts (although why they would offer up “Three Cheers” for the best of bad alternatives is beyond me.) I would be OK with supporting Romney if he openly stated that Romneycare was a mistake that the legislature forced on him. Unfortunately, Romney has decided to defend his mini-Obamacare project. Romney himself said “I’m proud of what we’ve done” in reference to Romneycare and lauded it as a “Model for the nation.” When asked about what he thought of Obamacare in 2010, Romney said he wanted to “Keep the good parts,” and applauded the “Incentives to purchase private insurance” (in other words, the individual mandate.) These are hardly the words of someone who views Romneycare as the lesser of many evils. Instead, they point to a man who is proud of signing the precursor to Obamacare into law and is fine with an individual mandate on the federal level.
Furthermore, Romney’s defense of the individual mandate bears a surprising resemblance to the arguments used by Progressives such as Barack Obama and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to justify their expansions of government. Romney has argued that government-mandated health insurance is based on “Personal responsibility” and Romneycare protects individual rights by preventing “free riders” from gaming the system. It almost seems as if Romney believes we must abandon free market healthcare principles to save free market healthcare. Furthermore, Romney’s argument for Romneycare echoes Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s sentiments in the Commonwealth Club Address that “The exercise of the property rights might so interfere with the rights of the individual that the government, without whose assistance the property rights could not exist, must intervene, not to destroy individualism but to protect it.” FDR and Romney make identical arguments. Romney argues that the exercise of individual rights on healthcare infringes on the rights of other individuals, and thus the government must intervene to protect “individualism.”
Jonah Goldberg recently wrote a column arguing that dissatisfied conservatives should vote for Romney because he will owe the conservatives who elected him and govern like a conservative. Unfortunately, Romney and his supporters have shown no sign that they care what conservatives in the Republican Party think. Romney’s scorched-earth campaign tactics against Newt Gingrich and the dismissive, snide treatment Romney’s apologists have given anyone who dares question The Mitt Romney’s conservatism (I’m looking at you, Ann Coulter and David Frum) doesn’t bode well for conservatives who hope Romney will listen to them. Furthermore, voting for Romney will hardly make him want to listen to conservatives. If anything, it will show that Romney can take conservatives for granted and still earn their votes.
Mitt Romney’s approach towards government places him drastically outside the conservative camp. Instead of arguing that big government must be eliminated, Romney seems to believe that he can run big government well. Voting for Romney sends the message that conservative voices can be ignored with impunity. Conservatives are ignored by candidates like Romney because they believe conservatives will simply vote for whoever has an R next to their name, the only way to ensure the GOP understands that conservative voices cannot be ignored is to show that our votes are not guaranteed. Mitt “I’m a Progressive” Romney is the ideal candidate to use as proof that even the most loyal Republicans have their limits and will not vote for Liberalism Light.
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Mar '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
There are those of us considering this. If no candidate is representing freedom then I prefer the President did nothing at all, why not gridlock? A Democratic White House and a Republican Congress, why not? Divided government holds no fear for me. If there is no candidate that will pursue the interests of freedom then let the branches of the Federal Government spend their days fighting each other, let us continue as we are. I will welcome the perpetual warfare between them both, let legislation grind to a halt!.
Edited on Feb 3 at 7:36pmMar '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
We could lose the Supreme Court for a generation. Something to think about.
May '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
As attractive as this sounds, it is the strategy of a fool. Read this,Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Egypt: US Constitution Not That Great , and recognize that another Obama term means the appointment of two or three more Constitution-denying Justices. That is simply unacceptable. Even if Romney were an utter failure with respect to actually turning around the ship of state, giving Obama four more years to solidify the socialist trends he's begun by reinforcing the Supreme court would prove a long term disaster.
And I'd rather see anybody but Romney nominated.
Edited on Feb 3 at 7:49pmNov '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
I think that Coulter is supporting Romney because she sees what she got when she dumped on McCain. Likewise I'd guess that Limbaugh and Levin are holding back their endorsements this time for the same reason. It Obama is Jimmy Carter on steroids, wait until you see what he's like in a second term, to say nothing of his Supreme Court and our military. As for divided government, there is no guarantee of that coming to pass and moreover, Obama has found ways to get what he wants without the permission of Congress. And by the way, it isn't the RINOs or the "establishment" who have kept us from having a conservative candidate, it is a lack of good conservative candidates. I consider myself to be a strong conservative and I despise Obamacare, but Lord preserve us from purists. If I must I will hold my nose and vote for Romney (trusting that he means it when he says he will repeal Obamacare) rather than voting for Obama by sitting this one out. Waiting around is not an option.
May '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Another thought, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness." So, how much money and how much time have you devoted to Gingrich, Santorum or Paul? Be the change you want to see.
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
My problem with Romney on SCOTUS is that I think he is far more likely to appoint a David Souter or John Paul Stevens than a Scalia or Thomas.
Nov '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Perhaps, but there is nothing "likely" about Obama's appointments. We know exactly what we will get.
Jul '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
As Blue State Blues says, it's about the Supreme Court. Which is why I made the following comment regarding RB Ginsburg’s idiotic comment about our Constitution not being what Egypt should use as a model: “And there are people willing to sit out this election???”
As for allowing a Republican House and Senate to give us gridlock, won’t that be a handy scenario for the Dems to run against in 2016. Moreover, f we wait for the perfect candidate to materialize, we may wait forever. Yes, there are a number of very good candidates waiting in the wings, but one never knows what the next 4 years may bring. With O intent on subverting the Constitution at every turn, even with Republicans holding Congress, there is much mischief he can engage in – e.g., at the very least, ensuring 51% of the public is dependent upon government.
Man up, sir, and help us save our country.
Dec '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Yes, but is Barack "I Will Stop The Rise Of The Seas" Obama the ideal incumbent to use as the booby prize in this experiment?
Dec '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Here's the thing: even if you buy into Jonah Goldberg's argument that we want a President who owes us, the only way to ensure and secure that debt is by bargaining before the election. Merely voting for Romney (or whoever our nominee is) on the principle that the most important thing is preventing the re-election of Obama doesn't give Conservatives the right to show up the day after our guy's election demanding repayment for their support: he won't have any obligation to Conservatives at that point.
If there's going to be an obligation incurred, Conservatives have to make a credible case to our candidate (whoever it is) on the day after the GOP convention that he needs to earn our votes with firm pledges of support for our priorities or risk our not showing up for him on Election Day. If he knows we're bluffing and will vote for him no matter what, we will get nothing he doesn't give from the goodness of his heart. Leverage only comes with a willingness to use the lever.
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
The House can prevent Obama from doing anything too terrible. As for the blaming Republicans for gridlock, Democrats will blame Republicans for gridlock no matter what happens. 2008 showed us what happens when we strategize based on what we think the Democrats will say about us.
Also, the good candidates waiting in the wings (such as Rubio and Pence) will have their presidential hopes delayed and potentially destroyed by a Romney presidency.
Mar '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Yes let us welcome the new David Souter appointees, that worked out so well in the past. The only fools are those still clinging to the absurd belief that Mr. Romney would actually put forward a conservative for the bench. Have not a single one of you examined his actual record in Massachusetts? Continue to cling to your delusion if you wish, some of us have actually studied who this man put on the bench and can not be so easily fooled.
May '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
It is down right shameful to encourage people not to vote. Patriots have fought and died for our right to vote. So what if your guy doesn't get the nomination?! There would be no Constitution to arge over if not for those who have pledged to defend it. I wish my husband could've spent the first year of our marriage home with me instead of serving in OIF/OEF. But he had this wacky idea that liberty must be defended, even at personal sacrifice. If sitting out a national election is what Conservatives are advocating, I want no part of it. And how does it look those living in oppressive states without the right to free and fair elections? So much for that "shining city on a hill."
Jan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
[Ed. Deleted for CoC violation.]
Edited on Feb 3 at 9:57pmAug '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
If Obama is re-elected, the Legislative branch stays under Republican control (partially or fully), and the economy is still stagnate or awful during that time I don't see how the Republicans keep control through 2014. Gridlock is not a viable long-term solution in my opinion. We've already been doing that for 2 years and you want another 2-4 years more of that?
Plus, you're assuming that the Legislature does keep enough Republican control after 2012 to provide gridlock. Not to mention Pres. Obama is trying to accomplish his plans by executive power alone.
Aug '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
You're entitled to your opinions just as much as the next person, but that's uncalled for.
Edited on Feb 3 at 9:58pmDec '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Roberto
Yes let us welcome the new David Souter appointees, that worked out so well in the past. The only fools are those still clinging to the absurd belief that Mr. Romney would actually put forward a conservative for the bench. Have not a single one of you examined his actual record in Massachusetts? Continue to cling to your delusion if you wish, some of us have actually studied who this man put on the bench and can not be so easily fooled. · 35 minutes ago
I know nothing of Mitt's record regarding nominations. Would you be willing to put a post together on this?
Edited on Feb 3 at 9:20pmJan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Aug '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Please remember: there is nobody - repeat: nobody - who we can vote for who is more harmful to the America we cherish than Barack Obama.
Whomever you want(ed) keep that in mind. I wanted Sarah. But I will vote for anybody on the other ticket than Obama.
May '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
If this is the sort of logic that runs our side, we deserve everything we get. All those dupes who figured that McCain was unacceptably RINO get ObamaCare and Holder as their reward- now more absolutists want to accelerate the disaster.
[Ed. Deleted for CoC violation]
Edited on Feb 3 at 10:01pm