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.
- Comment (118)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (7)
Comments:
Sep '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Can you imagine what it must be like to be David Bonior right now? He just watched a pro-Obamacare Rockefeller Republican Wall Street tycoon carpet bomb Florida with millions of dollars of ads repeating his lying calumnies against Newt Gingrich while Ann Coulter, Hugh Hewitt and Bob Dole (Bob Dole!) mouthed the trash he spewed all those years ago.
In a heroin-fueled, month-long hallucinatory bender, Bonior couldn't have pictured this, but he got it anyway, thanks to Mitt Romney. Bonior's house must be festooned with press clippings right now. I'll bet he's been texting and emailing and calling all of the weasels who teamed up with him to slander Newt and the bunch of them haven't been sober for weeks.
That's what I'm supposed to vote for because SCOTUS is on the line?
Get lost.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 6:38pmJan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Shucks, some of my best work swallowed by our benefactors' anxious maw. C'est la vie, I guess.
Anyway, I guess I too encourage the true conservatives to stay home, rather than vote for Romney. Because the facts of politics, indeed the laws of matter, tell us if you don't show up, you can't produce any influence. Seeing as I find the small tent of ideological purity approach a dumb one, I welcome those who espouse it marginalizing themselves by pouting and not participating.
So benefactors, please keep more 19 year olds who've never even voted coming here to patronizingly lecture us about the "smart" way to build a conservative coalition. I wholeheartedly welcome it!
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 6:39pmDec '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
"What makes you think that Romney wouldn't be persuaded by an ideologically strong and passionately supported Conservative Congress?" Well, has John Boehner been persuaded by his ideologically strong and passionately supported TEA Party members of his own caucus? You know, the people to whom he owes his position as Speaker? If you believe they've gotten him to deal seriously with the deficit and debt, then you can believe Congress can get a President Romney to behave. Personally, I think Boehnet has successfully resisted his TEA Party members and been too moderate in dealing with Obama and the Senate.
Sep '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
BThompson:
So benefactors, please keep more 19 year olds who've never even voted coming here to patronizingly lecture us about the "smart" way to build a conservative coalition. I wholeheartedly welcome it! · 2 minutes ago
Edited 1 minute ago
I voted for Reagan in 1980.
Aug '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
John Marzan
so now romney is worse than obama?
No, what I'm saying through my morning fog is that Candidate Obama could make himself look better than known-quantity Hillary. But those of us who actually looked at his past knew that his rhetoric covered over serious leftism.
So it is with Romney. He can make himself look better than other candidates (barely) but when you look at his record, it's alarming. So I really am annoyed when I'm told not to pay attention to his record and just listen to his soothing stump speeches. (Of course, I see vacuousness in his stump speeches, too. Just as I saw with Obama's.)
Be careful what you vote for . . .
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 8:34pmAug '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
BThompson:
Because the facts of politics, indeed the laws of matter, tell us if you don't show up, you can't produce any influence.
How is not voting not a form of influence?
BThompson:
Seeing as I find the small tent of ideological purity approach a dumb one, I welcome those who espouse it marginalizing themselves by pouting and not participating.
I'm used to being accused of "ideological purity" by those on the left.
Anyway, there's nothing wrong with a little purification of the party, is there? I'm sure that the establishment would love to purify the party from those crazies, as Mike Murphy calls us. Ideological purity works both ways, donnit?
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 8:32pmJan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
K T wrote: I voted for Reagan in 1980.
My remark was directed at the original poster, Ian.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 7:00pmSep '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
How many little Arlen Spectors are out there? A lot. I can smell them. So I'm not easily convinced that, if the shoe were on the other foot, that these people wouldn't bail on a conservative nominee.
Jan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Drew wrote: Anyway, there's nothing wrong with a little purification of the party, is there?
Yes, there is, when liberals and moderates have gotten more votes than your party in 4 of the last 5 presidential elections.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 7:05pmFeb '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
It is rare, indeed, that something that has once found it's way onto the internet is unretrievable.
Apr '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
K T Cat
BThompson:
So benefactors, please keep more 19 year olds who've never even voted coming here to patronizingly lecture us about the "smart" way to build a conservative coalition. I wholeheartedly welcome it! · 2 minutes ago
Edited 1 minute ago
I voted for Reagan in 1980. · 4 minutes ago
I voted for Clark in 1980 and McBride in 1976. I have voted for the Libertarian candidate more often than a Republican one as a protest. Florida recount in 2000 has caused me to rethink and I voted for GWB in 2004 and McCain in 2008. I was not happy! I will vote for the Republican nominee if the electoral votes in Nevada are in doubt. If the winner of Nevada is sure to go one way or the other, I may vote for the Libertarian candidate. I will only have a "hissy fit" if I know there is no way my vote will decide anything.
Sep '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
BThompson: Shucks, some of my best work swallowed by our benefactors' anxious maw. C'est la vie, I guess.
Anyway, I guess I too encourage the true conservatives to stay home, rather than vote for Romney. Because the facts of politics, indeed the laws of matter, tell us if you don't show up, you can't produce any influence. Seeing as I find the small tent of ideological purity approach a dumb one, I welcome those who espouse it marginalizing themselves by pouting and not participating.
So benefactors, please keep more 19 year olds who've never even voted coming here to patronizingly lecture us about the "smart" way to build a conservative coalition. I wholeheartedly welcome it! ·
You don't win elections, you don't get any influence either. Too bad the GOP is so slow on the uptake.
You don't know what a "conservative" is despite your age. Stop throwing around words you misunderstand. People have been voting wrongly for decades, and you presume experience in voting counts for anything? I'll put up any 19 year-old Hillsdale student up against you in a debate any day.
Jan '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Drew wrote: How is not voting not a form of influence?
Because, if you expect the party to reward you for not showing up, rather than punish you, you're deluded. The way to gain influence in your party is to get more of the people who think like you to show up. Getting less people who think like you to the polls tells the party that you can't be trusted and counted upon.
If you want to have influence, first you convince a majority that your ideas are right. Then you get someone who supports those ideas to run. Then you get the majority of people you've convinced to go vote. When you're successful doing that, you gain the trust of the party and gain influence. When you fail at accomplishing those things, the party has no reason to believe you can win and they won't get behind you. Period.
If you want influence you have to convince the candidates you like to run and then go vote. That's the only way to effect change. Letting the party burn down in order to send a message, allowing it to wallow in a marginalized minority, only strengthens the other party.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 7:38pmDec '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
The point of an election is to advance policy. Putting Romney up has all the effects of putting dewey up. It takes the new size and scope of the entitlement state off the table for 3 generations. Losing and maintaining hte ideological position for 4 years leaves the arguement open in 4 years. Thanks to ann coulter the Obamacare Law is now the extreme rightward pole of acceptable political discussion now in the broader national discussion.
Sometimes you have to punt. Romney will not advance worthwhile policy, he will not push for conservative supreme court nominees, and he cannot nationally advocate the broader vision. There is no good here.
May '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
I won't vote for Romney = four more years.
Period. Maybe that's ok with you...not with me.
Jul '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
John Marzan: this election is the last chance for fiscal cons to repeal obamacare. if romney is the choice of the primary voters, so be it.
and if romney loses to obama in november, then it's time for the tea party to seriously consider starting a third party. · 2 hours ago
If Romney is the nominee, then there is not the slightest point to the Tea Party sticking with the GOP for another cycle. The time to stop the bleeding and the madness is now. Faced with two ObomneyCare candidates from the Parties of Washington, the choice will never be clearer.
Qui bono?
The ObomneyCare debate is not severed from debt and deficit, it is the Parties of Washington stomping hard on the spending accelerator to increase Congressional deal making leverage with K Street. In their greed they are pitching the whole of the West out with the bath water.
No one has enforced insider trading rules on Congress in a long, long time. And they have been taking cheerful advantage. Tony Rezko wasn't even the tip of the iceberg, more like a cube in a fjord worth of ice trays.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 8:47pmAug '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
BThompson: Drew wrote: How is not voting not a form of influence?
Because, if you expect the party to reward you for not showing up, rather than punish you, you're deluded.
I don't look for rewards from the GOP for voting the way they say. I'm not even sure what you mean by rewards. I'm in no position to get invited to the Georgetown Cocktail Party Circuit if that's what you mean.
But the GOP has been punishing me for years even though I regularly vote for them. Thanks for nothing, GOP. You're on your own.
Time to form the conservative version of the PUMAs.
Dec '10
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
DrewInWisconsin
I don't look for rewards from the GOP for voting the way they say. I'm not even sure what you mean by rewards. I'm in no position to get invited to the Georgetown Cocktail Party Circuit if that's what you mean.
But the GOP has been punishing me for years even though I regularly vote for them. Thanks for nothing, GOP. You're on your own.
Time to form the conservative version of the PUMAs. · 0 minutes ago
I've been pretty naive about the reality of the GOP. Since 1980, I've, incorrectly, viewed the GOP as the institution of Reaganism, Bzzzzt, wrong. Reality: the GOP political class is largely corrupt, largely statist and far too many have an easy alliance with the Left. There's always going to be "the current crisis" created by pick your favorite left wing policy, so, there's always going to be the argument that we have to support the GOP political class just one more time.
I'll take the number after yours in the new Conservative/Tea Party Party.
Edited on February 4, 2012 at 9:42pmMay '11
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
A little apocolyptic but I agree with your senitment. I fear our political class is like a drug addict that will have to reach rock bottom to do anything substantial.
Jan '12
Re: Don’t Vote!-It Just Encourages the RINOs
Ian, in your post and in this response, you seem to forget that elections are about choices between two people. You must consider the alternative. A second Obama term, without the political constraints of having to get re-elected, would be catastrophic. What you're essentially saying in your argument is that four more years of Obama would be better than a less-than-ideal conservative? I'm confused.