It is no hyperbole to say that conservatives throughout America
are extremely disappointed and disillusioned with the national
Republican Party. This discouragement is only deepened as they
peruse the field of prominent candidates being trotted out as
"frontrunners."
It appears that conservatives will be asked to choose between
the chameleon Mitt Romney, the pro-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens
John McCain, and philanderers Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani.
A few conservatives seem slightly excited that former Tennessee
senator Fred Thompson is mulling entrance into the presidential
race. However, a closer inspection of his voting record finds
him to be just another globalist neocon, who would do little
to change things in Washington, D.C. For example, Americans
for Better Immigration gives him a puny career grade of "C."
The Republican Party's unwillingness to advance a genuine conservative
has left millions of grassroots Republicans on the verge of
leaving the GOP. For example, a poll at the recent CPAC meeting
found the "overwhelming majority of conservatives displeased
with the leadership of the Republican Party, and most conservatives
scowl at the thought of having to vote for Rudoph Giuliani,
John McCain, or Mitt Romney."
In fact, the displeasure of grassroots conservatives with the
GOP manifested itself in the creation of the Conservative Exodus
Project (CEP), which was formed immediately following the recent
CPAC meeting. According to organizers, CEP "is a vehicle
for conservatives to leave the GOP if a real conservative presidential
candidate is not chosen in 2008." Members pledge either
to not vote, or to vote third party (e.g. Constitution Party).
CEP adherents use a fivefold litmus test to reveal a "real
conservative." 1) He must oppose the "third-world
invasion of the United States and reject amnesty and any path
to citizenship for illegals." 2) He must "oppose free
trade, the support of which has become an ideological suicide
pact." 3) He must be a "moral candidate, critical
of secularism, who embodies the virtues of the Christian Western
tradition." 4) He must oppose the "illegal neocon
war in Iraq." 5) He must "wish to see big government
reduced in size-in all three branches-and for many offices and
functions to be returned to the states, where they Constitutionally
belong."
Proponents of the CEP make the following commitment: "Unless
the above criteria are met, we pledge to stay home or vote third-party
in 2008."
To which I say, Hallelujah! Not to the staying home part, but
to the voting third-party part.
It is past time for conservatives to admit that the national
Republican Party has crossed the point of no return and has
no intention of nominating a genuine conservative for president.
The GOP has become nothing more than a big-government, no-borders,
war party. If true conservatives are going to have a voice in
Washington politics, it will have to come through an independent
party.
That is not to say that there are not genuine conservatives
in the GOP presidential race. Congressman Ron Paul of Texas
embodies everything the CEP is looking for. Beyond that, if
he should miraculously win the nomination, he would, no doubt,
receive broad support in the general election. He would solidify
the conservative base of the GOP and would be very popular among
independents, libertarians, and even conservative Democrats.
The problem is, the GOP leadership, including the money-machine,
refuses to support the independent-minded Ron Paul. They want
another puppet to carry out the marching orders of their CFR
cronies. However, if rank and file Republicans, and if Jerry
Falwell, James Dobson, and other leaders of the Religious Right,
would support Ron Paul, the globalist elitists within the GOP
could be defeated.
Absent a Ron Paul nomination, true conservatives will have
nowhere to go next year, except to a third party. In fact, it
is my prayer that if Paul does not obtain the Republican nomination,
he would lead the exodus to the Constitution Party.
It is time for conservatives to do more than hold their noses
and vote for the "lesser of two evils." It is time
for them to vote their principles and their conscience. It is
time to only support genuine conservatives, even if that means
such candidates can only be found in a third party.
It's too late for business-as-usual. We need a revolution!
And thanks to the wisdom, sagacity, and foresight of America's
Founding Fathers, we have a system in place whereby the American
people can change their government anytime they choose to do
so. I pray 2008 will be the year they choose to do so.
To learn more about the Conservative Exodus Project, go to
http://www.conservativeexodusproject.com/
To learn more about the Constitution Party, go to
http://www.constitutionparty.com
