Tuesday, March 19, AD 2024 4:37am

If You Want to Send the GOP A Message, Now Is The Time

At least every four years (or more frequently when Congressional, state and local elections are considered) the Catholic blogosphere starts erupting with debate over whether voting for a major party candidate who is not fully pro-life or in line with Catholic moral teachings, but appears to be the lesser evil when compared to his or her opponent from the other major party, is morally permissible or advisable.

Right now this question, on the conservative Catholic side at least, is being raised in relation to whether or not Catholics should prefer Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, or another candidate over Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee for president, and whether or not to vote for Romney over Obama in the general election if Romney ends up as the GOP nominee. Some who are less than satisfied with Romney’s past record on life and family issues say they will not vote for him at all, not even in November and not even if his loss means another 4 years of Obama, because they believe the GOP needs to be sent a strong message about the importance of life, family and cultural issues. Others believe the prospect of a second Obama term is sufficient reason to vote for the GOP candidate in the general election even if he is less than satisfactory.

What follows are just a few of my own personal reflections and suggestions on this topic. They are merely suggestions offered for your consideration and should not be construed as a moral judgment against any who may disagree. Also, because they appear to comprise the majority of TAC readers, I am addressing myself solely to Republican or GOP-leaning Catholics opposed to Obama’s reelection. Again, this is for simplicity’s sake and not meant as a moral judgment against persons with a different view.

I believe that if you want to “send a message” to the GOP about the importance of life and family and cultural issues, the primaries are the time to do it. If, for example, you support Santorum and he is still in the race by the time your state’s primary rolls around (or even if he isn’t, you can still write him in), by all means vote for him. Likewise, if you support Huntsman, Gingrich, or any of the other “not Romney” candidates, vote for them, without hesitation.

You are, at this point, only picking a party nominee, not the actual POTUS — that is, if your primary vote is actually binding and is not a mere “beauty contest” (as in some states where the convention delegates are not bound by the outcome of the popular primary vote). At this point, there is not as much to lose by choosing an allegedly “unelectable” candidate. If the “more electable” candidate wins despite a heavy vote for another candidate, he will still get the clear message that a considerable chunk of his party isn’t very happy with him, and will likely move in their direction. If the “less electable” candidate wins in an upset, it lets the party know how its core voters are inclined, and also builds momentum for that candidate to become more electable (as is happening, right now, with Santorum).

However, when the general election rolls around, the stakes get much higher. This time, you are choosing who will actually be POTUS for the next 4 years.  So if Romney does end up as the GOP nominee, and you are an Anyone But Romney voter, what should you do on Nov. 6? Do you vote for him to prevent an Obama victory, or do you not vote for him in order to communicate your displeasure with him to the powers that be in the GOP?

Before I attempt to answer that question, consider the fact that in presidential elections, the vote that really counts is the Electoral College vote. That is decided on a state by state basis. Therefore, how much of an impact your individual vote may have on the presidential race depends to a large extent on what state you live in; and likewise, so does the impact of your decision to vote, or not vote, for any given Obama opponent.

If you, like me, are a conservative living in a deep blue state (Illinois) whose electoral votes will probably go to Obama anyway, then there is less force to the argument that voting third party, independent or write in is simply throwing away your vote and enabling the worse of the two major party candidates to win.  However, if you live in a hotly contested swing state like Florida or Ohio, where just one or two votes per precinct really could decide who gets those electoral votes, you have to take that argument more seriously.

Personally, I would say that if you live in a state that is clearly in the bag for one candidate or the other going into Election Day — classified as “Safe” or “Leaning” Democrat or “Safe/Leaning Republican” by multiple reliable polls — then you may feel free to vote third party, independent, or write in, or abstain from voting for POTUS at all, without fear that your actions may materially assist in tipping your state’s electoral vote the “wrong” way. But if your state is in “too close to call” or “tossup” status going into Election Day,  and has sufficient electoral votes to be described as critical to one side or the other, then I’d suggest you think long and hard about voting for anyone other than the GOP candidate, if you do not want to see 4 more years of Obama. Remember Florida in 2000, and how close we came to having President Al Gore.

Finally, we should remember that the presidential contest is not the only one of importance. Due to retirements and a number of vulnerable Democrats among the Class of 2006, the Senate could very well flip to GOP control this time around. That, combined with continued GOP control of the House, could provide a much-needed restraint on the left-leaning excesses (e.g. Cabinet and Supreme Court appointments) of a second Obama term, or make it less necessary for a Romney or Santorum or Gingrich Administration to water down its agenda to get past Democrats.

If your state has a contested Senate seat this year, start paying attention to that race now. If there is a contested primary race for this seat, familiarize yourself with the candidates and choose the one you believe to be best. In the general election, you may still want to cast a vote for Senate even if none of the presidential candidates are acceptable to you. Also pay attention to Congressional races in your area; you may have a different Congressman than before due to redistricting after the 2010 census.

 

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Paul W. Primavera
Sunday, January 8, AD 2012 5:14pm

Good analysis, Elaine, but I will be voting against Obama even if it means that I have to hold my nose while so doing and then visit the vomitorium afterwards. That godless man of depravity, iniquity and murder has got to go.

lisag
lisag
Sunday, January 8, AD 2012 5:48pm

Clearly voting for Obama would be voting for the worst pro-life, anti Christian policy president ever. Any of the Republican nominees are better in these areas as well as economic issues. Don’t hold your nose to vote. Run to the polls and take everyyone else along with you to vote Obama out of office.

suzanne
suzanne
Monday, January 9, AD 2012 7:12am

I would like to comment on why I am voting for Newt and not voting for Mitt Romney. Alot of Christian Conservatives are voting for Romney, but my thoughts are that my husband of 54 years and I believe that you have to mix politics with your Faith. Without Faith in Christ, we do not believe that the Holy Spirit will guide you in making important decisions in whatever comes up in your life or government. We really need Christian leaders that accept Christ as their personal Savior. As far as Romney, he says he is a Christian and by no means would I judge someone’s Salvation, but my husband and I studied Mormomism in a 6 week course 54 years ago and we did not become Mormons. They believe that the Church died when the Apostles died and that is why we needed a New Church. Christ said that “Upon this rock, I shall build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”. We believe that Christ is the head of the Church and we as believers are part of His Body of Believers. The Church is not made with hands, for the Holy Spirit lives within you and we are part of the Church whoever you are that accept Christ. We feel that Mitt Romney is very gullable to believe that a man by the name of Joseph Smith was needed to bring the Church back and that is why they baptize for the dead relatives. If the Lord or Lord and the King of Kings could not keep His Church together, how could anyone believe that a nobody could come along and start a New Church? This is totally not Scriptural at all. In the Book of Galations, it says that “If a angel comes to you and preaches to you any other Gospel than what you have received, let him be accursed”. We do not need a President that is gullable in believing this story. We fully support Newt and believe that he is forgiven for his past sins and God has buried them in the deepest sea. We feel that Newt will be able to lead our Country and put God back into our Government. Praise God for Newt!!

c matt
c matt
Monday, January 9, AD 2012 8:49am

that is, if your primary vote is actually binding and is not a mere “beauty contest” (as in some states where the convention delegates are not bound by the outcome of the popular primary vote).

Even if only a beauty contest, it would still have the effect of sending a message.

David
Monday, January 9, AD 2012 11:13am

Rick Santorum and the Republican Presidential Primary, David vs. Goliath
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2012/01/rick-santorum-and-republican.html

When Mitt Romney Came To Town
http://ressourcement.blogspot.com/2012/01/when-mitt-romney-came-to-town.html

PM
PM
Wednesday, January 11, AD 2012 12:59am

The 12/30/11 post about Republicans says it best, so I copied it for this one.

My message to the GOP is that reputation fallacies of rich v. poor, war-mongering, self-serving, and on and on should be cleared up for the opposing voting block. There should be a clear presentation of ‘change’ situations we are in now as to right/wrong, accountability, debt spiral (bailouts), budget ignorance, and the bleak near future for them and their children. Also, clear the fallacies of ‘champion of common man’ the partying Dems. enjoy.

“Bill Whittle explains it all. Certain essential principles have always been maintained by the Republican party:

1. That the basis of all American government derives from the principles enunciated in the Declaration of Independence.

2. That discrimination on the basis of race by government is anathema to a free society.

3. That the judiciary has often recklessly usurped powers that are bestowed in the Constitution in Congress or the Executive.

4. That hostility to private enterprise is a self-defeating policy of government.

5. That the primary duty of the Federal government is to safeguard the American people from external or internal threats.

6. That no group in society is entitled to special privileges from government.

7. That all Americans are entitled to receive the benefits of the rule of law without fear or favor.

8. That attempts to divide the American people by appeals to racial prejudice are incompatible with a free society.

9. That the politics of class hatred or class envy is a disastrous policy for a political party to follow.

10. That freedom is the birthright of all Americans.

Keep this in mind next year when much of the lamestream media does its best, in order to ensure that Obama stays in power, to confuse the Republican party with the adversary it has fought throughout its history.”

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