GOP Gains from Principles and Tea Party
December 9, 2011 at 1:05 am in Blog by Steve Davies 50 Comments
By Dr. Milton R. Wolf, MD
Democrats didn’t understand the Tea Party when it launched in 2009, and they don’t understand it now. They proclaim that if Republicans nominate Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney, the Tea Party will have failed. They could not be more wrong, and their transparent attempt to dispirit conservatives won’t work. Those outmatched liberals who received a good old-fashioned shellacking from the Tea Party in 2010 are hardly in a position to define its future success.
First, however, conservatives must face reality and choose one of these three options: (1) Decide between Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney, (2) devise some near-magical electoral path in the 11th hour that leads to a different nominee or (3) brace for Barack Obama’s second term. A rule to remember: Manage the situation you have, not the one you want, or someone else will manage it for you.
America’s last, best hope is the Tea Party. This movement is not some third party or nominating body or even some roster of specific people. Instead, the Tea Party is more of a state of mind, and it’s time for all Republicans to fully embrace its guiding principles of constitutional fidelity, limited government and free-market capitalism. After all, racing toward the bipartisan cliff of complete economic collapse will end just the same whether it’s at the Democrats’ breakneck speed or whether the Republicans can “compromise” the car down to a little slower pace before it plummets.
The path to a 2012 conservative victory is before us, elucidated by an unapologetic champion of freedom – economic and otherwise – upon whose shoulders we stand today.
One of history’s minor tragedies is that Nobel economist Milton Friedman did not live long enough to see the advent of the Tea Party era, a movement his lifelong work continues to inspire. The man who guided Ronald Reagan’s conservative uprising realized that elections were not simply about men but rather about ideas. The 2012 election must be about principles, not personalities.
“People have a great misconception in this way,” Friedman explained. “They think the way they solve things is by electing the right people. It’s nice to elect the right people, but that isn’t the way you solve things. The way you solve things is by making it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right things.”
As the race teeters between Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney, conservatives must make it politically profitable for either or both to do the right things. Embrace the Tea Party principles, which are – not coincidentally – America’s founding principles. If either man hopes to have the enthusiastic support of the Tea Party – and he’ll need it to beat President Obama in the general election – he should enthusiastically join the movement.
It’s time to take the crony out of capitalism. It’s time to end all forms of corporate welfare. No more bailouts, subsidies, waivers, targeted tax credits, guaranteed loans or protective tariffs. Renounce them all. It’s time to restructure our tax code fundamentally from an impossibly complex instrument of social engineering to a simple, flat and fair system in which we all play by the same rules and are judged by the same standards. Be bold. It’s time to unshackle the economy from the excessively burdensome and demonstrably failed regulatory state. Dismantle it.
Now is not the time for timidity. No more tinkering around the edges. If Herman Cain’s meteoric rise taught us nothing else, it showed that Americans crave bold, transformative ideas and will richly reward them politically.
Unfortunately, both Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney have, at times, forsaken conservative principles. It’s true. The offending list is long: Romneycare, bailouts, ethanol subsidies, government-sponsored enterprises and more. It’s mea culpa time, not for the mere sake of groveling, but instead to swallow their pride and convince voters that they won’t repeat those mistakes. Downgraded America simply can’t afford it.
Both Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney are exceptionally capable leaders. Conservatives have reason for optimism that either man could be an enormously successful president and usher in a new era of American prosperity and freedom. But based on their own histories, skepticism certainly is justified. Should one of these men become our next president, will he steadfastly embrace our founding principles? Or will he be too clever by half and succumb to big-government temptations? Will he fall for Washington’s siren song of bipartisanship, which has bloated our government and bankrupted our nation? Or will he instead put his trust in free Americans to guide their own lives?
Our best hope is for the Tea Party to make it politically profitable for Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney to choose wisely between their own alternate futures and to make it politically disastrous to do otherwise. The Tea Party is a powerful band of happy warriors but not blind followers.
It’s time for conservatives to quit playing checkers and start playing chess. Stop sabotaging our own candidates and instead create a path that rewards conservatism no matter who our nominee is. Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are both smart enough to know that while the Tea Party lights a path to the White House, the harsh reality follows that should one of them receive its support and betray it, his presidency would be over before it began.
This is the genius of Milton Friedman and his concept of political profit even for the wrong people. This is the path to a 2012 conservative victory and beyond.
Dr. Milton R. Wolf, a Washington Times columnist, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist and President Obama’s cousin. He blogs at miltonwolf.com. “I may not be the first doctor to oppose ObamaCare, but I am the first doctor from Barack Obama’s own family to oppose ObamaCare.”
gingrich and romney tea party hahaha what a joke. i use to be a tea party supporter…..
ron paul is the only onr that holds our values. when dick armey became involved in the movement i knew then that the tea party was finished.
Agreed. Ron Paul is the only candidate with true conservative values and a deep understanding of the issues- the central ones being our failed economy and foreign policy nightmare. All others are counterfeit conservatives who will enact no real change in Washington. Go Dr Paul! The tea party movement has no hope without you!
And Ron Paul has ZERO chance of getting the nomination
Yeah, I liked what I have heard from Mr Paul. I think he’s in touch with what needs to be changed right now.
Will we end all the unconstitutional federal departments, including the Departments of Energy, Education, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Labor? Will the Patriot Act be repealed and all the warrantless searches stopped? Will the TSA be restrained or abolished? Will the IRS’s unconstitutional collection powers end? Will executive and judicial quasilegislative powers be ended? Will we end the federal war on drugs? Would we end the federal government’s involvement in medical care? Will we end all the federal government’s illusionary insurance programs? Will we ban secret prisons, trials without due process, and assassinations? Will we end our foreign policy of invasion and occupations?”
NOT WITHOUT RON PAUL.
Will IRAN end its relentless pursuit of a nuclear weapon—-Will IRAN renounce their intentions to use a nuclear weapon on Israel—-Will IRAN renounce their intentions on using a nuclear weapon on the USA—-Will ISLAMIC jihadists just simply go away—-the answer to these questions is— NO—– IF RON PAUL is elected
Thanks for seeing crap for it is!! Amen, brother.
Isn’t it amazing how us Ron Paul supporters are written off? Isn’t it a laugh when talking head journalists and bloggers give lip service to the constitution then support old establishment trash like Newt the nut and Romney?
I’m stunned that folks say they believe in small non intrusive government, then support the very trash responsible! Ready to give up constitutional principles in a heartbeat out of fear for security. Non Ron Paul supporters, grow a brain and a spine. Try actually reading the constitution.
Ron Paul supporters are easily written off as myopic fools – Niave wingnuts in the real world and babes in Toyland. Ron is the political equivalent of Tim Leary. Pull your head out of the smoke and sober up!! The world is a dangerous place and it is either engaged and confronted or it will kill you. We shouldn’t wait for the GOP to give us a list of candidates with no viable alternatives, we should have our own and run them out of town.
You Are 100% Correct Ron Paul is the Best Option America Has He will Reduce Govt And Protect Freedom. Newt Gingrich Is A Progresive Rino Who Supported The Federal Land Grab against American citizens Also Supports The UN New World Order. NOT CONSERVATIVE AT ALL
After hearing on CNN that the tea party gives Romney or Gingrich the nod in S.C. over Ron Paul it made me sick to my stomach. Personal Liberty (check), Balancing the budget (check), so what can possibly be the problem! It’s military policy. You want war with Iran. I see it clearly now and I’m pissed off. Never again a good word about the Tea Party from me.
Why is the Tea Party supporting Romney and Gingrich when they are political insider puppets who flip flop whichever way they need to be at the time? Don’t you see that it is same ‘ole, same ole? If you don’t stand behind Ron Paul, you will sadly get the same ‘ole.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idV12epKanY
I agree with Dr. Wolf that democrats had no understanding of the Tea Party movement, but now they do realize our value and are trying to dispirit conservatives.
I do differ with Dr. Wolf, in having a position to support Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich. While the two are capable leaders and the Tea Party could support either of them, aren’t the Tea Party’s views more aligned with those of Dr. Ron Paul?
We cannot be unforgiving when someone makes a mistake, that’s a given, but we can’t look the other way when one candidate reaps off the American people while working for two Federally backed entities like Freddy Mac and Fannie Mae. While Mr. Gingrich was working for them, he was a main reason these two entities received federal bailout money when there was no reason even asking for it. You saw what they did with the proceeds. Consider this, even if every person who had a mortgage through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae had decided to foreclose, the federal government would have taken over the mortgages since Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are government-sponsored enterpries (GSE). Having Mr. Gingrich help them obtain 100 million and then receiving 1.2 million is the height of hypocrisy. When given the opportunity to screw the American People Newt Gingrich did and so far is unrepentant. We need to help Ron Paul. Neither the left nor Donald Trump gives him much of a chance, but we as Tea Party members don’t need to listen to them. Had we not stood our grounds and backed up the candidates we did, the Democrats could have indeed discounted our movement. We are here and we’re getting bigger and our voices carry more weight as we awaken our American brothers to join us in shaping America according to the ideas of fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited government and free market economic policies.
I would like for people to consider Dr. Ron Paul. If we were to get Dr. Paul into the white house, and help him by getting more like minded folks in congress things would actually be accomplished. Please consider.
@carlos saldivar, you have your “facts” wrong on Newt Gingrich and his Freddie connection: A) There is no indication that he ever worked with Fannie, period, yet you claim that he did. I assume that you make that leap just like others make the leap that consulting equals lobbying. Bad assumption. B) Gingrich did not consult for Freddie during the meltdown. He last worked with them in 2007 at least one year before the meltdown. Freddie was NOT paying Gingrich consulting fees in 2003, 2004, etc. to get bailout money in 2009. That’s just silly. C) Gingrich has consistently called for tighter regulations on Fannie and Freddie while both in and outside of gov’t.
tea party, who the hell are you! cause if you aint supporting Ron Paul, you aint TEA PARTY aND IF YOU GONE ALL CAP AND TRADE NEWT, If you gone all OBAMA healthcare, then you are traitors to the constitution
David:
You have an overwhelming command for illogical thinking and the English language. Do you truly feel comments such as this actually help our cause?
You have to be careful with Tea Party, CFR will destroy you from the inside out, with a persuasive thought, and their desire, plant a seed of lies (trust) lies, and watch it grow, infecting those who are not on a level of knowledge to help themselves. Ron Paul is our founding fathers only choice
Agree, agree, agree.
The Tea Party Express site has just proven that it is another establishment front. A fraud.
Promoting another election fix with a rich estblishment insider like Trump “moderating” the “debate” they are promoting. Are we going to have another “Hold your nose” election”; where both parties give the voter a CFR,TC,Bilderberg aproved candidate? If they are successful; the answer is YES! Waiting to see if this comment gets posted after “moderation” I sure hope Americans wake up to another set up, and vote Ron Paul. Four more tears of a CFR,TC, Bilderberg president will be our finish. The NWO must be exposed and despised.
Paul is the heart and soul of the Tea Party
Be careful however. The Tea Party doesn’t look like it will support Ron Paul. Gingrich doesn’t deserve the Tea Party support as much as Ron Paul. Paul is the true free market candidate. Beware of Gingrich and Romney. Paul can beat Obama on the Internet. The old whites and Christians would support Ron Paul.
Tea Party Patriots, please check the voting records of ALL of your candidates.A good place to start is to look up The John Birch Society website and click on “The Real Newt Gingrich” A real wakeup call and one candidate you can drop from your list.I applaude your efforts and hard work but do not be fooled by the wolves in sheep’s clothing.Do your homework.Do not become co-oped.Ron Paul understands the problems,has a consistent record and is nobody’s fool. Sincerly,A Canadian watching from the sidelines and wishing he was there.
Did you actually say, John Birch Society? Are you for real? We are conservatives here, not wingnuts!! Remember, tea is something you drink, not something you smoke.
Ron Paul is good but is too far out in some areas for many people. I personally think Bachmann is the best Tea Party Candidate this year.
If she ran with Palin they’d have my vote.
Very thoughtful read, however. it veers way off in the complete wrong direction. Here is where you got lost. Option 2. (2) devise some near-magical electoral path in the 11th hour that leads to a different nominee.
I thought this was the Tea Party. Please tell me you folks didnt sit in a room and defeat yourselves before even making YOUR opening chess move. The strategy is to not to do anything, in the hopes these two pander for our support. Very Brave.
I elect Option 2. Ron Paul will win Iowa all on his own. Its not the 11th hour so to speak.
We should put out headlines ASAP that says, “TEA PARTY BACKS GODFATHER.” It instantly buys millions of dollars in free Air Time. He’s easy to back for the Tea Party and easy to sell. When they attack his foreign policy, we can say we support the troops. Our Troops have donated more to Ron Pauls Foreign Policy than all the other Candidates combined. The Lobbiests dont even come to see him. He was against the bank bailouts. He’s a constitutionalist. He will audit the FED. …..it goes on and on……the sell is easy.
Ron Paul pulls Independents and Democrats. WITHOUT Ron Paul, the Republicans will lose Independent voters that will sit on their hands. They will lose Democrats back to Obama and they will lose Ron Paul Republicans. If WE the TEA PARTY also go the route of RON PAUL OR BUST and tell republicans we REJECT the two “frontrunners”……it is the Magical 11th hour Move that will absolutely work.
Beautifully written, I agree 100%. It’s time for Republicans and tea partiers to put up or shut up. Ron Paul is the only alternative to business as usual.
I was on the tea party nation website when the tea party imposter Judson Philips tried to do the same thing as this article although not as eloqintly, I beleave that the supposed leaders eather dont understand the movement themselves, or are cowards in the face of the enemy. I will support Ron Paul under any banner that he flies, the republican party will not come to us, we must find the courage to defeat them as well as the other liberals in our government.
This is a GOP site. This snakish attepmt to real in Tea Party conservatives back in GOP progressive lodge is traitorous. Shame on you.
Ron Paul is not a viable candidate. His views on foreign policy is bizarre. The only thing he will do is split the republican vote and help Obama to win a second term.
I challenge you to explain what good has been done in all the wars since WWII, have we actually been allowed to win one or just stir up a nest of hornets and withdraw. Have we even declared war since WWII, or just police actions which we must rebuild, I can live with this if someone else wants to put this crap on their credit card we are broke. how is his foreign policy so bad.
When the Tea Party 1st came to be, I thought it was the best thing that could happen to our country, I still do! — Why do you all insist on eating your young??? We on the right have good candidates. I have spent this morning reading blogs on this site and can’t beleive some of the negative things being said about our slate of candidates. I have my favorite, but would never run down the rest. Beleive me, some I do not care for at all. When push comes to shove, I will support the anyone with an R hehind their name. If my guy does’nt make it, I dont want to be on record as saying bad things about the winner. I will back that person and work hard to get them elected. Please think hard about your actions, talk as much as you’d like about your guy and try to change other peoples minds, but stop being so nasty to the rest of the Field, WWJD. Sharon.
I agree, Sharon. Candidates (and their “supporters”) BLASTING other candidates for “ethical” reasons is the definition of hypocrisy. “Gee, let me tell half-truths and all out lies about this other candidate to convince you that I am more moral than he/she is.” WWJD, indeed.
It would be nice to see supporters actually “support” instead of bash. It would be nice to see candidates act like candidates and tell us why they are “right for the job!” Interestingly, “candidate” comes from the Latin word for “bright white” because Roman candidates wanted to stand out in a crowd while they spoke publicly about why they deserved the public’s support.
“Candidate: From the Latin Candidus word meaning, ‘bright, shining, glistening white.’ The ancient Roman candidates for office would wear bright white togas.” (from http://www.westegg.com/etymology/)
Nothing in there about hurling dirt at other candidates so that the “other guy” doesn’t stand out…
While I am still considering Dr. Paul, the statements made by some of the above are making the Tea Party movement seem too concerned with one man and not willing to let the people decide. Most people who hold freedom dear are very capable of making a choice and Mitt and Newt are both fine men and deserve respect, I like all our candidates much better than I have in a long time.
Sharon has it right, well done.
Dr. Wolf. I agree with most of what you say but I am not ready to conceed that Romeny and Gingrich are the final choices. I think we should do all we can to promote Bachman. The only candidate who acknowledges that she supports the Tea Party.
The conservative movement MUST unite behind whoever wins the nomination in order to beat Obama…united we stand, divided we lose to Obama the Marxist!
Ron Paul is an extremist on foreign policy. Bachmann and Santorum are true Tea Party Patriots. Mitt/Newt are progressive/moderate republicans.
Sick and Tired of hearing about having to choose between Gingrich or Romney as a Tea Party Patriot from the Very Beginning!!!!! What about a TRUE Tea Party Patriot….Like maybe….Oh say, Michelle Bachmann or EVEN Santorum!!!! C’mon where are all the Constitution People here….haven’t we learned all we could about History from Glenn Beck’s Documentaries with David Barton…..We Are BETTER than Gingrich or Romney…I’m NOT Settling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michelle Bachmann’s numbers are on the rise. Sara Palin and others should endorse her. She isn’t as eloquent a speaker as Ronald Reagan but she is strong on values. Reagan didn’t get nominated in his first bid for president against Gerald Ford but he sure made an awesome impression. I say let’s get it right the first time and nominate Michelle Bachmann for president. The great persuader is in our hearts.
The 1773 Boston Tea Party got this party started. That action in 1773 action ignited a series of events leading to American independence. Obamacare and entitlement cronyism is very much like the tea tax that led to American protesters tossing the overtaxed English tea into the Boston Harbor. The American Tea Party today is a resurgence of that sentiment that gives our representatives pause as we hold their feet to the fire when necessary. Anyone today who says, “I use to be a Tea Party supporter” lacks that passion for independence and fails to acknowledge the threats to American freedom. Once we go down that path of socialism and communism we can never recover our independence. We have been witness to how, just like the Chinese communist government, how Obama and his administration have been seeking, mandating by executive fiat, a path toward imposing and permeating absolute power and control over social spending in order to have permanent and financial income influence over voters. Obamacare is a means to have financial control of our destinies. Obamacare mandates that every American submit detailed personal information to the federal government about not just their medical profile, but also gathers information on our work, incomes, whether we own firearms; information that not only be used by corrupt government officials motivated by illicit intent to seize power and cover up wrong doings. That new database of information can and would be used by an invading force to go after the most important and influential Americans; Americans who protect us. American scientists, doctors, generals, leaders, whomever they feel they need to compel other Americans to relinquish their freedom and independence. The Chinese government maintains this kind of absolute godly power and control over their people. Let’s never give this absolute power to any entity or government agency in Washington. Democrats already use that power of social spending to try to compel and influence votes. Once they take the power and instill socialist, communist level, power and control over “We the People” we will become helpless like the Chinese people; helpless without any hope of regaining our freedom and independence. Democracy is not an option in China. Once we lose the meaning of what it is to live in a democratic republic in the U.S.A. that option will be erased from the present and from the annals of history as this is already happening in our public schools. This is why the Tea Party movement is of such paramount importance. Tea Party for 2012 is not just a win win for America, the Tea Party is a model for all free nations.
I offer Kudos to someone who actually gets it like the writer of the original blog on which we offer our comment. Our first job is to remove the Communist-in-Chief, Obama, and to replace him with someone whose feet we can hold to the fire and push for the America we hope for. I wish we could vote for the candidate we like the most but our first priority is to support the candidate who can actually be elected.
The cynical people on this page who wish for the nomination of Ron Paul are probably his only supporters and live in a world of complete niavete’. Ron has gotten all the support his views deserve and languishes along behind the field because of nonsensical praise of the type he receives here. He has no hope of defeating Obama or anyone else and therefore fails the first test of his viability.
Paul lives in this fantasy world in which America would become as isolationist as he proposes, withdraw inside our own borders and then skip tra-la into the idyllic bliss of our ignorance. While we are living in his paradise, America’s enemies in Asia, Africa and elsewhere go unchallenged either economically or militarily. Eventually, these envious and hateful powers will overpower us and we won’t even see it coming. We cannot simply withdraw from the world and expect that all will be bliss. Who will confront N. Korea or Iran? Who will support the peace anywhere? Who will ward off WW3? It won’t be America if we withdraw and disarm. How much are our freedoms worth when the world is in ashes? I suggest that our reality may not be ideal but it beats the h*** out of the alternatives.
We cannot be over critical of candidates unless we are all ready for the sacarific, We can fix America with a Flat Tax, a Phase Out of Sc Sec and Medicare, and States taking back their rights. This will be tough, but routinely I hear nothing but excuses not to support strong, immediate change.
The Tea Party is going to give congress back to the democrats and if had their way would get Obama reelected
I used to be a Tea Party supporter but your political stupidity is costing major.
Good luck getting anything accomplished with Democrats back in control:)
Whatever happened to the Tea Party Patriots “Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government and Free Markets” — sounds like Ron Paul but yet they vote for a globalist! What?
How can that be? Have the core values been rewritten to support the likes of globalists or ???
As Columbus proved, the world is round. No nation can be an island unto itself. The world is global in culture, in communication, in finance and trade. Welcome to the real world. Join or die!
I don’t believe the Tea Party is only going to be around for just one or two elections – I have put forth the notion that my 100 pound Doberman Pincer would be a better President that Mr. Obama, at least he follows the rules.. We have just about lost our freedom as far as I am concerned the government is in every room in my house and I have to pay the government just to live in my house. We are not free and unfortunately very far from being free. Congress is almost as big a problem as the current resident in the White House..
Well written Dr Wolf,,,I agree totally and would like to add the following to consider in this discussion;
Presidential winners are determined by numbers, specifically these “$$$$” numbers. Congressional and Senate seats not as much, and the changes we are hoping for get made there. So focus on your district races this campaign, more than the presidential diversion. The Tea Perty received all it”s credibility in 2010, by changing the seats in the Senate and House to our favor. New redistricting lines are being drawn right now (post 2010 consensus) hear in NY we haven’t heard anything. This I believe is premeditated to keep any non establishment candidates and third party candidates from having enough time and/or resources to make the ballots
.
****Historic nugget on dollars$$$ make a presidency, not content: 2008 Obama out played McCain by saying he would abide by the public finance rules, then he bailed on that promise just before the deadline and McCain got caught. Obama then out spent McCain; 410 million vs 220 million. Obama actually made a back room deal with Hillary (who was ganged up on by the DNC & I believe hates Obama) for Sec.of State position and Obama’s campaign paid off her 7.5 million dollar campaign debt for her support in the fight against McCain. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2008/reportersblog/2008/12/obama_campaign_fundraising_tot.html
If we control the House and Senate we can make the rules. Lot’s of seats up for grab this year
How difficult would it be to require every state in our nation to indicate on every November
ballot how long each incumbent has been in office? Seems to me that once our citizens
realize how long some of our representatives have failed us, it will cause them to think
twice about voting for the same person again. Good example, Harry Reid from Nevada. This may be a temporary solution, until we can get term limits enacted. Richard Muhlhauser, Henderson, NV.
ANYone , anyone who takes a possible solution off the table like not funding the bailout of the auto inductry needs to remember what got us here. – Henry Ford – if the unions get a “share” of the rewards or blame is past history. We need a “solid” manufacturing arm of industry which is the Auto industry. Most of the “arms” of industry have gone to other countries. Even Toyota has been “blessed” by having another source to produce; here in the states. This kind of rhetoric that bailouts are evil is wrong. They are a tool. Just because a “democrat” used them to accelerate unions; doesn’t mean it didn’t help the company. Note the Profits from the “dieing” industry. “whatever it takes” is better than
dogmatic pragmatism. You do it everyday out on the farm way change it for politics?
As I see it, the Republican party finds itself between a rock and a hard place. I believe that for the sake of its present and future viability, the party should end its association with and reliance upon the so-called Evangelical movement.
Historically, the movement of ‘social conservatives’ has given its support to those candidates who will come before it and repeat the phrases that Evangelicals find so comforting. We already know that abortion is murder and that gay marriage is, at best, a bizarre concept of family. Yet evangelicals will insist that hopeful candidates appear before them to pledge their fealty and acknowledge the solidarity of Evangelical votes.
Thereafter, evangelicals hang like an anchor around the necks of those candidates who seek or receive their endorsement. They must explain to a skeptical public, lamely at best, how they can live by the first amendment and seek the endorsement of religious fundamentalists at the same time. These candidates will find themselves serving two masters, a constitution designed by the founders to be specifically secular and evangelical theocrats. These candidates will find it difficult, if not impossible, to hold on to Evangelical support while seeking office in any government that takes the first amendment seriously.
Many mainstream conservatives, who may be as Christian as anyone, find Evangelicals and their candidates so contradictory to their views, they would rather vote for their opponents or for no one at all. Independent or ‘swing’ voters find Evangelical views antithetical to an American lifestyle, and will not support any candidates who embrace them. For liberals, of course, Evangelicals justify their smirking dismissal of those of us in ‘fly-over’ country.
No party can legitimize itself by relying on the support of those who would merge the church and state, two of the primary pillars of our culture, into some overarching moral authority. Political candidates should concern themselves with the management of a constitutionally limited government and avoid entanglements that fly in the face of the first amendment. While secular candidates may loose the votes of some Evangelicals, they may make even greater gains among mainstream voters. Hopefully, Tea party candidates will avoid this trap of contradictory allegence and be good stewards of our freedom.