Townhall.com, Where Your Opinion Counts
Talk Radio:   Bill Bennett   Mike Gallagher   Dennis Prager   Michael Medved   Hugh Hewitt   
BREAKING NEWS  LeftArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican   RightArrow - Townhall.com : Conservative, Political, Republican  
Columns, funnies & more in your inbox!
  • Check the boxes and send us your email address to receveive your free newsletter
  • Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
  • Townhall.com’s weekly inside scoop on what’s happening behind the scenes in the world of politics. When news breaks, we report.
  • Signup to receive the latest daily Townhall cartoons
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Douglas MacKinnon :: Townhall.com Columnist
Ten Things the Republican Nominee Must Understand to Earn the True Conservative Vote
by Douglas MacKinnon
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
[+] Text [-]
 
Poll
Will Sarah Palin make a run at the GOP Nomination in 2012?


1. First and foremost, he needs to understand that, by the tens of millions, true conservatives do exist in our country. That their unbending beliefs make them -- not only the backbone of this nation -- but the hope for a better future. That they unashamedly love their country and have reached the point of no return with regard to political correctness and pandering politicians who place themselves above the welfare of our Republic.

2. He needs to understand that they have a deep and abiding belief in God. A belief that is under a daily, escalating and obscene assault from those on the left who only use the word “Christian” as an insult, a punch line, or as an identifier to be added to a blacklist to deny employment at most schools, colleges, newspapers, and television networks. He needs to understand that this is a belief that must be acknowledged, respected, and defended. He needs to understand that all life is sacred and that it begins at conception.

3. He needs to understand that true conservatives believe we live in a sovereign nation with clearly defined borders that must be protected. Period. He must understand that the invasion of illegal aliens is not only a threat to that sovereignty, but widens the pathway for terrorists to infiltrate our nation. A scenario that the House Committee on Homeland Security has already documented as becoming a reality. He needs to accept that there are those in our country who would turn the United States of America into part of a “North American Union.” A suicidal strategy that was recently pushed and admitted to by former Mexican President Vicente Fox.

4. He needs to understand that we are engaged in a world-wide war against Jihadists and extremists who mean to wipe our nation off the face of the Earth. For that reason and more, it is imperative that we retain a national defense that is second to none. He needs to understand that true conservatives believe that the young men and women who serve in our military represent the very best of our nation and must be given every consideration. That without their heroic service, we will be vanquished.

5. He needs to understand that true conservatives do believe that large segments of the entertainment industry are purposefully and systematically exposing our children to the vilest forms of smut. That they do so first, to make money, and second, to indoctrinate as they continue their quest to subvert the morals, ethics, and character of our nation.

6. He needs to understand that true conservatives actually do believe in lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. That if you proclaim yourself to be a “Conservative” and turn your back on these tenets, then you are worse than those on the left who believe in neither. He needs to understand that true conservatives understand the value of limited government and expect their leaders to be just as enlightened.

7. He needs to understand that true conservatives believe in strict enforcement of the rule of law. That aside from the terrorists from without, our nation is at war with hundreds of thousands of violent gang members from within. That in many cases, these gangs are aligning themselves with drug cartels, terrorist groups and foreign nations. That if we don’t acknowledge this war and win it, then many of our cities and much of our border, will spiral into lawlessness and unchecked murder as these gangs prevail.

8. He needs to understand that the appointment of judges is an overriding issue for true conservatives. That they believe in having a strict-constructionist Supreme Court. That there can be no compromise in this area.

9. He needs to understand that if he panders to them now to win the nomination and then stabs them in the back to try and win the general election, he has lost them forever.

10. And finally, he has to understand that true conservatives will never vote for the “lesser of two evils” come November of 2008. That to do so, would be to betray all that they hold sacred. Faith, family values, and conviction can never be compromised.

Share:
Vote on It:
Average Vote:
 
About The Author

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the forthcoming novel, The Apocalypse Directive.

Be the first to read Douglas MacKinnon's column. Sign up today and receive Townhall.com delivered each morning to your inbox.

Conservative but not Christian
This article may be true for some but most conservatives I know are not Christians but they support the constitutional rights of Christians.
Most true conservatives I know are not at war with global jihadists, but instead are deeply disgusted at the foreign policy of poking hornet's nests with sticks.

I don't doubt that the author of this article truly believes all that he wrote. Sadly, Republicans who have adopted the liberal mentality that their ends justify their means are not conservative at all.

Being Christian does not a conservative make. Conservatives must follow these 5 principles regardless of their religious faith and their fears of those who follow different faiths:
1. Follow the rule of law, not the rule of men (leaders are not exempt from our Constution)
2. Strong National Defense. Policing the world like a school yard bully with no conscience is not a strong defense. Our current foreign policy in this regard is our Achilles Heel.
3. Free Markets.
4. Protect individual liberty. This is the catalyst for the past success and prosperity of the USA. Our current leadership, Dem. and Rep. alike are sacrificing liberty for the hope of security and as Ben Franklin pointed out, those who do this get neither.
5. Limited Government. Exercise fiscal responsibility and sound monetary policy. Follow the Constitution. Protect States rights.

Anyone who does not follow these principles is a liberal, not a conservative, regardless of their religious convictions and how they view individual hot-button political issues.

There is only one conservative running for the GOP nomination. Do your homework.

TRUE FISCAL CONSERVATISM
TRUE FISCAL CONSERVATISM:

Re: "6. He needs to understand that true conservatives actually do believe in lower taxes and fiscal responsibility."

A true fiscal conservative realizes that sometimes "lower taxes" and "fiscal responsibility" are incompatible. He/she needs to be responsible, informed and mature enough to know that(1) the Bush tax cuts (and tax cuts on labor and investment income genererally) cause LOWER revenues than we would have otherwise, (2) we face an looming fiscal meltdown due to unfunded entitlement liabilities that will explode our budget within a couple of decades on our current course, and (3) it is impossible politically, and probably would not be considered humane even by the vast majority of fiscal conservatives, to cut enough projected spending (primarily Medicare and Social Security) to sufficiently reduce this fiscal imbalance without some degree of tax increases.

GET INFORMED. Read here:
http://logicizer.townhall.com/g/f48d2bf3-1c51-4592-aa46-191 f089d752f
Sign Up to Post Your CommentsSign Up to Post Your Comments
If you are already registered, click here to login. Otherwise, please take a few seconds to register with Townhall.com. Once you sign up, you’ll be able to post your comments immediately, use the action center, get podcasts, and more!
Note: Fields marked with a red asterisk (*) are required.
Salutation:
First Name:
*
Last Name:
*
Email:
*
Nickname:
*
Note: Nick name will be shown when you post comments.
Address 1:
*
Address 2:
City:
*
State:
*
Zip:
*
Phone:
      
Your daily must-read of conservative columns, cartoons and news. Coulter, Sowell, Krauthammer and more.
(Bi-Weekly) We highlight the best opportunities from our partners for surveys, action items and more.