By Chuck Baldwin 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