Well, Mitt Romney’s candidacy is over (but his political future may not be done). Not much more I can say that hasn’t been repeated across the blogosphere in the past 20 hours or so. I have to say it’s quite jarring to witness an overwhelming Romney win at my local caucus, and in the state of Colorado as a whole, and less than 48 hours later to see his campaign come to an end.
But the former Massachusetts governor’s withdrawal speech at CPAC only confirmed my confidence in him. The speech was full of class and grace and poise, but also resounded on the pre-eminent theme of victory in the GWOT. Though initially disappointed to see the result of Romney’s Super Tuesday performance, hopefully we will look back in months to come and probably agree with these observations made by Colorado Republican leaders, who have shifted allegiances quickly to frontrunner Sen. John McCain:
In interviews with former Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, University of Colorado president Hank Brown, state Rep. Victor Mitchell of Castle Rock, Colorado Springs Rep. Doug Lam born and U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, as well as Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a clear theme emerged: By dropping out of the race now, Romney allows time for Republicans to unite behind McCain.
“There will be time for Republican wounds to heal,” Allard said.
Iraq will unify Republican voters, the senator from Loveland said. But McCain also needs to cultivate support [in] the West, Allard said.
We can either get in the game and exert our conservative influence or sit on the sidelines and let the other team win. Politics is almost never a choice between the best and the worst. The time to fight for one presidential candidate over another within the Republican Party is over now, for all intents and purposes. (Sorry, Steven, do the math. And Michael at Best Destiny has gritted his teeth to institute a no-McCain-bashing policy.) Romney is right: Victory matters too much.
Meanwhile, McCain’s speech at CPAC was a good first step toward healing the rift with much of the conservative base. Yes, just a first step. McCain’s rhetoric needs more action to back it. I plan to vote for him in November, and to advocate the Arizona Senator over his Democratic opponents. But the more he does to woo conservatives along the way, the more he will energize the party’s base and help Republican candidates down-ticket. We should demand more tangible proof to back up the words McCain spoke yesterday.
Let’s face it, though. Some in our coalition may end up unable to hold their noses and vote for McCain. I respect where they’re coming from, and will try to persuade them to choose more prudently. Thanks to Romney’s noble withdrawal, we have more time to work on persuasion, such as today’s Townhall column by John Hawkins. (Though, as noted above, the ball is primarily in McCain’s court to make that persuasion work.)
So these questions remain: What will Mike Huckabee – now increasingly a Presidential primary sideshow – tell CPAC on Saturday? Will he jeopardize his slipping chances to be McCain’s running mate, or is he persuaded that the only way he gets there is by forcing McCain’s hand with a larger slew of Southern delegates? And who will notice when Ron Paul is out of the race?
The goal of the Republican Party and its leadership is to maintain the prominence of the party. The goal of conservative voters is to elect officials who represent our values. We should not compromise our principles to elect someone who calls himself a Republican if he is not a conservative.
It’s time for conservatives to take back the party–even if it means Hillary or Obama in the White House for four years–or start a new one if the GOP doesn’t want us.
After supporting Referenda C and D–thereby proving that they are not conservatives, how can Bill Owens and Hank Brown have the nerve to talk about party unity?
In any case, why should we demonstrate more party loyalty than John McCain did?
John McCain is supported by Republicans for Choice!
Do our Colorado pro-life representatives really want to
follow his lead, lock step?
Senator Allard talks about the “healing” Republican wounds,
tell that to the babies who will be dismembered if Republicans
for Choice get their way.
Politigalco: “It’s time for conservatives to take back the party–even if it means Hillary or Obama in the White House for four years–or start a new one if the GOP doesn’t want us.”
You don’t really mean this, do you? What level of purity is acceptable in a candidate in order for them to be preferred to liberal Democrats who would pull our country in a far different direction?
What issues hold you back? What would McCain have to say or do to convince you he could be trusted on most of your conservative issues? Would you be swayed at all if an older McCain picked a solid younger conservative VP who might take his place in four years? Or would you rather feel good about yourself while an incumbent Hillary or Obama runs for a second term in 2012?
Leslie: “John McCain is supported by Republicans for Choice!
“Do our Colorado pro-life representatives really want to
follow his lead, lock step?”
Do you actually know what McCain’s record is on pro-life issues? Why would the National Right to Life PAC (www.nrlpac.org) write this about McCain a couple weeks ago?
“National Right to Life is also grateful for the strong pro-life voting record on abortion of Senator John McCain, and appreciates the pro-life position he has taken in his Senate campaigns and in this presidential campaign.”
I’m not sure why Republicans for Choice is supporting McCain, probably because he’s the most viable GOP candidate left. Should pro-lifers automatically reject everyone whom Republicans for Choice accepts?
Look at McCain’s actual voting record. Has it been consistently, though not perfectly, pro-life? Yes. Has he been the most vocal pro-life spokesman? No. Will the Supreme Court judges he appoints as President be less likely to kowtow to Roe v Wade than the ones Clinton or Obama would appoint? Yes.
The quest for absolute 100% purity in politics sometimes can be very destructive of the cause purported. Continue to make your voice heard to ensure the party’s pro-life platform, continue to do the hands-on work of strengthening the culture, and vote for the candidate who will lead to the better pro-life result.
National Right to Life favors regulating child killing, not
permanently ending the shedding of innocent blood.
Their pro-life ratings are largely meaningless.
McCain supports embryonic stem cell research that
kills embryos that could other wise be adopted.
Go Huckabee!!!