By Joel Joseph
Approval ratings are at an all time low of 43% for President Obama. The hope that once swept him into the White House is gone and has left many voters regretting their decision.
In January of this year, Republicans felt that 2012 was already theirs. With eight republican debates past, it seems as though conservatives cannot find a candidate that is “perfect”. This vain pursuit is going to be the demise of the GOP.
The late great William F. Buckley put it best: “Nominate the most conservative candidate who is electable.”
These wise words say something that Republicans should never forget when pursuing the presidency: pick a candidate that can win.
A candidate that only appeals to the base, and a few independents, will lose in the general election against any incumbent President. It doesn’t matter how staunchly conservative this candidate portrays himself to be. When the election results come out as a loss it won’t matter what the GOP candidate stood for because…. (drum roll)... The GOP lost the election. Policies are not changed, regardless how promising the platform, by loosing an election: in order to change policies you have to win.
This is not an appeal for any candidate in particular. Neither is this an appeal for conservatives to stop being conservatives. No, this is an appeal for common sense.
At the end of the day the GOP needs to win. Winning will provide the ability to fundamentally change America for the good. Losing, on the other hand, will give President Obama another four years to have his way with the country and possibly make some irreversible decisions by, for example, appointing a Supreme Court justice or three. Conservatives need to understand that this is not the election to make a point: this is an election that will determine the direction of our country.
Tea Partiers are talking about how we need to “go big or go home.” If the Republican Party doesn’t get their act together--they’ll be going home. The GOP doesn’t need another four years of asking themselves “what if” and “if only” questions—the GOP needs a win.
After all, to the victor go the spoils.
