The Republican Party

Media pundits have been quick to state that John McCain’s loss is a death for conservatives.

Unfortunately the very fact that Republicans nominated McCain represents just how far Republicans had strayed from their core principals. McCain was the most liberal nominee Republicans had put forward in quite some time. Remember that McCain was so chummy with the Democrats that John Kerry actually considered him for his vice presidential nominee in 2004.

Any ties that McCain had to the conservative movement were shattered when President Bush put forth his $700 billion bailout of the financial industry. During the campaign McCain had vowed that he would veto any piece of legislation that carried pork in it. The $700 billion bailout was already a pork bill, and then Senators went and put $150 of additional pork in the bill.

McCain had the chance to back up his rhetoric, but sadly when it came time for his actions to match his rhetoric it was found wanting.

Matching actions with rhetoric has been an issue for Republicans for quite some time. During the election Republicans were quick to talk about how Barak Obama was going to bring socialism to America. Warning that now is not the time to experiment with socialism.

Unfortunately, Republicans had been experimenting with socialism during the Bush presidency. After all, the massive federal bailout involved the federal government buying up bank assets. McCain even went so far as to call for the government to purchase home mortgages. If that is not socialism, then nothing is.

All too many Republican stood idly by as Bush made the government larger and larger. One can not say they believe in limited government and have supported the Patriot Act. One can not say they believe in limited government and support the unprecedented amounts of foreign aid that the Bush administration dished out. One can not say they believe in limited government and support “The No Child Left Behind Act” which handed the federal government more control of our school system. One cannot say they support limited government while the Federal Reserve prints more and more money.

The time to fight against big government had already passed by the time the presidential election had come before us.

In an election, voters should have clear choices before them not choices of "Big Government" or "Big Government Lite". Because of the unprecedented enlargement of the federal government, our citizens have become all reliant upon the government to solve our nation’s woes.

It is time now for Republicans to look in the mirror and decide what their core principles truly are. All too many Republicans have allowed personality to come before principal. Putting the president above their core principals have driven the party far off course.

While protecting the rights of the unborn and other social issues should be at the top of the list for Republicans, they should not turn a blind eye to economic or rights issues. One should not overlook a liberal agenda, simply because one is pro life. Republicans must demand the whole package. Otherwise the party will find itself in the situation it is now, where they will be governed by social and economic liberals.