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Put Winning Over Political Purity
Townhall.com ^ | December 28, 2015 | Terry Paulson

Posted on 12/28/2015 10:32:08 AM PST by Kaslin

We are eleven months away from a decision that will shape the future of America—the choice of our next president! In America, according to a recent Gallup poll, registered Democrats hold a slight advantage over registered Republicans, 30 to 26 percent. But it's the growing number of registered Independents (43 percent) whose election choices ultimately determine the outcome next November.

As much as either political party likes to believe, neither the left nor the right owns the future. America's electorate tends to have a self-corrective tendency to react against political extremes. After eight years of liberal leadership, many independents are likely to switch horses to counter perceived excesses. President Obama's aggressive liberal agenda and use of far-reaching executive orders has taken America to the left. For evidence, take note of the passing and implementation of Obamacare, the new global warming agreement, and our exploding deficit spending.

Conservatives are motivated; they're already celebrating Obama's looming exit! That same motivation has helped secure a Republican-controlled House and Senate. The Rasmussen Reports Daily Presidential Tracking Poll shows that only 46 percent of likely U.S. Voters approve of President Obama's job performance. With 52 percent disapproving, it's easy to understand why pundits would expect Republicans to take the final piece of the political trifecta—the 2016 Presidency.

But with thirteen Republican candidates still fighting to become the standard bearer by beating down their opponents instead of taking on their likely challenger, Hillary Clinton, the GOP's ability to unify around any one candidate or platform is seriously in question. Will the eventual winner be so damaged by the primary fight that needed Republican voters will stay home instead of supporting the eventual candidate? That's the GOP's nightmare and the Democrat's wish.

With a weak Democratic candidate embroiled in trust and credibility problems, the time is right for a Republican victory, if only we can come together. United we can win. Divided, we will fall. How are we to come together behind any one candidate? Here are some perspectives worth considering:

1. First and foremost, make winning in November the primary objective, no matter who the candidate selected. Four years of Hilary Clinton is a nightmare worth motivating even the most disappointed and frustrated Republican voter.

2. Vote party and principles, not personalities. In difficult times, it's way too easy to focus on finding a presidential savior who will wave a magic wand to cure the problems America faces. But true change comes with a candidate who can rally citizens and appoint a team of leaders and advisors who can make his or her vision of the future a reality. A GOP president would appoint the head of the EPA, the head of the Department of Defense, the Attorney General, and new Supreme Court justices. That list of appointments will most likely include some conservatives and some more moderate. It takes a diverse and committed team to change the course of a great country. Commit to vote the party that best matches the principles and platform you feel must guide America's future at this time. Think team, never just candidate.

3. Kill the myth of perfection for any candidate. There will be misstatements, changes in positions, and even talking points designed to confuse instead of clarify. Winning an election today is a daunting challenge. Every speech is recorded with an eye toward attacks or errors that can bring eyeballs to the news hour and sizzle to the talk shows. The only place that perfect candidates exist is in their own political ads. Republicans have a tendency of letting "Gotcha" politics weaken their own candidates. 

4. Don't let emotions rule out intelligent due diligence. Americans are angry about what has happened to their country and the frustrating inaction of the politicians they've sent to Washington. As a result, they're susceptible to candidates who can reject political correctness and give strong voice to their frustrations. But does getting coverage today translate into election victories and leadership competency? Getting things done requires a shared focus, strength and diplomacy.

The election is coming whether we're prepared or not. Stay informed. Vote party and principles. Support a unifying candidate, and we can and will win in November.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016election
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1 posted on 12/28/2015 10:32:08 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

And what you get doing that is a Mitt Romney idiot candidate filled with leftism and a loss. America gets further down the path to communism.

GREAT plan.


2 posted on 12/28/2015 10:34:03 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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To: Kaslin

“Vote party”

Heck no. Partisanism is the mentality of morons.


3 posted on 12/28/2015 10:35:48 AM PST by Politicalkiddo ("How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts!"- Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Politicalkiddo; stephenjohnbanker; Lazamataz

This thread will be fun. All the liberal Freepers will defend their lesser evils yet again. WINNING! No matter what!


4 posted on 12/28/2015 10:37:35 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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To: Kaslin
Vote party and principles. Support a unifying candidate, and we can and will win in November.

Seems like that means “Throw out EVERY candidate the Washington elites demands we select”, doesn't it?

That, or, “unifying candidate” means “The middle-of-the-toilet-candidate WE have selected for you to “chose” ...

5 posted on 12/28/2015 10:37:37 AM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Kaslin

If Bush or Rubio are truly the candidates who would win the election, it would not be worth getting up out of your chair to go vote. It would, however, be worth making sure your passport is up-to-date and you ave some place to go.


6 posted on 12/28/2015 10:38:12 AM PST by arthurus (Het is waar. Tutti i liberali sono feccia.)
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To: Kaslin
But it's the growing number of registered Independents (43 percent) whose election choices ultimately determine the outcome next November.

There seems to be a presumption here, that the Independents are somewhere in between the GOP and the Dems. Many of them, however, are to the left of the Dems or the right of the GOP (the latter populate this place, among other people), and so going to the middle would lose these people.

7 posted on 12/28/2015 10:38:25 AM PST by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: Norm Lenhart

Yeah, he may be a socialist, but he’s OUR socialist.


8 posted on 12/28/2015 10:39:21 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

It’ll work this time. We just need to hold feet to the fire and keep our powder dry!


9 posted on 12/28/2015 10:40:38 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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To: Kaslin

You can’t put party and principles on the same level. The party has no principles, that’s an either or choice.


10 posted on 12/28/2015 10:41:32 AM PST by discostu (Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right B, A, Start)
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To: Kaslin

Numbers 2,3 and 4 would leave Trump out of it.


11 posted on 12/28/2015 10:42:17 AM PST by libbylu
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To: Norm Lenhart

This election is between the citizens and The Cheap Labor Express.

Most of the candidates are beholden to The Cheap Labor Express.

If we don’t win, we lose our country.


12 posted on 12/28/2015 10:42:33 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: Kaslin

I will not support a party that openly attacks me and others like me. You can stuff your vote party crap up your obamma.

Start talking to the idiots that run the R party and tell them to vote for candidates that have my opinion instead of attacking them openly.

At this point I will welcome Hillary if the R party implodes and we get a party that actually votes their platform. Not this crap RINO Ryan passed.


13 posted on 12/28/2015 10:43:27 AM PST by jimpick
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To: Kaslin
We need to WIN and beat the Uniparty.
14 posted on 12/28/2015 10:47:31 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (Rubio not voting on OmniSpend is RINO for 'smart'.)
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To: Norm Lenhart

“Winning” is a superficial concept in modern politics. We still lose no matter what.


15 posted on 12/28/2015 10:47:46 AM PST by Politicalkiddo (“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."- George Washington)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

The Cheap Labor Express = Fully Funding 0bama’s Priorities

They are one and the same. The GOPe / RINO caucus all voted for funding 100% of 0bama’s priorities.

They all need defeating, starting with the near enemy, the GOPe / RINOs.


16 posted on 12/28/2015 10:49:49 AM PST by Uncle Miltie (Rubio not voting on OmniSpend is RINO for 'smart'.)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Sorta depends on who you win with.

BTW, We lost our country 8 years ago. We need to get it back.


17 posted on 12/28/2015 10:51:54 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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To: Uncle Miltie

you advocate a losing strategy

absent the Republican party, there is no conservative effort worth a damn. Nothing will be accomplished outside the Republican party

it is delusional to think “we’ll teach them a lesson”

there is no person in congress listed as a conservative party

think GOPc


18 posted on 12/28/2015 10:52:36 AM PST by bert ((K.E.; N.P.; GOPc;+12, 73, ....carson is the kinder gentler trump.)
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To: Uncle Miltie

“They all need defeating, starting with the near enemy, the GOPe / RINOs.”

Thats what the lesser evil libs are so against here on FR. They don’t actually WANT the GOP defeated. They want what the GOP provides.


19 posted on 12/28/2015 10:54:07 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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To: bert

And you advocate the actual losers like Mitt who want to force liberalism on us. Thats your history here. People should look it up before considering anything you offer.


20 posted on 12/28/2015 10:55:21 AM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - An idea whose time has come)
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