“If a significant number of conservatives vote third party for conservative candidates and McCain loses to Obama, it will be clear to him and to the party leadership that a large number of conservatives disapprove of the direction of the party away from the right (so much so that they would rather see us lose than give their consent to that movement).”
Isn’t this just an example of the ‘end justifying the means’, ie the long term goal of electing a conservative justifies electing a liberal in the short term?
No, because I'm voting my conscience and voting for a conservative. Voting for a conservative for the sake of advancing conservatism is NOT the same as voting for a liberal for the sake of advancing conservatism.