This is my observation from what I read on this site on a daily basis.
The problem Conservatives have Jim is that we expect our nominees to live up to every standard of conservatism. We want them to be able to hold the moral, logical and philosophical high ground when debating with liberals. They should be brilliant with the ability to explain every minute detail of any policy with ease. Their policies should check down the entire line of everything a conservative believes in. Small government. Strong military. Pro life. Pro gun. Strong morals which they have lived by their entire life without waver. Knowledgeable about business. Willing and able to work within Washington to pare down the size of the massive State. etc.. etc...etc...
As soon as a tidbit of information which doesn’t follow that checklist comes to light, they are discounted, pilloried and destroyed.
The problem we have as Conservatives is that, on the whole, we do not accept that they all have flaws. We expect them to be perfect citizens, perfect conservatives, perfectly moral etc...but they are still human beings.
We need to accept their flaws and understand that 95% of the time people like Santorum, Cain, Palin, Bachmann, Perry will be on our side. Expecting 100% compliance is unreasonable, imo.
Well said, but I fear we are victims of a biased media who is largely responsible for fomenting personal attacks on the candidates rather than focus on issues — their candidate’s weakness.
Think about it, we know more about Santorum, Cain, Perry, and others in this race than we know about Obama. Perry’s college grades were released. Where’s Obama’s? Cain may have had a few flings. Did Obama? We hear about Newt’s writings and positions in the past, where are Obama’s writings from the Harvard Review?
I am optimistic that the American people have had enough of Obama, and will vote him out regardless who we nominate. That said:
Gingrich - Santorum 2012