'Throwing one's vote away' would be defined by voting for someone who does not meet whatever criteria one uses. If you would be so kind as to investigate the intention of the founding fathers, you will find it has always been so.
My criteria is defined almost perfectly by Reagan Conservatism.
Obama certainly doesn't come close to meeting that criteria.
And neither does Romney.
I think President Reagan signed abortion legislation when he was governor of California.
Just sayin’
I see your criteria as being idealistic but not realistic. Apparently you have not voted the Republican candidate since Reagan....Look what Ross Perot gave us...I suggest you take off your rose colored glasses and try living in the real world where ideals are things we strive for but reality is what we compromise for. By the time you find someone to meet your ideals, I am afraid you won't have a vote as the US will be like Cuba Venezuela, etc just a sham.
The liberals were winning because they used incramentalism to move the country,but now they got greedy and went for the whole banana. Is that your plan also?
Romney certainly is not my first choice but he is head and shoulders above the alternative. A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step and this is a step forward not backwards. If you choose to help move the country backwards that's your choice, but I think its foolish and centered in liberal thought not conservative thought. Utopia is a fantasy and changing things overnight without a bloody revolution is also a fantasy.
best wishes for your fantasy ideals, let me know the next (electable) candidate who meets them for you.