A Little Clarification…

Posted By Travis Gearhart at 1:50 pm on February 2, 2010

A couple of weeks ago, I did a post on Sarah Palin that was a part of my “Who I Won’t Support For President” series, and there was a part that I felt that I was a little vague that I wanted to clarify.

I had mentioned, in the post, that I supported her on the issues (and I still do) which led to some people asking me “Well, if you support her on the issues, why wouldn’t you support her for President?” Well, quite honestly, if she were to win the primary and I had a choice between her and President Obama, I would vote for her. I know this is contradictory to Kevin’s theory, but it’s just what I would do, personally. I just don’t think another 4 years of a Democratic administration is sustainable. Now, would her Presidency be succesful? In some ways. In other ways, she would harm the chances of keeping Congressional majorities and she would probably usher in another Democratic majority for 2016 (or possibly 2014).

Regardless, my clarification: although I support her on the issues and agree with her rhetoric, I’m not convinced that she KNOWS, truly, WHY she should be in support of conservative ideals.

What makes a good President is his ability to bargain for votes in Congress while retaining conservative/liberal ideals. For example, Obama is trying to pass health care legislation (ANY health care legislation) and is willing to sacrifice parts that he feels are important to get it passed. I disagree with the man on almost every aspect of the health care bill, but the fact is his bargaining powers to attract votes is astounding.

I can’t say that I think that Palin would be able to do that. I don’t think that she would be able to get something passed without either A)alienating moderate Democrats or B) sacrificing conservative ideals.

What the basic premise of my point boils down to is her lack of understanding as to why conservative principles are the right way to go. Anybody can say “Yes, I’m a conservative!”, but when asked why, they need to give off the reasons why conservative principles are better than liberal ones. Sure, she can get in front of a podium and energize a crowd, and that’s great! But she has proven that when she is asked the tough questions, one on one, she falters. And that, my friends, is a little clarification when it comes to my support or lack of support for Sarah Palin.

Comments (9)

9 Comments »

Comment by Kevin Tracy on February 2, 2010

Well put, Travis. It’s one thing to know you’re a conservative and to know that it works… it’s something totally different to know why it works. And you’re right, Sarah Palin isn’t convincing anybody that she does.

That’s why she worries me so much. It’s one thing to give a speech to the base saying “We’re going to cut taxes! *wink* We’re going to end abortion *wink*” but you’re never going to convince moderates that your way is right unless you know why it’s right.

Look at it like this. If your TV is broken, who do you want to fix it? A person who likes watching TV or a person who knows how the TV works? It works the same way in politics.

Comment by WKen on February 2, 2010

Warning: Cheap Shot Coming

“when she is asked the tough questions, one on one, she falters.”

You mean … like what newspapers and magazines she reads? That was apparently a tough one.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Comment by Kevin Tracy on February 2, 2010

Hahahaha! In this economy, I don’t think we can afford anything but cheap shots.

Comment by Travis Gearhart on February 2, 2010

Ohhh, now now, guys, lol, I’m trying to be fair here. Although I have to admit, when it comes to magazines, I read “all of them” as well, ha ha!

Comment by Kevin Tracy on February 3, 2010

Hahaha! That took me a while, but I got it now. Nice.
Comment by WKen on February 3, 2010

Nice!

Comment by Laurie on February 4, 2010

Palin is steaming for trouble. She claims to support Tea Party principles and even the movement itself. Today, she delivers the keynote at an organizing gathering in Nashville, where the topics are likely to run towards “The GOP has lost its way” and calls for the GOP to move to the right.

Cut to Arizona, where Palin will be stumping for McCain, the original RINO in many eyes. Sure, he gave her a shot at public stardom. But as she swings for McCain, she’ll be swinging against JD Hayworth, who has been an outspoken proponent of the Tea Party and its principles on his radio show and is running on a platform that more closely mirrors the principles Palin claims to support.

After this, many will be left to wonder what, exactly, this chameleon believes in besides her own agenda.

Comment by greg on February 10, 2010

Really!!!…bargaining for votes?..retaining conservative and liberal ideas?..we tried this idea once…was called McCAIN!!!didnt work so well..did it?..and whats this Obama wows ya with his bargaining powers….he had 60 dems for god sake..and still couldnt get enough votes…palin just dosnt say she’s a conservitive..she lives it..how ya ask?..well..whats is conservitive values?…small goverment…lower taxes…pro life…gun rights…a strong defense..not sure which one she dosnt believe in…she may not be presidential material….but conservitive material..well..her cup runneth over..’wink’

Comment by Travis Gearhart on February 10, 2010

I’m not saying that she isn’t a conservtive. What I wrote is that I’m not convinced that she can knows WHY each and every conservative principle is important. The big difference with McCain is he doesn’t BARGAIN and find some kind of passable ground, what he does is sell out his conservative principles. And yes, as a politicain and campaigner, I respect Obama on those two things. Why else didn’t he pass health care with 60 votes? He was trying to reel in some moderate/liberal R’s to make it “bipartisan”, and in the process pissed off a Hell of a lot of uber-liberals that thought Obama was Stalin reincarnate. It didn’t work becaus the health care bill is such an atrocity and because of the TEA parties and conservative momentum conservative value are on the rise. I didn’t say that he “wows” me, either, by the way. I just said that as a politician I do respect the man. As far as his ideology or pretty much anything else? NO, I’m not an Obama supporter. But as far as my assesments on Palin? Like I wrote above, I LIKE HER. I want her to shape into a good candidate, I really do, and I agree, she has been in many ways unfairly treated by the press. But in some other ways I think she’s done it to herself. I’ve seen far too many interviews done by her that come off, to me, as a bit whiny. And with this latest thing with her ultrasensitivity about the word retarded: come on! Thats a liberal thing to do! Conservatives aren’t usually the “PC” crowd.

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A Little Clarification…

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