Bryan Fischer, the Director of Issue Analysis for the American Family Association told NPR that conservatives don't want to make the same mistake they made in 2008. He said, "I think some social conservatives are doing some 20-20 hindsight analysis of what happened in 2008. Realizing that they had a social conservative candidate to back in (former Arkansas Governor) Mike Huckabee, they didn't coalesce around him, and that provided a path for (Arizona Senator) John McCain -- who was not a fighter on our issues -- to win the nomination." (click here for full NPR article).
John McCain won the Republican ticket and as we know, he lost to Barack Obama.
I realize that I am just an outside observer, but from this article, do I understand Fischer correctly? Is he essentially saying that had this same group really rallied behind Mike Huckabee in 2008, then the outcome would have been different?
Am I supposed to believe that Mike Huckabee could have beat Barack Obama?
In my humble opinion, Mike Huckabee didn't stand a chance. No one did. Even if every conservative in this country had rallied behind him, he didn't stand a chance to defeat Barack Obama. And it had nothing to do with conservatism.
In 2008, Americans were fed up with George Bush and quite frankly, fed up with anything that even resembled his 8-years in the White House. Americans were scared about finances and job security. Americans were bitter about the Iraq war--a war that arguably should have never started. Americans wanted a change.
Barack Obama's message of "Hope" and "Change" emerged at the perfect time.
Furthermore, the vigor and emotion behind his candidacy was hard to match. How could any candidate, in either party, compete with the excitement that was surging behind him? America was about to vote for the first African American President. History was being made and an overwhelming majority wanted to be a part of it. A conservative from Arkansas and a Senator from Arizona didn't stand a chance.
Things are different now. The excitement has settled. The confetti has long been cleaned up and Americans are now able to see just how much things have "changed." We don't like what we see.
Our economy is weaker. Millions of Americans are still without work. Countless Americans have lost their homes. Our national debt has increased an astounding $4 Trillion dollars under his presidency. We are completely dependent on foreign oil and money from the Chinese. We are a weaker nation.
President Obama has certainly tried to fix things. A record $775 Billion dollar stimulus was artificially injected into the economy to validate his creed for a bigger, stronger government. It didn't work. He has failed us.
Unbelievably, the President announced today that he will ask Congress to raise $1.2 Trillion in the debt ceiling to continue to pay for his failed programs.
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Americans are hungry for stability. Hungry for prosperity. Hungry for accountability from our leaders. Hungry for substance.
Mitt Romney's candidacy is now emerging at the perfect time.
America will benefit from Romney's know-how. His private sector experience is invaluable. His career has been about making weak things stronger. He has a record of meticulously analyzing failing systems and making them better. His experience demonstrates a person who cautiously spends other people's money and it demonstrates an individual who is used to being held accountable for how that money is spent.
He will do the same thing for America. His experience shows that he can. His discipline shows that he will.
So, I would invite this group of religious conservatives to change its course. Include Mitt Romney--also a Christian conservative--in your discussions and rally fervently behind him. Mitt Romney, the candidate who is not only best suited to beat Barack Obama, but is best suited to surge America to greatness.
As I always say, now more than ever, America needs Mitt Romney.
Right on! Keep the comments coming.
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