Red State editor endorses ‘Not-Romney’, says ‘horserace’ posts to continue

Erick Erickson welcomed guests at Red State Gathering 2011 held in Charleston, SC. The 2012 gathering will be held in Jacksonville, Florida, in August. (Photo by Kay B. Day)Erick Erickson wields a powerful pen in the world of conservatism. His radio show as well as his appearances on CNN and other endeavors provide additional pillars to his ongoing posts at Red State where he composes a recurring ‘horserace’ editorial analyzing the state of the GOP primary race.

Outspoken, well-informed and non-negotiable on key conservative ideological planks, Erickson is one of the most intriguing and influential figures in the current conservative climate.

Therefore, it isn’t small news when he decides to withhold an endorsement in the primary race that will determine the GOP nominee for an election many of us see as a fight for the heart and soul of our country. Liberals sneer at that assessment of this election, but that is the one most absolute truth I can state about politics today.

For quite awhile, I perceived Erickson as leaning towards Gov. Rick Perry (Texas) as I did early on. Perry has a very solid record and no one can dispute Texas’ economic health. Debate performances and vagaries with his early campaign, however, gave me great concern as did at least one of his judicial appointments. Having said that, if Perry should become our nominee, I would enthusiastically support him.

Weeks ago, before Newt Gingrich rose significantly in the polls, I declared support for the former Speaker of the House. There are a number of articles here at The US Report about Gingrich. In a nutshell, I believe he is the candidate most capable of the government reform we desperately need. I believe he has the intellect to do the job of president and I think he is the only candidate who can ably debate President Barack Obama.

I believe it is past time for conservatives to rally behind a candidate because President Barack Obama has the bully pulpit. His presidency has actually been one long campaign for reelection.

Anyone who believes those final debates will not matter is deluding himself. The presidential debates between the nation’s leftwing president and the GOP nominee will draw record attention and viewers. This won’t be the first time debate has been a key factor in a presidential election.

Aside from those criteria, Gingrich has other pluses, capably summed up by a white paper at the Club for Growth, an organization I respect:

“His [Gingrich’s] opposition and momentary defeat of the 1990 Bush tax increase, his leadership of the 1994 Republican Revolution, and his spearheading of the provisions for the Contract with America are major league achievements. His consistent support for pro-growth tax reform, free trade, Social Security reform, tort reform and political free speech also evidence a clear and impressive understanding of the fundamentals that underlie the free enterprise system that has made America prosperous.”

CFG did express concerns about several issues like healthcare mandates, the Medicare drug entitlement and possible ‘unevenness.’

I am not concerned about an imposition of a healthcare mandate. It’s already been done by Democrats. Gingrich has not been part of actually passing a mandate.  Obama's mandate cost his party a steep price. If the Supreme Court is truly just and does the job it is supposed to, the federal mandate will be struck down. It is unconstitutional and you do not need to be an Ivy League lawyer to know that.

On Gingrich’s personal choices when it comes to women, he appears to be stable in that regard now and if truth is a factor, presidents praised by both parties have had affairs, more than one wife and in some cases, a far bawdier past than Gingrich. Point is his transgressions are in the past and he says he’s sought forgiveness from God. I won’t quibble with that because as a Christian, I have forced myself to learn to forgive and that alone has been a significant spiritual journey for me.

Furthermore, Gingrich has been consistent on a matter most pundits overlook. His message is inclusive. This country has been divided to a point where we are almost dysfunctional. America is not just culturally diverse, we are politically diverse and we need a candidate whose appeal is broad.

I differ from Erickson and a number of other conservatives I respect on one key point. I am not disappointed with our field of candidates. We are vetting, questioning and drilling these candidates more than anyone has done in any election in my lifetime. Any candidate in the Republican field would be a better president than Obama whose inexperience and socialist principles have wreaked havoc and hardship on this nation and on small businesses in particular. Every Republican candidate has more credentials and accomplishments than Obama did when he won the most powerful job a man can win.

Erickson stated he will support the ‘Not-Romney’ candidate in the primary. He wrote:

“Some of the front page writers have endorsed. Others will endorse. Some of you will be convinced I am endorsing or supporting a particular candidate. That’s all well and good. But my intention is to vote for not Romney and that is the only intention I have had since settling into the position a while back that he would be a disaster of a nominee.”

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Dec. 8, 2011)