Character Over Policy

Voter attitudes and patterns in the upcoming 2012 GOP primaries will reveal a lot about the Republican Party and Conservative Movement. The majority of political pundits, politicians, journalists, and the like support Mitt Romney as the only rational choice and plausible candidate who stands a chance against Obama in the general election. With Cain’s inevitable exit, Gingrich’s excessive political and personal baggage, Perry’s incompetency, Bauchman and Paul’s extremism, and Huntsman and Santorum’s consistent unpopularity, Romney is the man for the job. Curiously enough, recent polls suggest that Romney continues to lack steam as he trails Gingrich. If Romney is the only rational candidate, why then is Gingrich passing him by? Several polls indicate that a high percentage of Republican voters refuse to vote for a ‘mormon’, even if the ‘mormon’ will restore conservative values and policy to the executive office. The question arises: Is a significant percentage of the Republican Party a bigot?

I will not support a party that openly and outwardly demonstrates bigotry; whether on race, religion, gender, or sexuality. Surely Mitt’s religion, like any religion, to some degree shapes the way in which he sees and understands the world. For Hitchens and others to investigate and even scrutinize the faith is an essential contribution to the political dialogue (insofar as it remains honest and rigorous). But to simply discount a candidate based solely on religion only makes transparent one’s intolerance and intellectual laziness. Those who wish to exercise bigotry mistakenly assume religion (Mormonism) will sharply define Romney’s policy. With what evidence is this absurd assumption made?

The GOP primaries will say a lot about the character of the Republican Party. Though I disagree with President Obama in many respects, I value character over policy. If the Republicans allow the Evangelical Right to hijack this election in the name of bigotry, ‘call me crazy’ but my vote will go towards President Obama in the name of character.