Dr. Land,
I am a Southern Baptist conservative republican who loves my God and my country. I saw an article in the New York Times that included the following comment by you:
Mr. McCain has proven time and time again, through his actions that he is not a true conservative. His actions do not align with the conservative principals of smaller government, lower taxes, or freedom of speech. Bill Clinton has stated that John McCain and Hillary Clinton would work great together. That is because they share the same values, which are not the same ones that you and I share. This man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and is parading around claiming to be just like you and I. If this man wins the nomination and then the election in November, he will eventually take this country in the same socialist direction that the democrats so badly hope to take us in.“When I hear Rush Limbaugh say that a McCain nomination would destroy the Republican Party,” Dr. Land added, “what I want to say to Rush is, ‘You need to get out of the studio more and talk to real people.’ ”
What I think that Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, and others are arguing is that our country and conservatism are in real trouble if McCain wins the republican nomination. Because they believe that Mr. McCain will take us in the same direction that the democrats would, their argument is that it would be better off for a democrat to get into office with their flawed liberal ideas and policies, let the consequences take their natural course, and have a chance of true conservatives saving the day in Congress in two years. The alternative is for Mr. McCain, a “conservative”, to be in office, implement the same policies and have the American people not know who they can trust, and not be able to see the stark contrast between liberalism and true conservatism. John McCain would in effect ruin our “conservative witness.”
I agree whole heartedly with Mr. Limbaugh. There are very few people who are standing up for true conservative values and principles, today. “Real people” see Republicans and Democrats. They do not realize that conservatives and republicans are having less and less in common. Principles should not change based on what is popular, and Mr. Limbaugh is standing by his conservative principles. I am disappointed in your comments, sir. Throughout history, the right thing has rarely been the thing that the majority of “real people” agreed with.
I hope that you can join me in looking beyond party lines and even beyond the immediate future to the place where this country will be in 10, 20, or 50 years if conservatives stop fighting for their principles.
Sincerely,
Dave Bellomy
