Several of my conservative friends, especially those who say they are of the tea party bent, seem to be insisting on ideological purity before they will call a potential candidate a conservative. Beyond general platitudes about balanced budgets, I cannot seem to get anyone to say how pure is pure enough. Such a stance could be costly to conservatives. A little history is in order. James Buchanan was elected president because some Whigs could not support their candidate who owned slaves but who was opposed to the extension of slavery. Buchanan sided with the South, supported the Dred Scott decision, did not act when the South took over Federal forts. He helped bring on the Civil War. :Purity got in the way of good judgment.
If a conservative, but not conservative enough candidate is nominated for President in 2012, will the "pure" conservative stay away? Will they run their own candidate and thus assure a Democratic victory. Are they willing to pay that kind of price for the sake of ideological holiness?
