Political jitters

There’s a lot of hand-wringing going on already in the presidential race, and not all candidates have even announced yet. With most of the media attention on the Democrats lately, here’s a look at the Republican predicament, according to Bill Murchison.

You’re comfortably orthodox in the main matters of daily life: marriage, family, church. And yet, no plausible candidate for president speaks for you so eloquently as the late Ronald Reagan; and yet, some candidate next year will receive the Republican nomination for president and probably outrank in your affections anyone the Democrats nominate, so that, anyway, hmmm…

Consider the predicament of the Reagan conservative in 2007 and beyond. He’s going to vote for the thrice-married, gay-rights-supporting Rudy Giuliani? Or for John McCain, a leading architect of a campaign finance law seen as an impairment of voter free speech? Or the Mitt Romney who only recently migrated to the socially conservative positions of the great Reagan — and is, well, you know, a Mormon?

The social conservatives whose votes buttress the Republican Party are experiencing a Gandalf Moment.

Frodo the Hobbit remarks, as darkness descends on Middle Earth, “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” “So do I…,” the wizard replies. “But that is not for [us] to decide. All that we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” It’s another way of saying that life, especially political life, can be urgent and challenging.

Sometimes no choice looks even halfway ideal. Deciding what to do with the time actually allotted instead of desired can lead to a general wrenching-out of hair. Guiliani? What if he cynically abandoned the social conservatives? Romney? What if his chances of victory were smaller than Rudy’s? Does McCain’s recent outreach to the social right suggest a deeper commitment to the social issues than formerly? Or, if not, what about the more socially acceptable but financially handicapped Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee? Is it better to die in the last ditch for principle, or hold one’s nose and make the best terms possible?

Take a deep breath. It’s early. There are about…what?…19 months left before the election. If a candidate is socially acceptable but financially strapped, work on grassroots support for the right moral choice. There’s no excuse to compromise principles with 19 months to promote them.

In fact, there’s never an excuse to compromise principles.