Why Mitt Will and Must Stay In

How discouraging it has been to see the rejection of such an outstanding, qualified man by so many Republicans. I'm sure Gov. Romney will survive, but I am worried for our conservative ideals. I believe that Gov. Romney feels the same way about our ideals and about our country and that is why I do not think he will drop out of the race.

With Senator McCain the front-runner and likely nominee, it is now as important as ever that he feel continued pressure to defend his conservative credentials. After having had his non-conservative record exposed on so many issues, if he is allowed now to coast to a victory he will assume that the people do not care, or even support his liberal positions. It is now vital that someone (and Gov. Romney is the only one who can do it) continues to challenge him. McCain must be forced to take explicitly conservative positions in opposition to the bills he has sponsored in the past, and he has shown a willingness to do so when challenged. For example, he says now that he opposed the tax cuts only because they were not accompanied by spending cuts (a fully defensible conservative position). He also says that now he is convinced that the border must be secured first. He must be put in the position to reverse every one of the liberal legislative positions he has taken in public. He must admit to want to appoint judges who would defend the constititution (even those who would overturn McCain-Feingold and who would not find in the constitution a "right" to abortion). He must be willing to reverse his stand for forcing the United States to fight "global warming" while competing unfairly in world markets.

It is highly unlikely that Gov. Romney can win the nomination, but it is vital that someone as skilled as he continue to force McCain to stake out conservative positions. It is the only way conservatives will have any influence on this election. I believe that Gov Romney will take a high road through the balance of the primaries. I believe that he will show himself to be the spokesman for conservative principles for the future, and I also believe that he will see clearly his duty to encourage Senator McCain to take conservative positions which we can support against the democrats and which he will then be honor-bound to defend in the future. I believe that Senator McCain will respond positively to the challenge of Honor, Duty, Country and that if he can be placed in the position of committing to defend conservative positions he will do it as a matter of duty and pride.