Is the GOP the party of conservative principles?

   
By now it should be no surprise that many of those driving the Tea Party movement are conservatives who've fled the Republican party in response to the party's abandonment of conservative values and principles.

Prior to this "great awakening," conservatives assumed that the Grand Old Party (GOP) was championing the tenants of smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom. In truth, the GOP was more concerned about winning elections than holding strong to its founding principles--so much so that they often elected candidates whose beliefs were more in line with the Democratic party than their own.

It's been well over a year since the first Tea Party signs started popping up all across the country; and of course, the GOP now says it too favors smaller government, lower taxes, and greater personal freedom. But does it really?

In California, our first opportunity to answer this question will be during the Republican primary election for US Senate as it is the only high profile race that offers a real choice between a constitutional conservative, Chuck DeVore, and two so-called moderates, Tom Campbell and Carly Fiorina.

If the GOP plans to continue mimicking the Democratic party in hopes of drawing in more liberal voters, they will be well served by electing either Campbell or Fiorina. Both candidates have expressed their approval of the Wall Street Bailout, Cap-n-Trade, and the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor. Campbell is for gay marriage, abortion rights, and stricter gun control laws. Fiorina is for the stimulus package, taxation of the Internet, and limiting free speech. In many cases, Campbell and Fiorina's views are so in line with the incumbent Democratic candidate Barbara Boxer that at times it is difficult to tell the three of them apart.

If, on the other hand, the GOP has learned from its past mistakes in electing Republicans in name only (a.k.a. RINOs), they will be much better served nominating Chuck DeVore as their candidate for US Senate. DeVore's political views are in stark contrast to not only his opponents in the primary on the aforementioned issues but to Boxer as well. DeVore is the perfect candidate for those voters who know that the Republican primary election isn't about unseating Boxer or even the Democratic party so much as it's about unseating the political ideology that is drowning our country in massive debt, entitlements, and regulations.

The choice is clear. Come Tuesday, June 8th, we will know exactly where the priorities lie for Republican voters in California. So, don't forget to vote.