Two Evils

Don't let us make imaginary evils, when you know we have so many real ones to encounter.
- Oliver Goldsmith (Irish writer, poet, physician, 1776)

In the days since our August 17th primary election, I have read a lot of articles and comments about "having to chose between the lesser of two evils" in our state's Senate race. I, for one, reject that notion out of hand. It is abundantly clear that Dino Rossi is a considerably better choice than Patty Murray. Without question. It's not even close.

If elected to the United States Senate, Dino Rossi will be one of the few members of Congress (of either party) who has actually owned a small business. He will be one of the few who has actually created jobs in the private sector. He will be one of a small handful who have experience writing and managing private sector and public sector budgets. And, most importantly, he will be someone who has a record of conservatism to call upon. He has lived it, and his voting record speaks to that fact.

If you like Cap and Trade - support Murray over Rossi. If you like reckless and out of control spending - support Murray over Rossi. If you like - Sonja Sotomayor and Elena Kagen - support Murray over Rossi. If you think partial birth abortion is okay - support Murray over Rossi. If you like bailouts for billionaire bankers, Cash for Clunkers, earmarks, $2 trillion deficits, and $14 trillion in debt - support Murray over Rossi.

If you are as frustrated by the direction this country is going in and are disgusted by the legislation I just laid out, then you cannot sit out this election or throw your support to Murray. Too much is at stake!

Those of us supporting Dino Rossi are not choosing between the lesser of two evils. We are choosing to take advantage of an opportunity to undo the darkness that progressives like Patty Murray have foisted upon the American people and the people of Washington state. This cannot be an exercise in ideological purity - it is an opportunity to rescue our country from a cabal of big government, quasi-socialists, who are taking us down a path that is counter to our first principles. Dino Rossi can help this country change direction.

As somone who has experienced a political defeat, I understand, uniquely, the frustration of Didier supports - and Akers supporters for that matter. Moreover, Senator Don Benton is someone I have grown close to since I managed his race for Congress in 1998. He was my staunchest and most vehement supporter in my race for Congress this year. When he entered the Senate race, he was my guy - no question. I wasn't happy when he saw the writing on the wall and dropped out when Dino announced. Neither was Don. But, he did the right thing for his party and, more importantly, for his country. And, he stood up, supported Dino, and encouraged his supporters to do the same.

Let's put things in perspective. If supporters of George HW Bush, Howard Baker, Phil Crane, and John Connelly had decided not to support Ronald Reagan in 1980 following their defeats in the 1980 GOP Primary, Ronald Reagan may have never been President. Two of those candidates, Bush and Baker, were from the "Rockefeller Wing" of the Republican Party and thought (at the time) that Reagan was too conservative to get elected. They could have rejected Reagan as an ideologue, encouraged their supporters to do the same, and we would have had four more years of Jimmy Carter turning our nation into a laughingstock.

They stood with Reagan. Why? Because to do otherwise was unacceptable. They were unwilling to sacrifice the good of the country for their own pride, ego, or ideological purity. And praise God that they were!

The US Senate race in Washington State could very well be the most important campaign in America. Think about it. There is a very real possibility that Republicans will already have control of the House before ballots are even counted in Washington State. However, Republicans HAVE to win Washington in order to have a realistic shot at winning a majority in the Senate. This is it, this is our time.

I don't know if Dino will like me saying this or not - it's just my opinion, but if he is elected to the United States Senate, I believe he will be the first true conservative to represent our state in the Senate. He will reject higher taxes, he will insist on individual and economic freedom in this country, he will work for true spending restraint, he will be a voice of reason and compassion, and he will be a voice for the small business job creators - the backbone of our economy.

Our country is desperately in need of conservatives of conscience and clarity who recognize the threats we are facing. Dino Rossi represents the best hope for our state to send someone to the United States Senate who understands what's at stake and knows what needs to be done. Dino Rossi is a statesman, and our country needs men and women like him.

The choice couldn't be more clear. Socialism is evil, totalitarianism is evil, progressivism and its assault on the individual is evil. That's the darkness were fighting against. Supporting Dino helps bring our country back into the light.