Between a rock and a hard place

Note — The following column was published in Monday's edition of The Morning Sun.

For me, politics has always been about principles first and party second.

Though I’ve been a Republican committeeman and a delegate to numerous county, state and even national party conventions, I identify myself chiefly as a conservative.

Longtime readers will know my history in party politics includes at times being a thorn in the side of the proverbial establishment. I started in the conservative movement and made the transition to big-tent, party politics, as it’s the best mechanism to effectuate conservatism.

However, I cannot ignore attempts by certain elements with beliefs foreign to conservatism to co-opt the Republican Party. Though many of these beliefs may have something in common with conservatism, there are fundamental differences.

Case in hand is Kerry Bentivolio, the Republican nominee for the House of Representatives in the congressional constituency covering parts of Oakland and Wayne counties. Held by Thad McCotter, it became open after he failed to qualify for the ballot due to fraudulent nominating petition signatures.

As a result, Bentivolio won the party nomination in the primary earlier this month because he was the only name on the ballot. His victory, however, wasn’t without opposition from good conservatives.

Nancy Cassis, a conservative stalwart and former member of the Michigan Legislature, embarked on a write-in campaign — the political equivalent of a forlorn hope.

But her admirable effort ended the way most write-in campaigns end because it’s nearly impossible to get a plurality of voters to take the time to cast a write-in ballot.

Now Cassis, her supporters and conservatives across the constituency are confronted with a major decision: Do they support Bentivolio in the general election?

For Cassis the answer appears to be no. As a conservative, she takes issue with Bentivolio, who at his core is a big-‘l’ Libertarian. Though he shares similar beliefs as conservatives on some fiscal and tax issues, Bentivolio’s foreign policy is downright dangerous for America.

Not only is Bentivolio an isolationist, but some of his supporters are the tinfoil-wearing types who subscribe to crackpot conspiracy theories.

Combined with some rather unbecoming behavior on his part — namely his role in a film that catered to the kooky (and utterly ludicrous) belief that then-President George W. Bush planned the horrendous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011 — it’s difficult for sensible conservatives to support Bentivolio in either the general election or the upcoming special election to fill out the final two months of McCotter’s term.

Yet not supporting Bentivolio at the ballot box could deliver the seat to Democratic nominee Syed Taj, who would be a rubber-stamp for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid policies that have crippled the national economy and made it difficult for innovators and entrepreneurs to create jobs.

Cassis and other conservatives are well within their right to oppose Bentivolio’s positions that are incompatible with conservatism and mainstream Republicanism.

At the same time, a Solomon’s choice will have to be made at the ballot box on November 6.

Thankfully, it’s one decision I don’t have to make. 

— Dennis Lennox