GOP (Part 1): Republican Contender for 2012

Well it's coming on time to select the Republican challenger to President Obama in 2012. The Republican pool started out pretty full, but has dwindled down to two viable candidates.

Rick Perry of Texas started the race looking quite Presidential, that is until he opened his mouth and showed his ignorance to the American people and the world. This is what we Texans have been dealing with for several years now. Rick Perry has finally seen the light and conceded the race, but not without endorsing Newt Gingrich. It has been said that Gingrich and his campaign had been pressuring Perry to step down before the South Carolina Caucus. And just in the nick of time, he says he's out. Gingrich recently said that he felt Sarah Palin would work well with his office if he were elected, anything short of actually committing to offering her a position as his running mate for VP, just after receiving her endorsement. It will be interesting to see what offers he may have made to Rick Perry, only time will tell.

Another candidate, Michelle Bachmann should have taken the same road as Palin and stepped away from the scene. She carries to much personal, as well as political baggage to be taken seriously. The one thing about Bachmann, is she can't truly be counted out, not just yet. She could easily be offered the same perks as Palin to run as VP so that they can pull the female vote. However, this strategy didn't work to well for them the last time around. The American people don't have a problem voting for a woman, but she has to be a qualified woman. Michelle Bachmann, finally read the writing on the wall and stepped out of the race as well.

Herman Cain has been embroiled in too much controversy of late to be taken serious. His moral fiber has come into question, something the conservatives won't dismiss, as well they shouldn't. However, he's not completely gone, he's working in the shadows, traveling and getting support for the Republican Party.

The contenders today are Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. Most of the extremely right wing conservatives, the Tea Party supporters and the like have shifted to Newt Gingrich. Smart choice maybe; however Mr. Gingrich himself carries quite a bit of baggage that hasn't even begun to resurface yet. Gingrich has become nasty on the campaign trail, something that might work with Tea Party supporters, but not the average conservative supporter.

1. Newt Gingrich admitted to smoking pot and in 2003 came clean on his dependency to oxycontin. Today he calls, Medical Marijuana a joke. While legalizing medical marijuana has opened up another venue for corruption and misuse, in the long run, it has helped many individuals get through the pain and suffering of debilitating illness.
2. Newt in 1995 was pushing for a referendum on drugs. Kill anyone who imports drugs by mass into the U.S.; drug users to to public service work twice a week; people on welfare must pass a drug test because they are receiving government funds. This shows just how out of touch Mr. Gingrich is with the American people. He assumes that in you are on welfare that you are automatically involved in drugs. Seeing those in need as second class citizens. If Mr. Gingrich wasn't as wealthy as he is and as disconnected, he would realize that since the economic debacle under President Bush and the lack of bipartisanship in Congress, there are many Americans on welfare and unemployment, not because of drugs, but because of the economic downturn. As well as many veterans coming off a ten year war, who will return to underpaying jobs if any at all that they qualify for.
3. Family Values, something that Newt Gingrich has stumped on many a times and gotten paid to speak on. Where were those family values when he had an affair while married to his first wife and leaving her while she was fighting for her life from cancer? Where were those when he was having an affair with a staff member, while married to his second wife and asking her if she would be willing to have an "open" marriage? Better yet, asking his mistress to marry him, when he had not even asked his second wife for a divorce?
4. Ethics and Moral Judgement are two things that Newt Gingrich tries to espouse around the campaign trail. He is a man that can be trusted. In 1978, his moral judgment clearly showed his sexist way of thinking. Claiming that his female opponent would have to leave her husband and children in the care of a nanny, espousing neglect on her part if she were elected. Again, during the Clinton and Lewinsky case, he pushed on moral values for the presidents impeachment, all the while, having an affair himself. And definitely not the last issue that will come up, but one that I will touch on; Mr. Gingrich used his government funded office to allow lobbyists to work out of; as well as falsifying documents 13 times. From this the ethics committee sent him a letter of reprimand and a fine for $300,000.

Newt Gingrich is an out of touch politician, who is running as an outsider; 33 plus years does not make you an outsider. Apparently the people of Virginia believe this to be true as Gingrich will not be on the primary ballot for that state. He failed to meet the requirement of signatures to be placed on the ballot.

The second contender, Mitt Romney, will have to prove himself to the American people, but more so to the right wing conservatives. The extreme right wing will attack Mitt Romney on the following:

• He's a mormon. This issue is almost pointless, since it was in 2008 that they attempted to put fear in the American people calling President Obama a Muslim and yet the American people still voted him.
• He's not conservative enough. Mitt Romney, like Newt Gingrich has worked well in the past with Democrats and Republicans alike.
• Bain Capital, where he made lots of money.

Why look at Mitt Romney, as being the "Massachusetts politician" that Gingrich is trying to villainize him to be. The people, especially the conservatives of Massachusetts should be looking at why Gingrich thinks so little of the people of Massachusetts. A level headed, knowledgeable conservative would probably support Mitt Romney solely on his record. The man worked well with others, bipartisan; and they accomplished much more than the party has accomplished in the last four years.

Mitt Romney can be said to be what the American Dream is all about. Hard work, education and determination has made him not only wealthy, but willing to fight for and give to the American people.

Many politicians start out with not so much as an ounce of interest in what's best for their people, but what's in it for them in the long run. It has the best lifetime benefits and in the long run, most politicians leave office quite wealthy. Mitt Romney already has it all, he doesn't need it.