Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been surprised how many times I’ve heard a Republican say, “I’ll vote for Hillary before I vote for him.”   In each case the “him” was a different guy—McCain, Romney, Giuliani, or Thompson.  In fact you probably heard Dr. James Dobson said that he’d vote for a 3^rd party or even not vote before he would support Rudy.

The argument goes: choosing the “lesser of two evils” is still choosing evil. 

I’m not sure I understand this reasoning, but I’d like to bring a new perspective to the issue.  As I’ve said before, we Republicans have a tendency to seek perfection from our candidates.  Anyone who disagrees with me on one or more of my pet issues, is certainly not worthy of the office.

Let me suggest that this is a wholly impractical way to think.  In reality, nearly everything we do in this imperfect world consists of making of trade-offs.  Sometimes formally, usually informally, we conduct a cost-benefit analysis.  We ask ourselves, “Does the benefit of this approach outweigh the cost?”  

When I decide to buy a new car, I must determine whether the benefit of owning the car will outweigh the loss of $500 from my bank account every month.  When selecting the car, I must decide whether the benefit of being able to carry a lot of passengers outweighs the cost of lower fuel economy. 

Sure, I’d love to have it all.  I’d like to be able to own the big truck that gets 50 mpg and doesn’t cost me any money at all.  Of course, that can’t happen.  This is the reality of life.  

So, for all of you conservatives out there, ask yourself a question, does the benefit of voting against Rudy, McCain or Romney outweigh the cost of a Hillary presidency? 

-Does the benefit of “making a statement” that you disagree with Rudy on abortion outweigh the cost of giving Hillary up to 6 Supreme Court appointments? 

-Do your “concerns” about Mormons outweigh the cost of “Hillarycare”?

-Is McCain’s view on immigration worth the cost of defeat in Iraq and a retreat in the war against terrorists? 

Let me propose that voting is much more a practical matter than a moral one.  Which candidate will do more to further your causes?  Which candidate will hurt your causes the most? 

Dr. Dobson is wrong.  This talk of skipping the vote, starting a 3^rd party, or voting with Hillary is silly.  We have a clear choice in the coming election.  Either we enthusiastically support the Republican nominee, or we blame ourselves for the potentially devastating consequences to our causes, our country, and our world.