Vote for the Better Candidate – Not the Perfect One

We are one week away from Election Day 2014, a day on which many Americans will not choose to participate in the electoral process – not because they don’t hold political opinions, but because they don’t understand how important it is to elect congressional representatives and governors who share their values. Too many Americans just don’t grasp the significance of the mid-term races – and yes, I’ll say it. Most of those people call themselves Democrats.

Then again, some Republicans choose to stay home from the polls during the mid-terms as well. Their reason is entirely different; it usually involves the candidate in question not being “conservative enough” for them. Folks, let me tell you something: There is no perfect candidate. I have met Neel Kashkari in person and spoken with him about the issues. Because of this, I can promise you that he is absolutely nothing like Governor Jerry Brown. He is a true fiscal conservative who is tired of watching the government’s time and energy, not to mention our tax dollars, being poured into Jerry Brown’s insane, unproductive initiatives.

While Jerry Brown wastes his time imposing bizarre environmental laws to make your life more difficult, figuring out more diabolical ways to criminalize school policies on bathroom usage, and actively encouraging more illegal immigrants to flood our borders, Neel Kashkari is creating economic initiatives to make the lives of Californians better, freer and more prosperous. Is he pro-choice? Yes, but this is California. If you think any pro-life candidate can get elected here, you’re delusional.

On November 4, people who regard themselves as conservative should commit to choosing the better candidate, rather than no candidate at all. Imagine how much different our country – not just California, but the entire United States of America – could have been if 3 million Republicans hadn’t stayed home from the polls in 2012. You know, the ones who said Mitt Romney was a RINO? “He’s not a real conservative,” they said – and then when he lost, they acted like that was supposed to substantiate their point. “See, that’s just proof that we need a real conservative to run!” No, that’s just proof that their “principles” kept us from getting a good man, and a solidly conservative candidate, elected because they thought it sent some kind of message. But because the only message that matters on Election Day is the one you cast with you ballot, they sent no message at all – and consequently, a disastrously liberal president who has no regard for their values was elected for a second term.

So to those people – whether they regard themselves as Republicans, tea partiers or some other label – I say thanks, with all the sarcasm I can muster. This time, please use your head, go to the polls, and vote for the better of the two candidates on the ballot. Do it on November 4, 2014, and then do it again on Election Day 2016. Your perfect candidate may not be on the ballot; instead, it might be Texas Governor Rick Perry, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush or Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. It might be Dr. Ben Carson (my favorite right now!), or New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. It could be South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, New Mexico Governor Susannah Martinez or another brilliant Republican female. Heck, it might even be Mitt Romney again; in fact, there’s a good chance that it could be. In any event: Unless you are a Democrat, you should vote for the Republican candidate in every single election. He won’t be perfect, but he’ll be better – and these days, that’s no small thing.

Ed Hoffman is the host of the Main Event on AM590 which airs Saturday 9:30AM- 10:30AM and Sunday 4:00PM- 5:00PM. Follow him on Twitter @EdHoffman, and like him on Facebook by searching The Main Event AM590