Stick to principles

Stick to bedrock principles

Clear distinctions aid voters; primaries offer healthy choice.

By Chris Chocola

When you think about the awesome power of government for a moment, we can all be thankful that our nation chooses our leaders through real elections with more than one political party.

Elections are about debating the issues and making choices. Most voters don't want to choose the best bureaucrat or technocrat. They want someone who believes in what they believe.

Voters are right to be concerned with character. Yet they also understand that a political philosophy, if adhered to, can also provide a strong check against corruption. If a party craves nothing more than political power, then what is to stop the pursuit of power from corrupting those in power?

The Republican Party prospers when it lives up to its promises and adheres to its traditional platform of lower taxes, responsible spending, entrepreneurship and limited government.

In recent years, Republicans ignored these bedrock principles and became too concerned with power. Independent-minded voters perceived corruption and fled.

For Republicans, there is room for geographical diversity on many other issues outside of economic issues. There is also plenty of room to negotiate common ground on many issues without giving up their principles. Members of Congress do need to search for this common ground when they realize that neither side has the votes to completely adopt their policy preferences.

Activists of both parties turn out in greater numbers in primary elections and, yes, they do have more control over each party's nominee. If people have a problem with that, then they need to get out and vote.

Now, as always, the challenge for voters is to figure out whether candidates really mean what they say. If there are clear distinctions between political parties, voters have one additional tool in predicting how a candidate will vote once in office.

If differences between the parties are muddied, it is even harder for voters to forecast the future. Typical all-things-to-all-people politicians like to keep things muddy. That's good for the politicians, not the voters.

Primaries give general election voters a choice and a voice. This choice is not only healthy for our democracy and good government, it's essential.

Former representative Chris Chocola, R-Ind., is president of the Club for Growth, which supports economically conservative candidates.