David Frum: I Call Upon The Right “To Rally Behind Rubio”

(Note: The above in quotes was from Frum's original headline. He seems to have changed it without noting it in his post. That's internet FAIL)

Um, Dave? We’ve been doing that for months now. It’s been moderates like you who wanted to foist Charlie Crist on us.

Well, at least our self-proclaimed leader has caught up to his multitudes. Better late than never and all of that.

The Crist-Rubio contest is a tough one for modern-minded Republicans. As Eli Lehrer has noted here, Crist is no paragon of good government. On the other hand, what has got Crist in trouble is not his beach-house bailout, but his willingness to cut a deal with the feds to rescue his state finances – kind of a governor’s job. It’s unnerving too that it is so hard to predict how Crist would behave as a U.S. senator. With Rubio, you have a more certain idea of what you’ll get.

But here’s where I come down: The center right has got to hold together. We cannot afford more NY-23s. In all but the most extreme
circumstances, the rule has to be that those who participate in a party contest abide by the results of that process. It’s one thing if the race is Lieberman v. Lamont, and what’s at issue is success or failure in war. I used that comparison in a tweet today, but it does not stand up to scrutiny: the differences between Crist and Rubio are much more differences in tone, temperament, and personality. Had Crist prevailed in the Florida Republican primary, he would have had every valid reason to expect Rubio to support the outcome. The reverse should have held true.

Yes, yes all very fair minded and all. The question still is, why exactly should the right be taking advice from someone who thought Crist was a great choice, really the only choice? The guy has turned out to be a sore loser snake who may well be trying to cut a deal with the Obama White House to win this race. Some of us saw that early on and wanted nothing to do with the guy.

Exactly at what point do our ‘leaders’ have to answer for the fact that they are often wrong?

As I’ve said before, I’m willing to support a ‘moderate’ (though not one who might well turn out to be a party jumper) if that’s the best chance for victory. However my question for Frum from back in November (see how early I was “rallying around Rubio”) still stands.*

Why in the world shouldn't we want to nominate Marco Rubio in Florida and do all we can to make it happen? It's not as if that state has never elected a conservative. Jeb Bush did just fine there. Is there any reason to think Rubio is so much more conservative than the former Governor that Florida voters will be repulsed by him? Of course not.

I think you can be a conservative and still be willing to accept the reality that sometimes you have to compromise. I do not see why you should be considered a conservative when clearly your preference is for liberals, even in a state where a conservative can win.

Fum always wants to know why conservatives won't support moderates, well I'd like to know what conservative Frum would support over a moderate/liberal? If not Rubio over Crist in Florida, then what candidate and where will Frum support a real conservative over a moderate/liberal?

Frum is coming up from the rear, while pretending to lead from the front.

Via @allahpundit

*I edited that sentence a bit to clarify what I was getting at.

posted by DrewM. at 10:54 PM

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