By: Susan Knowles
Gulag Bound

us-senate-sealHow many times have we heard conservative Republicans say that they had to cast a vote for the “lesser of two evils” in an election against a Democratic candidate simply because there wasn’t a real conservative in the race?

We saw it in the 2008 election against President Obama when many conservative Republicans out of frustration voted for a moderate (progressive in the opinion of some), Senator John McCain. We saw a repeat in 2012, when conservatives once again, threw up their hands and cast a vote for Mitt Romney, knowing that he was a moderate.

Bill CassidyIt appears that Louisiana could fall into the same trap with the upcoming U.S. Senate race in 2014 by supporting William “Bill” Cassidy’s bid to replace the Democratic incumbent.

Cassidy’s background is that of a physician who tends to reach across the aisle in co-sponsoring bills with Democrats. Cassidy’s political career began in 2006, when he won a special election for District 16 in the Louisiana State Senate race. He defeated a fellow Republican for the seat. He was then re-elected in 2007 for a full four year term.

In 2008, Cassidy was elected to the United States House of Representatives, Sixth District of Louisiana Senate election after he defeated the Democrat incumbent. Many have speculated, however, that Cassidy would have lost the race but for the votes being split for an African-American candidate that pulled votes away from the Democrat senator. Cassidy went on to win a 2010 mid-term election against a Democrat. His win helped the Republicans regain the House of Representatives after four years of Democratic control. He defended his seat again in 2012.

Cassidy has announced that he will run in 2014 for the U.S. Senate against third-term Democrat Mary Landrieu, considered to be one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate.

Will a vote for Cassidy be yet another “lesser of two evils” vote? Considering that Cassidy once supported Democrats, reaches across the aisle, and even donated to Mary Landrieu’s campaign, it seems that the answer would be a resounding yes!

Maness-RobCould Republican Rob Maness, who is also running for the 2014 Senate seat offer a better solution and be a genuine conservative that the Republicans have been looking for?

Rob Maness, and not Congressman Bill Cassidy, was just endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund. They believe that Maness has the best chance of defeating Democrat U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu because “he is not a Washington insider.”

But who is Maness and does he offer an alternative to the same old candidate that professes to be a conservative but ends up being a moderate in the long run?

Maness-Col_RobertRob Maness retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2011 after 32 years of service. The Senate Conservatives Fund touts Maness as a “constitutional conservative.” They feel that he “understands the value of our freedoms and will fight to repeal Obamacare and stop massive spending, bailouts, and the debt that are bankrupting our country.”

The Senate Conservatives Fund, an organization based upon the principles of a limited government, opposes the Affordable Care Act. It also takes responsibility for helping to elect Republican Senators, Ted Cruz of Texas, Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Deb Fischer of Nebraska in 2012.

This same organization is also backing Matt Bevin in his bid in the primaries against Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The organization raised millions for the successful 2012 elections and is raising similar funds for the upcoming 2014 elections of Matt Bevin and Rob Maness.

Will the money that the Senate Conservatives Fund raises be enough to get a relatively unknown new comer to the political arena elected over a long-time incumbent who at least has a track record as a politician?

One thing is for certain. Action is required in order to change the GOP from a party of moderates into a party of conservatives. Unless conservatives get the word out about Maness and then go out and vote for him, no amount of money will make a difference.

Knowles-Freedoms-Flight ————-

Note: Susan Knowles is an author, psychotherapist and former practicing attorney. Her latest book, a political fiction, is entitled, “Freedom’s Fight: A Call to Remember” available on Amazon.com. Her website is www.susanknowles.com, where one may also find this article.

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