I remember as a kid, back in the old black-and-white TV days, watching the show "To Tell The Truth." Have you ever seen it? What a great premise, three people representing themselves as one and the same person, answering questions from celebrity panelists about their life and career.
Announcer: "What is your name, please?" #1 "My name is Conservative Republican." #2 "My name is Conservative Republican." #3 "My name is Conservative Republican."
Host: Follow along once again, if you will, panel, while I read you this story:
"I, Conservative Republican, have been a member of my party for more than 20 years. I have never voted to raise taxes or for an unbalanced budget. I've never voted to increase the power of the executive branch of government. I voted against the so-called Patriot Act and against regulating the internet. Signed, Conservative Republican."
According to the rules of the game, the contestants took home more prize money if they managed to bluff the panel into an incorrect choice. The panelists took turns asking questions in a concerted effort to discern which of the three contestants was the real McCoy.
Fast-forward to Presidential Election 2008. We are the panelists, you and I. There is a sometimes deceptive array of contestants standing before us. At least two of them are hoping to pull the wool over our eyes:
Announcer: "What is your name, please?" #1 "My name is Mitt Romney. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God." #2 "My name is Mike Huckabee, and the First Amendment requires that expressions of faith be neither prohibited nor preferred." #3 "My name is Ron Paul, and I'm the champion of the Constitution."
Like the old TV show, two out of three of these men are imposters. Only one is the real Conservative Republican. How can we distinguish among them? Fortunately, we have a very simple test that can be performed right at home.
Take the constitution in one hand, and the candidate's platform in the other and compare them line-by-line. Which candidate's platform is totally consistent with an oath to support the Constitution? Go ahead, start with just these three: Romney, Huckabee, and Paul, and check your results. There will be a test.
Announcer: Will the realConservative Republican please stand up?
Copyright (c) 2007 by Dann McCreary (aka creator) - Permission to copy with attribution granted.
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