Every four years, we have this drumbeat from the drive by media that the Republicans insist on a purity test for their candidates.  Then we get breathless news from the media when some poll comes out that says the GOP might compromise on beliefs in order to elect a Republican.   But there is something the media always leaves out.

Not only does the GOP not have a purity test for its candidates, the Democrats do.  Consider the current GOP field.  You have a flat out loony liberal, Gary Johnson.  You have several big government liberals, Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman and Rudy Giuliani.   You have some big government moderates like Tim Pawlenty.  You have some further to the conservative spectrum like Rick Santorum and Rick Perry.  You have serious conservatives, such as Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and (though she is not running) Sarah Palin.  You even have Ron Paul, who pretty much defies categorization. 

Compare that to the liberal field of four years ago.  You had Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Denis Kucinich, and Bill Richardson.   Every last one of these favored massive increases in government spending, tax hikes, social programs, socialist health care, cutting the military, surrendering and withdrawing in Iraq and Afghanistan, abortion and gay rights.  In many of their debates the only differences were the color of their suits. 

Unfortunately Republicans do not insist on a purity test.  The Tea Party and other conservatives are insisting on a purity test.   A campaign for President is not a popularity contest between two people on TV.  It is not even a contest between two groups for America to decide which we like better.  This is not Coke vs. Pepsi.  This is not Ford vs. Chrysler.   This is not baseball vs. NASCAR. 

This is a battle for the future of this country and ideas do matter.

The Bible says, “What does it profit a man that he gain the whole world and lose his soul?”  How about a political paraphrasing of that verse of scripture?  What does it gain this country if we put a Republican in the White House and he is really no different from the Socialist he replaced?

In this campaign, ideas and beliefs do matter.   No one took Obama seriously when he promised the things that he did.  Everyone just assumed he was another politician.   Today, two and a half years later, we are learning he really did mean what he said.  He really wanted insane spending.  He really wanted to wreck the health care system.   He really wanted to see high gas prices.  He really wants to see America reduced to being just another pleasant country somewhere between Aruba and Zimbabwe. 

What we want is not a purity test, as the media likes to call it.  What we want is someone who believes in America.  What we want is someone who understands that conservative principles work.   What we want is someone who understands that under conservative leadership, the country prospers and the people are free.

What we do not want is someone who promises us to be conservative then goes to Washington acting just like a liberal.  What we do not want is more of the same.  What we do not want is someone who is going to go to Washington just to “manage” socialism.

We want change.  We want someone we can believe in.   Call it a purity test if you will.   We call it setting America free.