Elect Yantis Green

By now, the impact of Governor Mark Sanford’s choices are dawning on the Republican Party nationally. One of the handful of GOP stars less that a year ago, Sanford was widely believed to be on the shortlist for John McCain’s choice of Vice President. Less than two weeks ago, he was mentioned as one of the top four or five Republican Governors who could mount a legitimate campaign for President in 2012. No more. Sanford’s series of decisions that landed him in Argentina and in front of the global media have effectively ended his political career, his tenure as governor, and maybe even his marriage.

Every Republican elected official should take notice. There is no room in the GOP for anyone who will compromise his or her morals. Period. The Conservative movement doesn’t need anymore fallen stars. We cannot make gains in Washington, or Austin, or even here at home if our representatives can’t live up to our standards.

It is the actions of GOP leaders like Mark Sanford which lead to grassroots folks leaving the GOP for anything but the GOP or the Democrat Party. Where is Michael Steele? Where is the outrage or even condemnation from Conservatives within the leadership of the party? This is exactly the type of event and non-response that will hamstring our efforts to take house and senate seats in 2010 and will pave the way for a second Obama victory in 2012 despite the economy, health care, the crisis in North Korea, the instability in Iran and trillions of dollars in debt.

The solution; get involved. Attend a TEA Party. Celebrate Independence Day by making a commitment to get more involved in our self-government than you’ve ever been. Blog, Twitter, write letters to the editor, attend city council meetings, school board meetings, do everything you can do to make your voice heard. No one, not one of us, can afford to sit along the sidelines and not be involved in government anymore. Most of all, get involved in political campaigns now for the March 2010 primary. The only way things will get better is when each and everyone of us get involved at home.