During the fall of 2000, I was walking out of a local grocery store when I saw the notorious Green Party across the street. The energetic & uber liberal Green Party volunteers were holding signs, cheering and eliciting support of their fearless leader and Presidential candidate, Ralph Nader. The Green Party supporters were increasing due to popular liberal support from the likes of actress Susan Sarandon & her husband Tim Robbins as well as disillusionment with the Democratic Party over radical leftist ideology.

I was so excited when I saw them, that I just couldn’t contain myself. I proceeded to walk across the street and personally encourage them in their valiant effort. I met the local head of the green party and handed him a small donation to cover some of the costs of the hand made signs. I told him that day, “The cause of the Green Party is a noble one and needs to be voiced. Keep it up.” He smiled and I said my goodbyes to the supporters.

Now, if you think I am a Green Party member, you are wrong. I am a die hard conservative! You might be asking, “Why then did you give them support and actually give a donation for there cause?” The reason why I did that was simple. I knew that if more people voted for the Green Party, the Liberal “Third Party”… the more votes would be taken away from the Democratic Party. Support for a Third Party will only harm the political party from which it comes and it will bring victory to its opposition.

The 2000 election was the closest in American history. After many recounts, Bush was named the winner and became President of the United States of America. The reason why Bush won is simple…. There was a very popular third party candidate: Ralph Nader of the Green Party. If there was no Green Party running, if there was no Ralph Nader running, Gore would have been our President.

This is one of the many reasons why Third Party politics in America does not help a cause, it only harms it.

America is a two party country made up of Republicans & Democrats. These two parties have existed in one form or another since the beginning of our nation. The Constitution of the United States did not create this but Americans created it. It was birthed by the political philosophies of our founders. The day that Thomas Jefferson looked across the room at Alexander Hamilton and said, “YOUR WRONG” was the first day of the two party system and it has been that way since!

The concept of a third party comes from a disgust of how the Republicans or Democrats are running things. It usually comes from the fringes of the party, either ultra conservative or ultra liberal. Third party people want changes made, but are unsuccessful or have a feeling of hopelessness in having there political philosophy initiated within their own party. So in turn they desire to form there own breakaway party, with the hopes of progressing their political agenda. There are around 38 “third party” options in America which pull a small but weighty percentage of the vote. The three biggest third party names are the Green Party (Liberal), Constitution Party (Conservative), Libertarian Party (morally liberal & fiscally conservative).

Over the past months there has been an increasing call within the Republican Party for another third party to arise… a Tea Party, so named for the successful and effective demonstrations of the summer. There intentions are well placed and are supported by many, including myself. Going out and protesting and joining those who are part of the Tea Party movement is a noble and important cause that all conservatives should be a part of.

Yet to break away from the Republican Party would be a disaster for the political conservative philosophy that is held by those who call themselves Tea Party members.

If the Republican party is split, and the conservative base leaves, it will guarantee a Liberal governance in America for decades. The Conservative voice will be muted and the votes of Republicans and Tea Party loyalists will be worthless.

Politics is all about power. Those who hold the power make the changes. Unfortunately we are seeing that now in Washington. In order for us to change our country for the better and bring back freedom and personal liberty to the people we must have the power. The power will slip through our hands if there is a split in the Republican Party. What good is conservative ideology if we do not have the political power to initiate it?

For Example, out of the three major “third party” contenders, has any one of them seen there political philosophies initiated? Has their passionate goals been achieved by their third party stance? Absolutely not!

There are those who say, with passionate voices, that to stay in the Republican Party would be a compromise of our values and our conservative philosophy. This view is simply a pathetic way of badgering conservative patriots to leave the Republican Party.

The call should not be for exodus, but for reformation! There needs to be reform in the Republican Party. The passionate voices of the third party need not leave, but stay and reform the original. Don’t change political parties, but change the minds of Republican moderates & liberals. Debate and win them over to the right, don’t turn tail and run. Now is not the time to leave, now is a time for restructuring!

This is done through debate. This is done through the primary vote. This done through political funding. We must vote out those who are R.I.N.O.’s (Republican In Name Only). We must not give money to the Republican National Committee if they choose to support non conservative Republicans. We must not vote for non Conservative candidates as a protest. True conservative patriots must become part of the heart of the Republican Party.

Have you ever heard of Ross Perot? He was the third party candidate that ran during the 1992 presidential election. The votes that he took away from George Bush cost the Republicans the election and made Bill Clinton President. Where is Ross Perot today? Is he a big time political power house? Is he a political force to be reckoned with? No… Mr. Perot runs a political web site and gives political endorsements that no one pays any attention to. He has gone the way of the political “dodo”. A flash in the pan, puffed up by the political opponent for their own political goals. The liberals will indeed support the conservative third party. They will call them patriots and true Americans. They will push them and encourage them to take and stand and start a new party. They will do this only for their own good and for there own liberal cause. They know… as much as I knew that day in 2000, that support of a third party will bring a political cause to a stand still.

I do not want this for the Conservative ideology. I do not want this for the Republican Party. Let us reform the Republican Party, let us fight for true conservative values to be the heart and the soul of it. Let us not cut off our own nose to spite our face. Remember that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.