I am supporting Evan McMullin for President of the United States.
Who?
Evan McMullin is the #NeverTrump alternative for Conservatives of conscience. Evan stepped up in August, to provide a positive choice in the 2016 Presidential election. He was born in Utah, grew up in Washington state, and went to school at BYU and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He served his faith in Brazil, and worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Jordan. And on September 11th, Evan McMullin was in training at CIA HQ in Langley, Virginia. Her served the clandestine service in the War on Terror, then worked in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs before returning to public service with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. McMullin has been there and done that.
Why McMullin?
On the issues, Evan McMullin offers a positive, principled platform, in contrast to the major party candidates. McMullin is strong on National Security, with decades of experience out in the field and in the halls of Washington, DC. And he has called out both Donald Trump’s sycophantic support of Putin’s oppressive rule and Hillary Clinton’s abysmal record as Secretary of State.
Where the major party candidates have enriched themselves by fair means or foul, McMullin understands what its like to earn a living, and has an economic platform supporting reform of the tax code, regulation and entitlement spending.
“America prospers when we compete globally,” he states on his website. “Negotiate stronger grade deals and enforce the terms of existing agreements to ensure fair competition globally.” America must not turn our back on the world.
Why Not Vote Libertarian or Green Party?
Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, is an impressive candidate. Many of my friends are supporting the Governor, and good for them. If either Gary Johnson or Jill Stein are your cup of tea, good for you. Evan McMullin is a Conservative candidate offering a platform more Republican than the platform adopted by the Trump GOP. He also offers more practical experience, and certainly more principled experience than Clinton. We each must make our own choices, and live with the legacy of our choices.
But Not Voting for Trump/Hillary is Essentially a Vote for Hillary/Trump?
Pox on both their houses: the lesser of two evils is still evil. It’s like choosing the form of your own death–do you want to die of Cancer or a Stroke? Either way you are suffering in pain and then dead. I would have voted for any of the Republican primary candidates, except Donald Trump, but 2016 is a year of evil on evil. An unfortunate number of politicians have put their own careers over their principles, including Ted Cruz just yesterday. Don’t choose the form of your Destructor. Choose life, even if the chance of life is infinitely small. McMullin acknowledges he doesn’t have much of a chance. Very little chance.
Yet in 31 States we can vote for that chance. Evan McMullin is on the ballot in Colorado. Evan McMullin is on the ballot in Minnesota. Evan McMullin is on the ballot in New Mexico. Evan McMullin has qualified as a write-in candidate in Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Texas and several other states.
Conservative commentator Erick Erickson said it well in endorsing McMullin this week: he might not win states, but he might ensure neither Trump nor Hillary get to 270, and let the Electoral College do the job the Founding Fathers gave it to do. At the very least, he gives us a better reason to show up at the polling booth and consider principled down-ballot candidates.
We celebrate heroes who choose the slim chance, and perhaps give up their own lives to save others. Be a hero this election. Consider voting for Evan McMullin.
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