A few weeks ago, I did an article about the tense-to-nonexistant relationship between conservatives and the media. \u00a0Any media. \u00a0Even media that strives in its own way for detachment.<\/p>\n
Conservatives just don’t trust the media.<\/p>\n
The context, of course, was a conversation I had with Melody Ng<\/a>, who works for the “Public Insight Network” at\u00a0American Public Media, the national\/syndicated programming arm of Minnesota Public Radio. \u00a0 She’s found the attempt to engage conservatives – one of her job goals – for feedback and as sources is frustrating.<\/p>\n My theory – conservatives distrust the media on a level that’s become ingrained in core conservative thought. \u00a0And that distrust, as a rule, is utterly warranted; with many in the media the perspective on events, politics and life in general is so different, it makes basic communication difficult. \u00a0Here was a recent example<\/a>\u00a0that points to the statement “they don’t get us, and we don’t get them”.<\/p>\n Now, for the entire life of this blog one of my theses has been that conservatives need to engage in the larger culture; everything from sports to art to the media. \u00a0There can be as many reasons for this as there are conservatives; to promote better communication, to learn more, to teach the rest of society that conservatives are not <\/em>the stunted caricatures that so much of the media describes to the rest of society today, or to co-opt and neutralize the media.<\/p>\n Which isn’t making Melody Ng’s job any easier.<\/p>\n So I offered Melody something I rarely offer anyone – a shot at reaching the SITD audience directly by posting something here on Shot In The Dark<\/em>.<\/p>\n As it happens, Ms. Ng is curious about the same thing I am; what is everyone’s “Plan B”, should “your” candidate not get the nomination. (For a variety of reasons, it came in just a tad <\/em>late for pre-caucus discussion; I figured it was still plenty timely).<\/p>\n Is the (primary) party over? Or is the Republican Party just getting started?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s barely February. Super Tuesday is still to come, and it\u2019s a long way to August in Tampa. Yet some seem ready to call the race for Republican presidential nomination.\u00a0 This after a month of fairly unprecedented and brutal finger pointing among GOP hopefuls over who best represents conservative values in America.<\/p>\n What\u2019s a non-Romney Republican to do?<\/p>\n This blog\u2019s host, Mitch Berg, suggested that I find answers by going directly to you, his readers, and asking: \u201cWhat\u2019ll you do if your candidate doesn\u2019t win the nomination?\u201d<\/p>\n So where do you stand?<\/p>\n Fill us in on your Plan B here<\/a>.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n This question was inspired by lively conversation here on Shot in the Dark, and\u00a0Hot Air<\/a> around Mitch\u2019s\u00a0post advising \u201c\u2018Anybody But Mitt\u2019 Republicans\u201d to vote Romney should he get the party nod<\/a>.\u00a0 But discussions about this are happening in all kinds of venues, physical and virtual.<\/p>\n I decided also to check in with our sources at the “Public Insight Network (PIN),<\/a> 140,000 people like you who share their expertise to help reporters across the country cover the news.\u00a0 In recent months, many have been telling us how their life experience influences their preference to presidential candidates.<\/p>\n I tapped PIN sources whose candidates of choice have dropped out or refused to run.\u00a0 Among them, supporters who favored Bachmann, Rubio, Perry, Cain, Palin, Pawlenty, Christie, Ryan and Huntsman.<\/p>\n Their responses varied, but there was a strong current of Republican over Democrat, even if it wasn\u2019t their favorite Republican.<\/p>\n This from Jay Maynard, of Fairmont, Minn., who backed Herman Cain, but now says he\u2019ll vote from Romney: \u201cThe duty of the Republican Party is to nominate and work to elect the most conservative electable candidate. \u2026 The goal is to limit Barack Obama to one term in office.\u201d<\/p>\n James Murphy, a Libertarian from Austin, Texas, and Rick Perry fan, will strive to get the GOP nominee, whoever he is, into office:\u00a0 \u201cOf the candidates who remain, not a one of them is worse than Obama.\u201d<\/p>\n Another Texan, Jackie Thompson of Longview, agrees.\u00a0 Perry was her favorite as well \u2013 she\u2019s \u201cas conservative as a person can be about wanting a small government and in all fiscal matters.\u201d\u00a0 But now that Perry is out, she says, \u201cI’ve known all along that I will vote for whoever is the Republican nominee.\u00a0 I am not going to vote for a Democrat for president, period.\u201d<\/p>\n As strong as that sentiment is, it doesn\u2019t seem to be universal. Two respondents \u2013 both Huntsman supporters \u2013 declared they now might vote for Obama.\u00a0 Said Chris Eriksen, a self-described \u201cFederal Libertarian-State Socialist\u201d from Arden Hills, Minn., it\u2019s about deft foreign policy, the skill he values most in a president.\u00a0 He finds Obama the most \u201cstatesmanly\u201d candidate now that Huntsman\u2019s gone.<\/p>\n A third Plan B is to shift efforts away from the presidential campaign and to other power positions in support of one\u2019s beliefs.\u00a0 Example:\u00a0 Richard Mulholland, a Perry guy.\u00a0 Well before his state\u2019s presidential primary, he had already moved on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Congressional races are more important,\u201d Mulholland said. \u201cAt this point I am indifferent about the remaining presidential candidates.\u00a0Would I have preferred someone else? Sure. But all of my preferred candidates have withdrawn. \u2026 In the fall, I will be happy with anyone my neighbors will have chosen from the remaining field.\u201d<\/p>\n How about you?\u00a0 Is your first choice for president still in the race?\u00a0 If not, how will you remain involved?\u00a0 Is there a line between getting a Republican in the White House and your own values?<\/p>\n