There's an offer on the table and then there's not.  It's the art of the takeaway, a technique designed for people who are particularly resistant to the high-pressure sale.  In recent years I've seen this technique used by so-called "conservative" representatives when it comes to politics.

I'll concede that I have no personal experience with the political pressures of Washington D.C.  Like most people I have never worked there or held elected office, but if you can tell who wins in arm wrestling you'll know where I'm coming from.   Now forget for a second there are any official rules to arm wrestling because they do not apply to "takeaway" politicians at all.  What they do is similar to the arm wrestling move where an experienced wrestler will allow his wrist to bend in order to gain some leverage on the opponent.

Republicans who are elected to represent their constituents in the Nation's capitol know that the mainstream media will target them.  As they move up through the ranks and gain seniority there  will be a strong temptation to prolong their career and reduce the pressures associated with media scrutiny.  True conservatives are willing to make political mistakes while standing for their principles.  "Takeaway" Republicans are likely to capitulate to Democrats just to prove they are not as "conservative" as the media might portray them.  Let me give you an example of each.

Former Republican Senator, Rick Santorum, stayed true to his principles and was eager to contrast his principles with those embraced on the other side of the aisle.  He wrote a book entitled "It Takes a Family" to counter the views expressed by Senator Hillary Clinton in "It Takes a Village".  Senator Santorum maintained a much more conservative profile than the more senior senator from Pennsylvania.  Although it cost him his office he never made a deal that would compromise his strongly-held positions.

Newt Gingrich led the changing of the guard who held up their end of the "Contract with America" back in 1994.  As Chairman of House of Representatives he delivered on many of those promises including welfare reform.  When President Clinton took credit for some of these accomplishments, he went out to make a name for himself.  The budget showdowns with the President and college lectures show that he didn't abandon his principles.  This year, however, the former chairman would stand with Senator Clinton in order just to be part of the discussion on the threat of global warming.  He did this while posturing as a potential presidential candidate and his remarks did as much to promote conservatism as President Bush's "Americans are addicted to oil" comments.

The greatest obstacle for true conservatives in the Republican Party does not come from the Left.  Soon enough each of the Democrat representatives who won office in '06 and '08 will show their colors.  They too are "takeaway" politicians who succeeded only by running on conservative values.  No, it is the Republican leadership who will give in to political pressure in order to improve their own media image.   Senator Jon McCain frequently objected to spending, but voted for every economic bail-out.

The mainstream media would rather focus on Senator McCain as the losing face of the Republican Party than cover corruption in their own camp.  Mavericks can only hinder the cause of true conservatives.  Hopefully conservative voters will learn from McCain as they did with Perot and not be taken in by the lure of independent voters.  Once again all Republicans need to stand together on the platform of fiscal responsibility, lower taxes, and smaller government and dispense with their "takeaway" tactics.