by Michael Holliday

It’s great that Jim Deakin, the self-appointed Arizona Tea Party candidate, stepped up to the plate—like other similarly outraged conservatives with good intentions—to ride the wave of popular discontent and draw attention not only to himself, but to the difficult problems facing Arizona, such as the illegal alien invasion and some bona fide national issues, like our out of control Federal Reserve Bank, which is neither federal nor has any reserves.

And, although not enough to base a Senatorial campaign on, the fact that America now has more politically appointed, non-elected “Czars”—than several centuries’ worth of pre-Soviet-era Russian empires, combined—should be enough to alarm any true lover of freedom, and not just Mr. Deakin.

However, the political landscape leading up to the Arizona Primaries has developed in such a manner—the race between JD Hayworth and John McCain is so close (Rasmussen Reports has the race at 47 percent McCain and 36 percent J.D. Hayworth, with Jim Deakin taking 7 percent)—that Deakin’s sincerest contribution to the greater good, and proof of his dedication to the conservative cause celebre: stopping the illegal alien invasion and resisting amnesty, requires that he relinquish his self-indulgent Senatorial aspirations and subordinate them to the needs of something greater than himself.  That is, to the concerted effort to defeat John McCain.

I’m not suggesting that he step down from his well-intentioned efforts, rather I’m asking that he redirect them and step up to his important moral obligation.  That despite Deakin’s good intentions, the road to hell may await us all, unless we elect a candidate capable of effectuating authentic resistance against McCain’s nefarious direction.  JD Hayworth has pledged to do just that, and has even written the definitive book on the subject entitled Whatever it Takes:  Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror.

Jim Deakin brings nothing new to the table that JD hasn’t already discussed in regard to securing our borders.  If anything, he brings lack of experience.  The biggest wake-up call for the world was the 911 attacks that brought mass destruction, through Jihadist terrorism, to US soil.  This changed everything, including the need to safeguard our borders immediately, without compromise.  However, it still wasn’t enough to change John McCain.

Furthermore, Deakin plays fast and loose with the truth by making the intellectually dishonest statement that a vote for Hayworth is a vote for McCain.  JD Hayworth has a stellar, 100% pro-life voting record.  John McCain does not.  In the eternal scheme of things, there is an unbridgeable abyss between JD Hayworth and John McCain on the right to life issue, alone.  That Deakin can’t see this is cause for worry!

Hayworth will fight McCain’s comprehensive immigration reform plan, holds a better overall conservative record— He maintained an “A” rating from the NRA, a 100% Pro-Life voting record, a lifetime rating of 89 from Citizens Against Government Waste and a lifetime rating of 98 from the American Conservative Union—and is officially endorsed by the original North Phoenix Tea Party.  A side-by-side comparison of Hayworth and McCain can be found here: http://www.jdforsenate.com/who-shares-your-values.

If I thought Deakin offered a realistic chance of beating John McCain, I would be giving him serious consideration, as would many other concerned Arizonans, as would the media, as would John McCain.  None are.  This is a big indication that he lacks the traction to sway the majority population of conscientious voters toward his goals, which are, for the most part the same as JD Hayworth’s—not McCain’s!  However, Deakin can still sway the votes of the critical few.  And this is where the problem lies.

For Deakin, hoping that every Arizonan will secretly convert, and fill in his name on the ballot—in an eleventh-hour Primary, “Damascus Road Experience” of sorts—is not only wanton wishful thinking wedded to self-deception, it’s, at best, a futile exercise in political overreaching and, at worst, a negligent act of self-destruction.  Even that megalomaniacal, power-hungry shrew Hillary Clinton, had to surrender her coveted delusions of Presidential grandeur to the reality of a superior, electable Obama.  And, anything but a full grasp of reality from a candidate, at this critical junction in America’s history, is unacceptable.  In fact, it makes me question not only Deakin’s true motives, but his fitness for public service.

Sometimes it’s not enough to do the right thing; sometimes one must do what is necessary.  Sometimes doing nothing is doing something.  And, sometimes doing nothing is doing something—extraordinary!  If Jim Deakin cares about Arizona more than he cares about himself, he’ll do nothing towards furthering his Senatorial campaign and lend his support to JD Hayworth.  It’s both necessary and the right thing to do.

Furthermore, in a close race like this, the cold-hard reality is that a vote for Jim Deakin is a vote for John McCain!