Another Test of Conservatives' "Principles"

If things continue on their present path, Colorado will have a chance to demonstrate to the nation the hypocricy that underlies conservative partisanship. According to most recent polls, Kerry leads in Colorado (albeit, within the margin of error). Furthermore, Amendment 36, which seeks to allocate Electoral Votes proportionally, would pass if the election were held today.

Should Kerry win in Colorado along with the passage of Amendment 36, conservatives may find themselves compelled to backtrack on their opposition to the amendment.

Most conservatives I've read (samples here and here and here) are opposed to Amendment 36. I don't buy all of their arguments against Amendment 36. But I do believe that some of their points have merit. While I'm still in favor of electoral reform, I am firmly opposed to Amendment 36.^* I will remain opposed whether or not Kerry wins in Colorado.

Will conservative opponents of Amendment 36 stick to their principled opposition of Amendment 36? If Bush loses Colorado but 4 of Colorado's proportionally allocated Electoral Votes would narrowly give him the White House I firmly believe that the vast majority of conservatives will suddenly become the biggest supporters of Amendment 36 you've ever seen.

Granted, there's also some potential for hypocricy on the part of certain Kerry supporters in such a scenario. But as far as I know the Kerry campaign has not indicated support for Amendment 36. (If I'm not mistaken, John Kerry is on record as saying it's a state issue.) And just because conservatives oppose Amendment 36 does not mean that progressives reflexively support it. The liberal paper of Boulder, The Daily Camera, opposes the amendment. Furthermore, the coalition supporting the Amendment is not limited to liberal progressives. According to MakeYourVoteCount.org the Amendment has been endorsed by The Libertarian Party of Colorado and former Independent presidential candidate and 10-term Republican Congressman John Anderson.

Whatever happens, I'll be curious to see if partisan conservatives retain the courage of their pre-election convictions.


^*As far as electoral reform is concerned, my thinking currently is that it is the voting procedures more than the electoral allocation that needs to be adjusted. I'm leaning toward support of the Condorcet Voting model or the Approval Voting method.