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The Right-Wing Democrat Insurgent Campaign

Kyle Bristow - 8/11/2008

A candidate for the United States Senate is attempting to oust from Congress a notorious neoconservative cheerleader for the invasion of Iraq and amnesty for illegal aliens. That candidate is Democrat Bob Conley, and the conservative Taki’s Magazine (Takimag.com) said of him in an article entitled “A Ron Paul Democrat?” (6/18/08) that “his candidacy is perhaps the best hope for putting a paleoconservative in the U.S. Senate this November.”

Bob Conley is a 42-year-old engineer, commercial pilot, and flight instructor from North Myrtle Beach. He won the Democratic primary, and now is up against Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) this November. Graham has been called “the worst Republican senator” by The American Spectator, which is a conservative magazine.

Conley is like no other Democrat this election cycle. According to an article in The American Spectator entitled “What About Bob?” (7/7/08), Conley voted for Ron Paul in the Republican primary. On the issues, Conley opposes abortion, same-sex “marriage,” gun control, government bailouts of corporations, free-trade agreements like NAFTA, amnesty for illegal aliens, and wants to establish a moratorium for legal immigration. The article mentions that “Conley’s vanquished primary opponent lamented, ‘We’ve nominated a Republican in a Democratic primary.’”

Conley is a breath of fresh air in politics; as a true conservative, he has no problem criticizing leftist Republicans. Conley has called Senator Graham “Grahamnesty,” and refers to amnesty-supporter Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as “Senor McCain” and “Juan McCain.” According to an article on the website of South Carolina Now entitled “Conley Believes Frustrated GOP Voters in S.C. Will Give Him a Win” (5/31/08), Conley has referred to Senator Graham as “McCain’s Mini-Me.”

Even Sen. Graham understands that Conley is the real conservative in the race. In an article in the Charleston City Paper entitled “Democrat Bob Conley Offers Conservatives a Real Choice in November” (6/18/08), “When asked about his challenger Conley's conservatism, Graham said, ‘From what I can tell, he doesn't represent moderation. I represent a brand of conservatism that you will feel comfortable with.’”

Like mythic heroes, the odds of success are against Conley, but he still remains defiant. The Southern Political Report website reported in an article entitled “Senate Money Reveals Competitive Races” (7/28/08) that Sen. Graham has about $3.6 million in his war chest. Conley has only $1,000. OpenSecrets.org reports that Conley has not received any money from political action committees, while Graham has received $1.7 million. This is a political battle between David and Goliath, but there is hope, for David triumphed in the biblical story.

If you do not live in South Carolina and are therefore ineligible to vote for Conley, you can still donate to his campaign by visiting his website. Left-wing Senator Tom Daschle (D-ND) was ousted from Congress in 2004 when his opponent, John Thune, was able to raise money through out-of-state donations. God-willing, Graham will meet a similar political fate.

On Conley’s campaign website, www.BobConleyforSenate.com, there is written a statement that resembles something Pat Buchanan or Ron Paul would say: “Help me fight the neo-conservatives and advance the cause of liberty!”