That dodgy candidate

Shawn Moody’s sudden conversion to conservatism has Maine people scratching their heads. Moody was anything but conservative when running for governor as an independent. As a political appointee of the Governor, he managed to keep a low profile within the LePage political machine.

With the confusion and lack of clarity on his political direction, perhaps the LePage camp felt they had found their “Manchurian.” The political landscape of Maine felt the rumble and shuffle as the whole of the Governor’s political machine shifted and morphed into the Moody team. Was this the blank slate that they needed to insure eight more years of the LePage regime?

But the heat of the primary has begun to mottle the hastily plated facade of a true conservative candidate and the juxtaposition of two different politicians from two different races is creating an uncomfortable reality for the kingmakers behind the politician. Moody is spending more and more time trying to dodge his inconsistencies. Yes, the dodge is on and the many moods of Moody is starting to show.

For a man who claims to be the outsider and the proverbial “unpolitician,” his mastery of the political rope-a-dope would hold even Ted Kennedy in awe. Debate moderators have scolded Moody for never answering a question and when he does they are surprised that he sounds more like the Democrats then the Republicans. This dodge and weave approach to truth is just the type of political gamesmanship the voting public has grown tired of.

Another candidate on the dodge is Mary Mayhew. Mayhew also had a conversion to conservatism. While the writer agrees that conservatism is great thing to convert to, the fruit of a conversion should show in the actions of a leader.

Mayhew has faced bipartisan criticism for her handling of DHHS. With tragedy of a girl’s death in the form of repeated child abuse on Mayhew’s watch, this and the several other cases of poorly administrated abuse cases is a baggage that will sink her campaign. Mayhew has not addressed these concerns satisfactorily because she cannot.

With the Ken Fredette campaign struggling to gain traction, there is really only one choice for true conservatives in the Republican Gubernatorial primary. Garrett Mason can run on his record because it is there in plain sight for everyone to see. His conservative principles have stayed consistent, his ideals are constant, and they have not wavered.

The 2nd Amendment will be the divining issue of this election. This along with school choice, abortion, family values, fiscal restraint, defense of the Constitution, states rights, and so many more are not issues that should be left to chance to a candidate that dodges, bobs, and weaves their way around the issues. Maine needs a leader with a consistent record of conservatism and Mason is that leader.