Why Dkos "support" for Romney is wrong move

I've followed Markos' plan to upset the Republican apple cart by having Democrats swing the Michigan primary to Mitt Romney in hopes of perpetuating the infighting and negativity that have begun to mark the Republican race.  And while theoretically it's actually quite a cleaver attempt at guerrilla politics, in actuality, Mitt's continued presence only keeps a real meltdown from occurring.

A recent exchange between Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council and Pat Toomey, president and CEO of the Club For Growth, on the Tweety show demonstrates just why.

Each one was there essentially to sing the praises of their favored candidate while demonizing  the current Republican they could not support  "under any circumstances".  Not surprisingly they were at complete loggerheads. Each one claimed the other's chosen candidate would  "cut a leg" off the Republican's  "three legged stool of the social conservatives, economic conservatives and defense conservatives."

Perkins, and presumably his values orientated evangelical followers, of course love the Preacherman;  Huckabee. But what was more telling was how vehemently he opposed Giuliani.  

PERKINS: I do not believe that Giuliani is a—has a socially conservative bone in his body. I don‘t think he‘s a conservative.

Over and over he painted Rudy as the one candidate who could never get the backing of true social conservatives.  This of course is consistent with what other Theo-cons, like James Dobson, have been telling us all along...they would refuse to back a Rudy candidacy under any circumstances:

"I cannot, and will not, vote for Rudy Giuliani in 2008. It is an irrevocable decision. If given a Hobson's – Dobson's? – choice between him and Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, I will either cast my ballot for an also-ran – or if worse comes to worst – not vote in a presidential election for the first time in my adult life. My conscience and my moral convictions will allow me to do nothing else."
World Nut Daily

Tommey, on the other hand presented a case that was the polar opposite of that of his Theo-con opponent:

The guy who clearly is not a conservative is Mike Huckabee.  

Mike Huckabee is a big-government liberal.  

This is a guy who thinks that his Christian faith requires him to believe in a big, expansive government.  His record as governor clearly was that of a big-government guy, a serial tax-hiker, big spender, advocate for all kinds of new programs.  And now, on the campaign trail, he‘s moved to the left of that.  

I think the fact that he‘s pro-life and supports traditional marriage doesn‘t make him a conservative.

...If you think of it as a three-legged stool, the guy who clearly has only one leg of that is Mike Huckabee.  Seriously, the foreign policy folks cannot be comfortable with Mike Huckabee.  Economic conservatives can‘t even begin to—

The two candidates they did agree they could both support where Romney and McCain....and for this reason alone Romney needs to go ...

But there's one more crucial piece in the equation that needs to be factored in.  .. The new "fourth leg" of the party that the Republicans have been firing ups for the last two years ...the anti-immigrant xenophobes.  McCain, Huckabee and Giuliani are all pariahs in the nativist camp, with McCain being particularly reviled...This has driven them many of them into the arms of Romney. (hence his reliance thus far on this issue to try to bludgeon his opponents)  

While the issue has not yet proved potent this election cycle, those firmly in that camp are vehement and adamant, and in an ultimate McCain –Romney stand-off they could become a determining factor. Eliminating the only viable nativist option now would force many to simply sit this one out, taking this issue completely off the table.

Allowing Romney to stay would provide Republicans with the only candidate who could appease the Theo-cons and Corporate wing while dragging in the Xenophobes... And possibly succeed in taking on McCain effectively in S Carolina making it a two man race.

It's Giuliani and Huckabee who must stay in to create the most turmoil. A Giuliani, McCain, Huckabee field creates far more divisiveness, with theo-cons going to Huckabee,  Corporate-cons going to Giuliani and Neo-cons going to McCain. ...and the xenophobes ....stirring up trouble for all three . ..McCain in particular.