Sometimes Pragmatism Trumps Principle?

“Sometimes Pragmatism Trumps Principle”?

Didn’t actually click through, so, I’m replying just based on that one sentence, but I have to ask:

Then what value is principle?

If a higher principle can trump a lower, that I can certainly understand (principle of defense, especially of others, trumps principle of not killing, for a simplistic example), but abandoning principle to win never seems, well, principled. It’s compromising with evil, isn’t it? (Which diabolical pact, like “reaching across the aisle” means one side does all the “compromising.” Hence, the term, “compromised.”)

This is a debate I see a lot about the Tea Party, the Republicans, the RINOs, and what it takes to “win.” The folks who want to go along to get along don’t seem to listen too well to the history (e.g. Reagan) of standing up for principle and how it actually wins big. “Don’t sound like one of what McCain called kooks” they take as a serious consideration.

I was as glad as anybody to hear Dr. Carson spoil Obama’s digestion at the prayer dinner, and I admire Carson’s story, naturally, but politically he’s been willing to “bend” principle on the 2nd Amendment as well, so I can’t give him more than about a 5 out of a possible 9.

I will grant, though, that perhaps, unlike most people, he just might be educable. (For some reason, I am reminded of of Jesus telling the Scribe, you’re not far from the truth.)