After his shocking endorsement of Barack Obama, William F. Buckley's son Christopher has resigned from his position at National Review.

Christopher Buckley had caused a stir this week when he publicly announced his support for...a Democrat! In his blog on The Daily Beast, he argued that McCain was not the man he used to be. He claims that the once authentic McCain had become inauthentic, irascible and gnarly. He also argues that Barack Obama had a "first class temperament."

Christopher Buckley attempted to invoke his father's name to support his arguments. He cites William F. Buckley's desire to "separate the right from the kooks," and points out the elder Buckley's endorsement of Democrats such as Allard Lowenstein and Joe Lieberman.

My Take

Although I plan to vote for McCain, I respect the fact that Christopher Buckley had the courage to speak his mind.

Yet I have to respectfully disagree with Christopher Buckley's position. It's true that today's Republican Party has been hijacked by neocons and religious extremists--even Barry Goldwater spent the end of his life fighting against the religious right.

Still, whatever problems there are in today's Republican party are not enough to sway a vote for Obama. Yes McCain and Palin have been vicious with attacks--but so has the Obama campaign.

Double Standard: McCain and Palin are running a vicious campaign--but how is that different from any other election cycle? Both Bushes were just as tough during their campaigns--the only difference is that their opponents didn't have the messiah following of Obama.

Why is it okay for liberals to call Palin a Nazi, make derogatory comments about McCain's age, engage in sexist smears against Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, undermine McCain's war record and lifetime of service to the country?

Yet when the McCain campaign raises legitimate concerns about Obama's past associations and is critical of his positions, they are decried as racist smear tactics. There is such a double standard. You can't say anything remotely critical about Obama without someone calling you a racist.

William F. Buckley: As for Christopher Buckley's point about his father's endorsement of Lieberman, he neglects one obvious point--Lieberman is a conservative Democrat! Obama is a liberal big-government Democrat (with very socialist leanings).

While Buckley's grievances against the GOP have some merit, that is not enough to justify a (conservative) vote for Obama. The GOP may not be perfect--but that's no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater.