alifornia’s 4th Congressional District stretches from the eastern Sacramento Region to Lake Tahoe on the south and runs up the Sierra Nevada range to the high desert of Modoc County on the Oregon border in the north. It hosts this year’s only contested Northern California congressional primary. Here, two outstanding candidates, former Congressman Doug Ose and state Sen. Tom McClintock, are vying for the nomination. We could endorse either of them.

The choice between them is not made any easier by the fact that each embraces a different approach to governance: Ose is an effective insider, while McClintock adroitly plays the outsider role.

When we look beyond all of this race’s heated campaign rhetoric, political spin and unfortunate negative attacks, the determining criteria for us is which candidate best fits the communities in this district and who is best prepared to help change the flawed Republican culture in Congress. It’s a close call. But, based on these factors, we think McClintock is the best pick to replace retiring Rep. John Doolittle.

McClintock is a consistent conservative who, during his 22 years as a state legislator, has remained true to his principles. No one can deny that he remains a constant beacon for reducing the size and scope of government, controlling government spending and securing America’s borders. This traditional conservative message is consistent with our views, even though it seems to have been forgotten by most GOP leaders in Washington, D.C. As McClintock likes to say, “Republicans should start acting like Republicans again.”

There is no better time to start than during a presidential election year.

In debates and stump speeches, McClintock reminds us of Ronald Reagan, although he lacks Reagan’s ability to sit down with his opponents and walk away with at least a partial victory. That is a skill better applied by Doug Ose. McClintock can make a difference in Washington, D.C. with his candor and willingness to point out what is wrong with the federal government. Small government conservatism is still the answer, but too many Republicans have cast principle aside for convenience and compromise. McClintock can help get the Republican leadership back on track.

Ose served the 3rd Congres-sional District (now represented by Dan Lungren) for six years. We were impressed when Ose kept his promise to serve as a classic citizen-politician and retire back to his community. If he were running again in the 3rd District, we would support him over McClintock. But, we think McClintock fits the 4th District better than Ose. It is more rural and classically suburban, a heartland of red-meat conservatism.

McClintock has rightfully earned the endorsements of nearly every conservative organization, including the National Right to Life, Gun Owners, the National Rifle Association, Club for Growth and tax groups such as Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the National Taxpayers Union. When it comes to immigration, McClintock even has the support of Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minutemen Project.

McClintock’s political back-bone is exactly what Congress needs today. He demonstrated that with his voice of reason during previous budget crises at the State Capitol, sounding the fiscal alarm even when it irritated California’s Republican governor. And, it was McClintock who provided the necessary leadership to rid us of the abusive car tax and put $400 a year back into our pockets. He’s also been a leader in restoring our private property rights and fighting eminent domain abuse.
You always know where McClintock stands. He fights for the right principles, the right causes. And he is willing to go it alone when necessary. He has earned our support.