When Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced his desire to run for the U.S. Senate seat that Mel Martinez was vacating, Republican senators and party leaders rushed to offer him their support. They forgot that these are electoral primaries and that a true Republican and conservative, Marco Rubio, was running for the same seat before Crist's announcement.

Why was there this immediate support for Crist? It was because of the erratic morality of the party and its forgotten principles that have been deteriorating conservative values. Crist does not represent those assets. He is a liberal whose actions have undermined the foundation of this great society and breached the public trust.

No Republican should vote for Crist. He betrayed the confidence we placed in him and hoodwinked all Florida residents by promising that their taxes would drop like a rock.

It should not be forgotten that he failed to keep his promise. When Rubio, on behalf of Floridians, tried to lower their taxes, Crist did not support him and worked against that legislation.

The crisis in the Republican Party is due in part to the moral deterioration of some of its leaders, which has a negative effect on everyone. There is talk of restructuring the party in depth, but this support for Crist by party officials does not indicate it.

If drastic measures are not taken to uphold conservative principles and values, the party will disappear like its predecessor, the Whig Party.

Political pragmatism is immoral. Principles and morality are more important for a true conservative. In contrast, Crist did not lower taxes, he supported President Obama's economic stimulus plan and accompanied him throughout his Florida visit earlier this year.

One of Crist's greatest deceptions -- for those who elected him thinking he is a conservative -- was his appointment of Judge James Perry to the Florida Supreme Court over a more-qualified, conservative judicial candidate, Judge Alan Lawson.

Perry was backed by abortion-rights groups and gay and lesbian organizations pushing for same-sex marriage. Lawson was supported by organizations like Florida Right to Life, Florida Family Action, the Florida Policemen Benevolent Association and the National Rifle Association.

Crist's choice tilts the court to the left, with the potential to harm conservative values. It defines him as an enemy of life and the traditional family.

Crist, because of his background, deeds and philosophy, rightly belongs in the Democratic Party. We should do everything possible to prevent his election to the Senate. He will have the same liberal record as Arlen Specter.

I predict that those who support Crist, arguing that his election will break the absolute Democratic majority in the Senate, will suffer a big disappointment.

On the basis of principle, for Republicans and true conservatives Marco Rubio fits the bill. This election will be a litmus test to define the will power of party leaders to return to our values. Otherwise, they will never again be able to govern.

Armando Valladares is a writer, poet, painter and former Cuban political prisoner who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.